BESTOFNEWYORKCITY.COM • WINNERS GUIDE • BETHPAGE BEST OF THE CITY 2020 39
RESTAURANTS
home-cooked food, artisanal beers, handmade
cocktails and pickles with the community
at large. Patrons can come eat brunch and
dinner or stop by for a quick drink seven days
a week. Order a tasty breakfast sandwich with
gravy and eggs or choose from eight types of
delicious, house-made pickles.
BEST RESTAURANT
WITH A VIEW
MANHATTA
28 Liberty St 60th Fl
(212) 230-5788–www.manhattarestaurant.
com
As part of renowned restaurateur Danny
Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group,
Manhatta serves seasonal and soulful food
to its patrons. The restaurant is located 60
stories above Lower Manhattan inside the
28 Liberty building. Its placement offers
stunning views of New York City, its bridge
and waterways. Prior to opening Manhatta
as executive chef in 2018, Chef Jason
Pfeifer worked at top restaurants including
Gramercy Tavern, Thomas Keller’s Per Se and
Maialino. All menus, including the weekday
and weekend lunch, are comprised of a
three-course meal, where patrons can choose
endless combinations. Diners can choose from
options like mushroom risotto, beef short rib,
scrambled eggs and bacon, braised goat, butter
poached lobster, heritage pork, warm date
cake and pumpkin crème brûlée.
BEST ROMANTIC
DINNER
LA LANTERNA DI VITTORIO
129 MacDougal St
(917) 639-3236–www.lalanternacaffe.com
La Lanterna di Vittorio offers patrons the
finest in Italian cuisine. The lantern-lit indoor
garden offers a romantic setting for any meal
while the live jazz in the adjoining bar sets the
mood. During the cold New York City winters,
the restaurant’s lower level features a blazing
fireplace that leaves diners warm and cozy.
The extensive a la carte menu is sure to have
dishes that will please any palate from soups
and bruschettas to calzones and paninis.
Diners can also order from the restaurant’s
endless array of pizzas topped with cheese,
anchovies and different types of meat. La
Lanterna’s drinks menu is just as full as its
food menu and includes martinis, hot drinks,
seasonal cocktails, beer and red and white
wines.
BEST SEAFOOD
RESTAURANT
GRAND CENTRAL OYSTER BAR &
RESTAURANT
89 E 42nd St, Grand Central Terminal, Lower
Concourse
(212) 490-6650–www.oysterbarny.com
If you want to talk about a New York City
staple, an institution of itself, then let’s talk
about the unmistakable Grand Central Oyster
Bay & Restaurant. The iconic eatery has served
the best, freshest, most delectable seafood in
the city for more than 100 years. Their brightly
lit arches and red checkered tablecloth invites
customers to try classic and seasonal seafood
cuisine. Their carefully crafted menu includes
a variety of dishes, such as a raw bar with a
variation of oyster dishes, a Maine lobster
roll with coleslaw sandwich, and the crispiest
fried seafood you can find. With a 440 person
capacity, the restaurant feels like its own
entity in the city — one that’s full of great food,
atmosphere and people.
BEST SOUL FOOD
AND SOUTHERN
RESTAURANT
SYLVIA’S RESTAURANT
328 Malcolm X Blvd
(212) 996-0660–www.sylviasrestaurant.com
At Sylvia’s Restaurant, customers can enjoy
the taste of southern soul food in the historic
village of Harlem. Founder and Owner, Sylvia
Woods, known as the “Queens of Soul Food,”
established the business in 1962, which was
a small luncheonette consisting of 15 stools
and six booths. It has now flourished into
a family-owned enterprise which includes
Sylvia’s Restaurant, Sylvia’s Also, a full-service
catering hall, Sylvia’s Catering and Special
Events Division, and a line of Slyvia’s food
products. If you’re thinking about where to get
the best soul food, be sure to visit Slyvia’s for a
filling meal that will probably have you coming
back for more.
BEST STEAKHOUSE
KEENS STEAKHOUSE
72 W 36th St
(212) 947-3636–www.keens.com
Anyone in the mood for a perfectly cooked
steak should stop by Keens Steakhouse,
recipient of the James Beard Foundation’s
2013 America’s Classics Awards. Beginning in
1885, Albert Keen owned and operated what
was then known as Keens Chophouse in the
Herald Square Theatre District. Famous actors
of the day would come to Keens between acts
at the neighboring Garrick Theatre. Today,
Keens is the only survivor of the historic
Herald Square Theatre District. Its presentday
menu includes a raw bar with oysters,
Little Neck clams and lump crab cocktail.
For the main event, order Keens’ legendary
mutton chop and prime cuts of beer including
New York sirloin, T-bone steak and filet
mignon. Finish dinner with a sweet treat like
New York cheesecake or a hot fudge sundae.
BEST TEX-MEX
COWGIRL SEAHORSE
259 Front St
(212) 608-7873–www.cowgirlseahorse.com
Are you a fan of Tex-Mex? Of course you are,
and that’s why you should get to know Cowgirl
SeaHorse, a laid back restaurant where you
can find your favorite Southwestern dishes
with a unique seafood twist. Cowgirl opened
up its doors in 2009, with the leadership of
Sherry Delamarter, who possesses over 30
years of restaurant experience in the city.
In addition to its inventive menu — with
standout items like their Blackened Fish,
cheesy Enchiladas and Sausage and Biscuits,
Cowgirl SeaHorse also has fun themed-days
for customers to take advantage of their
specials. The restaurant, with its nautical
setting, invites customers to visit them on
Taco Tuesdays and Music Mondays where they
invite local musicians to play live.
BEST UPSCALE/FINE DINING
THE MODERN
9 W 53rd St
(212) 333-1220–www.themodernnyc.com
Founded by Danny Meyer’s Union Square
Hospitality Group, The Modern is a two
Michelin-starred, contemporary American
restaurant at the Museum of Modern Art.
The restaurant’s dishes highlight exceptional
ingredients and seasonality in three distinct
culinary experiences: a bold prix fixe menu in
the dining room overlooking MoMA’s Abby
Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden, an a
la carte menu in the Lively Bar Room, and
a bespoke tasting menu in the heart of the
kitchen at the Kitchen Table. There is also
an extensive selection of wines showcasing
diversity and value in both classic and
emerging regions. Since its debut in 2005, The
Modern has earned various awards, including
Best New Restaurant, Outstanding Wine
Service, and Outstanding Restaurant Design.
BEST THAI RESTAURANT
UP THAI
1411 2nd Ave
(212) 256-1188 - www.upthainyc.com
Enjoy savory Thai classics and surprising
signature dishes at Up Thai. For lunch, dine
on a three-course special of soup, salad or
appetizer, and a main course for only $9.
Choose from a wide range of authentic Thai
dishes such as Ba Mee noodles, pineapple
fried rice, and Panang curry. For dinner, enjoy
noodles and curry dishes or try one of the
chef’s specialties: Thai crepe dumplings, duck
tamarind, and Thai-style bouillabaisse will
take you on an exciting flavor journey. Bring a
friend or a date to the relaxing and romantic
70-seat restaurant with a full bar.
BEST VEGAN RESTAURANT
by CHLOE.
185 Bleecker St
(212) 290-8000–www.eatbychloe.com
by CHLOE. aims to redefine what it means to
eat well. Their plant-based fare energizes and
fuels their customers without throwing taste
and satisfaction by the wayside. The menu at by
CHLOE. is full of delicious vegan options such
as smash avocado toast, nachos, and plantbased
burgers and sandwiches, plus vegan
brunch options on the weekends. You can also
pick up some vegan treats for your dog and
snacks for yourself to save for later. In addition
to promoting a vegan lifestyle, by CHLOE. is
actively working to lower their carbon footprint
by mindfully sourcing their ingredients and
offering eco-friendly packaging.
BEST VEGETARIAN
RESTAURANT
CANDLE 79
154 E 79th St
(212) 537-7179–www.candle79.com
Looking for a great plant-based meal? Candle
79 is the place to be. Their mission at Candle
79 is to serve wholesome and delicious plantbased
eats without compromising flavor or
customer satisfaction. Candle 79 goes beyond
salads (though you will find a salad or two on
the menu) and offers a variety of plant-based
items that will leave you full and nourished,
including spaghetti and wheat balls, live zucchini
enchiladas, and steamed or fried dumplings, just
to name a few. Candle 79 also offers a full menu
of organic beer and wine as well as eco cocktails
that pair effortlessly with the plant-based
menu. Don’t forget to drop by on Saturdays and
Sundays for their plant-based brunch options!
/www.upthainyc.com
/BESTOFNEWYORKCITY.COM
/www.upthainyc.com