Where To Dine: Five Coveted New York Restaurants
Though many restaurants come and go as the crack of dawn, every neighborhood has its’ finest long-standing eatery.
Words, Leslie Noye
Photography, Indochine/The Polo Bar/Ashley Sears/Leslie Noye/Alex Staniloff
New York, one of the most vibrant cities with buzzing dining spots at every corner, inevitably has some of the most popular sought-after restaurants in the world. Though many restaurants come and go as the crack of dawn, every neighborhood has its’ finest long-standing eatery.
As a former Zagat Social Media editor, I’m constantly asked where to grab the best bites in New York City. So for the launch of my BOND OFFICIAL dining guide column, I am sharing five of my can’t-miss New York classics.
Keep reading for the most coveted tables in town.
Photography, Courtesy of Indochine
Restaurant: Indochine
Location: Soho, 430 Lafayette Street
Since it opened in 1984, Indochine has become an iconic New York City landmark: think about the epic Studio 54 days. Years later, Indochine serves as an ultra-luxe outpost for tastemakers and worldly travelers ranging in all categories. I can’t think of any other restaurant as synonymous with fashion as Indochine. I expect the restaurant’s signature French-Vietnamese food to be featured at many intimate dinner parties.
Photography, Alex Staniloff
Restaurant: Frenchette
Location: TriBeCa, 241 W Broadway Avenue
After making its debut last summer, the buzz hasn’t died down and Frenchette is officially one of New York’s most beloved bistros. New York Times’ Pete Wells adorned the restaurant with 3 stars for its standout dishes like Duck Frites, and Brouillade. From SoHo celebs to Wall Street bigwigs, it’s definitely a great spot for people watching.
Photography, The Polo Bar
Restaurant: The Polo Bar
Location: Midtown, 1 E 55th Street
Ralph Lauren, the mind behind The Polo Bar, knows how to do timelessness and elegance beautifully. Expect The Polo Bar to reflect the designs of his eponymous fashion house. From the ambiance, to the decor, and the crowd of course.
Pro-tip: order the the Polo Bar Burger and New York Strip Steak.
Photography, Ashley Sears
Restaurant: Don Angie
Location: West Village, 103 Greenwich Avenue
First things first, Don Angie does Italian right. Proof and point, they've taken over New York's dining scene since they make every “best-of” list in the country. You can’t go wrong on their menu - every dish is sensational and out of this world, but no visit to Don Angie is complete without getting the Lasagna for two, Chrysanthemum salad (say that 5 times) and their stuffed Garlic Flatbread. While scoring a table on short notice might be difficult, I recommend grabbing a seat at the bar.
Photography, Leslie Noye
Restaurant: Uncle Boons Sister
Location: NoLita, 203 Mott Street
If the Michelin-starred Thai restaurant, Uncle Boons is fully booked, it only makes sense to head over to Uncle Boons Sister. I’ve probably visited about a 100 times - no exaggeration! The twelve-seat spot is the fun, younger sister and it’s just a stone throw from the OG. My favorite dish to get is the ‘Phat Thai’ with sautéed chicken. Of course, you cannot go wrong with the Thai Basil with Beef Short Ribs - it’s another classic here as well. Beware - its very spicy (and that's not an understatement here).