Best Curious Restaurants In New York Near Me

Lawrence Biscontini: The Big 3s:Service: deft and attentiveFood: incredibly inventive and tastyAmbience: clean, modern, and starkHigh Points: the wine pairing tasting with the dinner, the mushrooms tasting like duck liver pate, the serviceLow Points: we left and went for Asian soupy noodles because we were hungry; the green bean ice cream was the sole dessert;restaurant resizes are hard to make and only AFTER making the resizes do the rules and stipulations come 24 hours prior both advising and enforcing strict policiesUnique Points: no tipping at all as restaurant policy; proud female chef profiles female driven wines and we loved that

J. Wood: Our first time eating here a few months back was so wonderful we had to come back to try the summer menu which sounded delicious. I still rave about the onion pizza we had last time - amazing!!! The new summer menu has some stars, but no course that will leave me thinking about it for months to come. My favorite courses were actually two surprise items not on the menu. The shaved pepper with some chilis and a delightfully light sauce was phenomenal, as was the fennel chopped cheese sandwich - so creative and fun! The tomato and zucchini dishes were enjoyable. The corn dish was just too big for what it was and really needed a pinch of salt, or some more spice, but it was good overall. The dessert was creative and enjoyable, but I was too full to finish it as the portion sizes of the other dishes were larger than what I would expect from a tasting menu. The eggplant was a disappointment. I expected more oomf from the harissa, but the spice was hard to find, the cheese fell a bit flat on flavor, and the pasta was gummy with no flavor/salt. The bites of eggplant I had were tasty, but eggplant was not the star of the dish by any means. It was actually hard to find amidst the pasta and cheese. Proportions of the ingredients for the eggplant dish just weren't right. I love that Dirt Candy is always creative, and their inventiveness is much appreciated, but this round some of the items just didn't quite come together. I do, however, look forward to trying the Fall menu as I still hold on to the memory of the perfect dishes from earlier in the year. I love trying all the new creations and being wowed by the creative and fun presentations!

Eric Finkelstein: . My least favorite item was the corn, though it was my fiancé's favorite, and visually it was my favorite too. They also accommodated her non-cheese preferences by serving her several dishes where they substituted out the cheese

Victoria Allison: . The bread was delicious and my drink was strong.However, I was totally disappointed in the crab cakes. Typically my husband and I share one but this time we each ordered our own because we know how much we love it. The crab cake was charred on the outside yet ice cold on the inside. We sent it back, but it was still disappointing. We also ordered a steak for 2, Brussels sprouts, and lobster Mac and cheese. Our steak was medium but it did not leave us wanting more. We each ate a piece and took the rest home. Typically we'll take it home and have steak and eggs the next day, but this time we did not even finish it at home.Service seemed slow, we were there for 2 hours and spent $360 for 2 people. Unfortunately if things don't change, it won't be our go-to place for special occasions anymore.

Steve Fredriksson: strip

Debbie D: Can't speak to the food quality, this review is solely for the bouncer/security in front of the restaurant. We were walking in the area when it started pouring rain out of nowhere. We quickly went under the awning of this restaurant to have some cover while we book an Uber as my cousin is in a motorized wheel chair and we didn't want her to get rained on. The bouncer asked if we were eating there as we can't stand in front of the restaurant and block customers. We were off to the side away from the front door. I told the bouncer we were standing out of the rain to book an Uber or would he prefer my disabled cousin wait in the rain. He responded saying there's a 100 other awnings around. Pretty disappointed that a reported fine establishment would have such rude staff.

Blue sky: Loved it. Food, music, ambiance.

David: TREMENDO VACILON!Guantanamera is an absolute delight! From the moment I walked in, I was transported to the vibrant streets of Cuba. The ambiance and vibes at this restaurant are genuinely exceptional, giving me the feeling of being in the heart of Cuba.Now, let's talk about the food – it's simply outstanding! The churrasco I had was incredibly fresh and savory. Each bite was bursting with flavor, and the meat was cooked to perfection. It was like a culinary journey that brought the authentic taste of Cuba to my palate.However, what truly sets Guantanamera apart is the fantastic music that fills the air. The live performances, rhythmic beats, and soulful melodies create an atmosphere of pure joy and celebration. I couldn't help but tap my feet and sway along with the music while savoring my meal.The staff was attentive and friendly, adding to the overall wonderful experience. They made sure every aspect of my dining experience was top-notch.If you're looking for a place that offers delicious food, especially the fantastic churrasco, and transports you to the vibrant ambiance of Cuba, Guantanamera is the place to be. The combination of mouthwatering dishes, authentic Cuban vibes, and great music will leave you with cherished memories. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a memorable dining experience!

Jo Nasr: .The empanadas would have been fantastic with some hot sauce, I would recommend something else if you dont like hot sauce.The Ropa Vieja was like a pulled steak in a sense, it tasted amazing, it came with beans, don't mix them together as it will cover the taste of the meat. Separate is king.The service was amazing. The lady who works there is ever so nice, and even recommended us the Ropa Vieja and it did not disappoint.The ambience of the restaurant is likely and welcoming. Slightly dim, but overall very homey. Music was a little loud, but I'm not to complain about Cuban music and I thought it was great. People were eating alone, on dates, with families or friends.Overall recommend. 7.8/10

Danny Y: BEEF TARTARE! BEEF TARTARE! I SWEAR TO GOD BEEF TARTARE!

Rebeca Cayón: Very overrated food although the waitress was really nice.

Valentina Ramirez: Amazing service, amazing food. Worth every penny.

Daniela Mejia: One of my favorite restaurants in NYC!

Sofia von Hauske: Great food, great service. Amazing tartare, the darphin is 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻.

Adriano Molina: The service was ok but the food was not: ok salad, bad tartar, very bad eclair, and expensive

Armin Senoner: Great steak, decent amount of chips.

Luc Bercher: The food was good and the atmosphere was nice.The server was really cool and we had a good laugh

Yunita Elvira Anisa: Recommended dishes Croque Monsieur, French Onion Soup

Lisa Koivu: Y’all… I finally found the holy grail of avocado toast and it’s at Pastis! Granted, they call it the Avocado Tartine, but it’s toast all the same. 😎Why is it the holy grail?Because I’m pretty sure they used an ENTIRE avocado! No skimping here. Just tons of chunky, smooth, delicious avocado on a soft ‘n hearty piece of bread. Don’t forget the two perfectly poached eggs. It was perfection.The vibe here is pure Parisian. The hostesses were stylish and the waitstaff cute. The coffee was good. My only minor complaint is the Pain au Chocolat tasted like it was a day old, but it was still delicious.

Sean Roll: Margherita and Sesamo Bianco for our drinks. For dinner, we had the lasagna for two, and we had the featured pasta, which I believe had apricots and basil, and it was candy shaped two-toned pasta, full of cheese...

Better Food Better Mood: It’s truly a quality restaurant worthy of its Michelin star! Authentic Italian food, cozy atmosphere, and topnotch service.Both the Margarita and Grapefruit Mocktail were citrusy and divine to sip on a muggy day like yesterday.Spicy Cantaloupe & Coppa: The sweet cantaloupe and candied almonds coupled with the salty sheep’s cheese and coppa was a surprising combo that complemented well together. Each bite was light and ever so delightful.Lasagna for Two: The highlight of the meal. It’s their signature dish for a reason. A flavorful layered lasagna that simply slaps. It’s chewy, it’s cheesy, it’s scrumptious, and very filling! Lather it on top of the olive oil bread stick and there you have it, perfection.Black Cocoa Tiramisu: Dare I say they have the best tiramisu. The inside has a crunchy caramel texture with a chocolate cake at the bottom. It’s smooth and exquisite.Side of Sweet Potatoes: We had actually changed our mind about this since we felt like it would be too heavy, but a slight slip up occurred with the kitchen. They were very kind and ended up giving it to us anyway, no charge. It was actually amazingly good, crispy and addicting. Would absolutely order this next time.We came right as they opened up on Sunday so thankfully we didn’t have to wait long to get seated despite not having a reservation. A line had already started forming and soon enough the place was packed!Our waitress was super nice and friendly! And the guy at the entrance and the water refiller were so sweet too.Every single dish was spectacular and you can tell each one was created with much attention and care. We shall certainly be revisiting and bringing more friends next time as there were so many menu items we wanted to try yet couldn’t due to our full tummies 😵

Anzhela Savina: Very love food in this restaurant, maybe one of the top on my Italian places, but castomer service is awful, hostes always rude, and impossible to do reservation there.

Karaoke Superstar: Their cuisine is best described as Italian fusion with Asian influence, if you're looking for a traditional Italian cuisine, this restaurant is not it.Calamari dish is really blackened/Cajun fried rice with a few calamari pieces and thai basil leaves.Their veal dish was a thin piece of fried breaded meat, with prosciutto cuts and veggies on top. No sauce to balance the dryness.The lobster for 2 was good as was the pasta dish that came with it, however the salad did not have any dressing not even olive oil.The scallops dish was good, tasty and lemony as was the fish with clams dish.Some of their pasta dishes are heavy on the sauce but they don't provide any bread to scoop it up. When we ordered the flat garlic bread, it was really a large cracker with garlic paste. It was the first Italian restaurant that we've been to that they don't serve bread as part of the aperitivo.Their saving grace is their service, friendly staff in a clean restaurant.

Dylan Price: are both incredible as well if you get a chance to talk to them. Doesn’t get any better than this place.

Demi Hewitt: Don Angie's totally lives up to the hype! I had been waiting to try the lasagna, and it was definitely fantastic. Crispy on the edges, hearty from the sauce and cheese, and overall so satisfying! We had the chrysanthemum salad and sweet potatoes as well and both were also delicious. The tiramisu was unique and excellent as well!Don Angie's is a memorable meal! The interiors are clean and cozy and the service is personable, friendly, and attentive too.Would highly recommend! Don't wait - try getting a reservation now!

Eric Kobuchi: My favorite Italian resto in the city. Classic retro decor with table, booths or counter seating. Lights are dimmed but not too dark, chatter is lively but not deafening.Food is all-around innovative and amazing. The Chrysanthemum Salad is my all-time fave here. Don’t miss the lasagna as well!

Victoria Nguyen: I was able to snag a 5:30pm dinner reservation. Even as I write this review, I still think about just how great the food was.First off, they do emphasize a dress code. Jackets are not required; however, the don’t allow athletic wear or short sleeves. It was mentioned 3 times in my confirmation text haha.We chose the prix fixe course which came with 4 courses for $198 per person. It ended up being more than 4 courses, but I think the little amuse bouches and dessert things didn’t count.There’s a bread basket that circulates often. Very often. They asked us if we wanted bread throughout the entire meal which I really appreciated. They don’t skimp on this part haha. The focaccia was so delish!The first thing we were served was a 3 piece amuse bouche. I can’t remember exactly what all 3 were, but the last item that had the potato foam with crab and lobster, one of my favorite items of the night. It was SO FLAVORFUL. It was like an smooth airy mashed potatoes with lobster. I could eat an entire bowl of that.For my prix fixe, I ordered the Oysters, Lobster, Filet Mignon, and Carrot Cake. The oysters were great and fresh. It came with a delicious mignonette. The lobster. Oh wow the lobster. It came in a Thai Lemongrass Curry Bouillon. My favorite dish of the night. The bouillon was soooo flavorful. I loved it. The filet mignon was cooked so perfectly. It was so tender that I could cut it with my fork. It came with some sort of mushroom mixture wrapped in swiss chard. SOO GOOD!I was able to taste some other dishes that my brother and sister ordered off the prix fixe menu. We kind of swapped halfway thru just so we could taste it. I’m sure that wasn’t great etiquette in this type of restaurant, but oh well haha.After the dessert course came, there was one more dish which was a trio of tiny one bite desserts. I was sooo stuffed by then that I could barely finish it.I did add that we were celebrating a birthday on my reservation, so they were so kind enough to bring an additional dessert with a candle in it for my sister.All in all, Le Bernadin exceeded my expectations. The service was so friendly and did not make me feel like I was out of place. The food was just so very good. I would definitely come back and dine again.

Maria Roberts: I had an Incredibly special birthday lunch here and it was nothing short of spectacular. The service is of course as to be expected for 2 ⭐️ Michelin restaurant. The team was very attentive and help helpful with menu suggestions. We had the prix fixe lunch menu and enjoyed several different fish dishes between the two of us. Highly recommend for a special occasion.

B P (BDPine): This was end of birthday dining tour in March. Had just eaten at two Michelin one star restaurants each day prior. One in DC, one in NY. Each far superior, even if more casual. We were seated with very nice view of dining room, so we could easily see how we had been forgotten as others seated later progressed past us in long tasting menu. Some dishes were very good , some average, and some below.I initially posted more detail, but interestingly that post seems gone. Power has its privileges.Have had so many better meals since, hard to remember details. That's how much not worth $1,200 plus for dinner and wine for two this is.

Jason L. (WatchYourSix): We always wanted to eat at a Michelin starred restaurant. Go big or go home, so we went right for a 3-star. Ranked in the top 50 in the entire world. That’s pretty impressive.The menu is prix fixe and as we were there for lunch we ate off their lunch prix fixe menu. That included two dishes and a dessert, which was a little unclear on the website. The host or maitre d were pleasant enough. Our wait staff seemed a bit annoyed, which was disappointing. The winner was our sommelier. Their wine menu is VERY overwhelming, but beautifully constructed. He learned what wine we typically enjoy and based on our menu selection recommended a unique and interesting wine we could normally not get in our neck of the woods.Our first course, my wife had the sautéed shrimp and I had the shellfish medley. Both dishes were beautifully plated. My wife’s shrimp were the best prepared shrimp we’ve ever had. Unfortunately my shellfish medley was not that enjoyable. There were elements of it that were nice like the smoked pork dashi broth. However, there was a fishiness to it that prevented the dish from feeling completed.Our main course, my wife had the salmon in a gazpacho consommé. Boom!!! This dish was the winner of our meal. Light, fresh, summery dish that just came together with every bite. I am not a fan of salmon, but this was so meticulously done to perfection. Wow! I ordered the striped bass with stuffed zucchini flowers. I am a sucker for stuffed zucchini flowers and this dish did not disappoint. What looked liked the flower stems were a purée of some kind that really balanced the dish out nicely between the strong mushrooms and the mild fish.Dessert was a superb. My wife opted for the carrot cupcake and I ordered the honey dessert. Yozer wozer!! Beautiful on both counts, but even more impressively delicious.At the end it was a pleasure to meet chef Eric Ripert. He is truly a legend in the kitchen. His restaurant is nothing short of a gastronomical art gallery.

nelson alves: Généreux sandwich et excellent.Je vous recommande cette adresse, cependant attention au monde qui peut avoir, fort de son succès.Des touristes français

Hilario Galan: It was everything I imagined. The pastrami on rye with mustard was incredible 💜💜💜

Juan Deleon: The pastrami sandwich was on the money

Lily L: I was disappointed in my sandwich. I'm pretty sure they got it wrong. I asked for a pastrami sandwich and I got nothing but the meat and 2 slices of bread. I was originally unsure whether I was supposed to order for cheese and spread, etc separately as add-ons, but I confirmed with a friend who ordered it without needing it. Unfortunately my order was just flat out wrong and I was stuck with a bunch of dry meat and bread for $30

Alyssa Werner: Can't beat an NYC classic

Oliver Sean: Enchanting restaurant between Madison and Park av.We are close to perfection, the 3rd Michelin star is close!!

toffy concepcion: This is a 2* Michelin restaurant owned by one of NY's most legendary chefs. It truly deserves its' status. It was a rainy day and we came early in case of traffic. They accomodated is in the lounge and I had a nice glass of port while I waited for our dinner reservation. Really comfortable chairs and very elegant in a classic building.We had spot prawns tartare which were exquisite with the uni. We also had smoked sable fish vichyssoise with ossetra caviar. The mild sourness of the soup balanced the strong flavor of the fish and the caviar was a highlight.We shared a very rich and intense foie gras that was pre-seared then flambéd table side. This was a highlight of our meal. The soft shell crab tempura had different sauces and accents that elevated the experience.Some of us had swordfish which was a work of art and others a strip loin that even if it was rare, didn't taste bloody and was really tender. I could imagine it was prepared sous vide before it was seared.Dessert was a work of art. We had 3 different plates and forgot the names of the dishes.To end a wonderful night we had chocolate sticks including one our server arranged as a hashtag truly #exquisite.

Gizele Tavares: I had an amazing time and really enjoyed the caviar and cocktails. The service was phenomenal. Can’t wait to come back.Also enjoy with the amazing company the CEO Simon Evans from Stabilice Frozen foundation systems@gizele_.Tavares

Demi Hewitt: The last time I was at Daniel it was before covid. There were inconsistencies in the food that bothered me. On this visit, post covid, Daniel was back. Everything was perfect. There were exciting tastes and presentations. The service was prompt, attentive, and knowledgeable. Not being able to complain about anything, let me mention the dinner.The meal started with three small canapés each made from celery. The most amazing was a celery puree drizzled with a spiced sauce that brought heat and danced on the taste buds.The first course was foie gras, locally sourced, perfectly flavored. The second was scallops done in a manner I have never tasted before. They seem to be layered on potatoes and covered with a green sauce. I wish I could be more specific but I don't remember how the menu described the dishes. The combination of flavors and consistencies of each dish was amazing.The main course was a rib eye of pork flavored with a bacon spiced sauce and it was superb.Finally there was a lemon tart desert beyond compare.Go to Daniel!

Katelyn: This was a very disappointing experience. I had high expectations for this dinner because of the reputation that Daniel Boulud has and French food is one of my favorite cuisines but sadly almost every dish was completely flavorless. The desserts were the best part of the meal but still my boyfriend thought his didn't taste like much. The way that my oyster dish was plated looked like a half eaten plate which was very odd and I was really disappointed that my dover sole was raw and cold in the center. I loved the petits fours and the chocolate selection was cool at the end of the dinner. The take home canelés and the passionfruit vacherin were the best parts of the meal. We got the prix fixe menu and I wonder if it would've been a better experience getting the tasting menu. I'm definitely never coming back though, this was the first time I really regretted eating at a Michelin starred restaurant, I'm confused how it retains 2 stars. There are so many other starred restaurants in New York that I wish we went to instead, especially for over $700. Overall it wasn’t a good experience, the one good aspect was the service, it was actually one of the best that we had received on our New York trip so that helped a little bit at least.

Rogerio Teixeira: The lounge is very comfortable and gives you the feeling of being at their former Cafe Boulud . Great wine list with plenty of fairly priced options.I could eat here everyday. One piece of constructive criticism, there seemed to be some sort of lack of synchronization with serving the wine in the beginning of the evening and I just hoped the bottle had come sooner and the young lady serving, smiled more. Can’t wait to be back!

Kirby Chirp: Beautiful views with haute cuisineExcellent bread and softened butterInteresting amuse bouchePrix fixe meal - makes for a wonderful -to-be -shared tasting adventure for our groupChoices are plentiful..although - with foams, ganache, whipped, and other gastronomic styles- difficult to really know what is being served.The Brooklyn Bridge chocolate dessert was a nice manner to end the mealOur waiter, Robbie, was really nice but all the staff members were attentive.Bravo to keeping a well- run restaurant- truly a place to visit if in NYC

Hui Huang: Love the Brooklyn bridge dessert. Thanks for the extra middle course. Staffs are friendly and professional.Improvements: my napkin cloth had a dirty mark on it. The server helped replaced one. It’s quiet relatively crowded for the tables. Whereas the events section is empty.

John Stewart: arrived practically raw and purple the middle - cold and undercooked My venison was the opposite- - - bit dry and overdone . And it's side. the "green pea soaetzel" was dry, bland, and lacking any pizazz. I've had better spaetzel at Loreley. To make matters worse, not one server made the effort to check in with us to ask if the feed was to our linking - which it was not. Furthermore, the after we finished the meal, the staff continued to ignore us, so our plates sat there until l had to hunt down a busboy and demand that our plates be removed. At that point, the even more haughty maitr'e d came over and stated he was taking over and asked if he might help with "the problem". I asked him if it was customary for his staff to ignore their tables, not check in after the main course was delivered, and further if thebusboys usually let empty plates sit on the table for an extended period of time? I then asked him if the chunk of purple meat on my wife's plate appeared to be "medium"? He agreed it did not, offered a sheepish apology. At that point, we asked for the check and passed on our dessert. Dessert was supposed. to arrive with a birthday cable for my wife, but unfortunately the RC staff had succeeded in ruining the entire evening.All in all, if one is looking for a Michelin star rated restaurant and willing to spend $200+ per person, there are far better choices in Manhattan. Not to mention the interior is very tired and old. The outside, sure it's quaint on the water, etc - but absolutely not worth the price of admission. Won't repeat.

Motushi Ahmed: I had the most wonderful time at the river cafe all thanks to Amanda for making my night extra special. I went to celebrate my birthday here by myself and I didn’t feel anything was missed. Amanda made sure I had a good time and when the cake came she made sure I was treated well. She always checked in on me throughout my time there and I enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. The service was great overall from everyone else and Amanda especially also helped me make some lovely memories with that I will never forget. Thank you

John Bosko: Recommended dishes Branzino

Sarah T: Unfortunately Olmsted's famous brunch menu is no longer. Only a fancy prix fixe.. Just wanted to advise other diners.

Paul Miard: The chef menu is incredible. Flavors, texture, presentation, everything was so great, including some original and delicious cocktails. Highly recommend, and can’t wait to go back myself!

April Lecato: Don't go for a special occasion - menu is overpriced and the service was so disappointing. Each course was brought to the table in a drive by and I only realized after we left that we weren't asked how anything was the entire meal. We opted for the premium wine pairing and really only enjoyed 3/5.. our server relayed the tasting notes in one breath before running off again. I have a heard time hearing in loud spaces and I asked her to repeat herself a couple of times and she seemed annoyed. She also told us twice that she had no idea what some of the tasting notes meant... all in all, decent food but really not worth it.

David Haddrell: .