Top 10: The Bougie NYC Hit List 🍕
A foodie’s guide to Manhattan’s best restaurants
We’ve all been there — you’re looking for a nice restaurant, but don’t want to seem pretentious by posting, “does anyone have recs for three dollar sign restaurants only?” Whether you’re a closeted bougie person or just loud and proud, you’ll enjoy these tasteful favorites.
Restaurants
1. Wayan, Nolita
Wayan offers Indonesian cuisine with a modern French flair, in a sleek space warmed by teak paneling, lush plants, and whitewashed brick. The unique and varied menu combines seasonal products and savory Southeast Asian flavors. It also has a showpiece bar that has turned out some of the most innovative and tasty cocktails I’ve ever had.
2. Jungsik, Tribeca
My absolute favorite restaurant of all time. I made a pit stop to their Seoul outpost, but found the NY version more satisfying. The cuisine describes itself as “New Korean,” which means it does lean westwards quite considerably. But what is most impressive here is that the Korean elements of the dishes seem to raise them to another level. Bibimbap composed with gochujang, crispy quinoa and tender Wagyu beef tartare will live long in memory, while the branzino served simply with white kimchi shows that this is also a kitchen with the utmost confidence in the quality of its ingredients. This is cooking that is original, impeccably executed and enormously satisfying.
3. Upland, Nomad
Upland was conceived by James Beard nominee, Chef Justin Simillie. It’s a spacious and chic destination great for large groups in a casual but refined setting. This place is polished without being uptight, balancing a familiar rusticity with warm modernity. The food is built around a California-inspired culinary philosophy that takes heavy cues from the seasons. The pizza, pasta, and fresh veggies are to die for.
4. Raku, Soho
For any New Yorker, Raku should be a wintertime staple. This cozy udon spot serves simple, flavorful broths with delicious hand pulled noodles in beautiful deep set ceramic bowls. The entire experience is akin to stepping on a heated bathroom floor for the first time, stepping into a warm hug, or snuggling under a pre-heated comforter. It wraps you up in a cloud of happiness. The Soho location is a must go, though there is also a smaller East Village location as well.
5. RH Rooftop Restaurant, Chelsea
Like all other Restoration Hardware restaurants, this one is beautiful and classic. Crystal chandeliers hang from every inch of the ceiling, reflecting off every corner. Perched at the top of the RH store, it boasts gorgeous views of the meatpacking district with a large outdoor patio for sunny days or summer evenings. I can’t lie, the food is certainly overpriced, but you pay for the ambience. Have some bread and burrata, take some Instagram photos, and call it a win.
6. Atoboy, Nomad
Atoboy, opened by Jungsik-alum Chef Junghyun Park, and his wife Manager Ellia Park, serves Korean tasting menus small plates-style (banchans with rice), and aims for fine-dining to be more casual and modern. The industrial feel of the space goes oh so well with the cool, scrumptious dishes.
7. Loring Place, West Village
Loring Place is ABC Kitchen’s Chef Dan Kluger’s long awaited solo project. Its understated, nondescript exterior lives in stark contrast to its flavorful and vibrant food. The interior has a reserved and intimate feeling — it’s upscale, yet casual. My favorite on the menu is the baked ricotta which is cooked to perfection with kabocha squash, chilies, mint, and grilled sourdough.
8. O:N, Koreatown
O:N is a new opening in k-town. The space is industrial and dark, featuring concrete slabs and black metal. As a Korean restaurant, the ambience reminds me starkly of Atoboy. They also have some of the best fried chicken I’ve ever had. To be honest, I don’t love fried things. But O:N’s chicken is juicy, cooked with batter lighter than air and served with mayo and delicious jalapeños. You can’t help but devour the entire bowl. They are best known for their hot pot offerings, which could serve two very hungry people, but a better option is to go in a party of 4 so everyone can try more dishes together.
9. Carbone, Soho
Deep down, you want your life to be like Goodfellas. Although not the violent parts — the fun ones in the Copacabana. And that’s what Carbone is like. It feels like a movie set, and the servers wear maroon tuxedos. Think of it as interactive theater with very good food. Their spicy rigatoni vodka is by far the leader of the menu and will change your life forever.
10. Sushi Nakazawa, West Village
Sushi Nakazawa serves the omakase of Chef Daisuke Nakazawa, who was the legendary culinary master Jiro Ono’s young apprentice. It has a 10-seat sushi bar with a small dining room, where every piece of sushi is expertly prepared, from the temperature of the fish to the amount of soy sauce and wasabi laid delicately on each piece.
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