When New Yorkers and city visitors are faced with choosing where to eat, they can experience decision fatigue from the embarrassment of riches that is the tens of thousands of restaurants in the Big Apple. And when you factor in hard-to-please people and picky eaters, it can be downright overwhelming to decide on a restaurant.
Fortunately, New York is filled with excellent options for all types. You just have to answer: When, for how many, and what kind of food. Here are seven of our favorite places that seem to make everyone happy, from little kids to out-of-towners to teenagers, as well as grandparents, and yes, picky eaters.
Seasonal Italian at Rosemary’s
Rosemary’s has been around for just under 15 years, but many New Yorkers can’t remember life before it. The West Village space, with a rooftop garden and a long menu of seasonal Italian options, quickly became the go-to for date-night, friends dinners, and for when parents are in town.
With spirits and wine on tap, the locavore approach to Italian food certainly made a mark. Beside the flagship West Village location, Rosemary’s is now in Midtown and the East Side, near Peter Cooper Village and Stuytown, making it not just adaptable for different food needs, but convenient too. Multiple locations, Manhattan, rosemarysnyc.com
Pizza at Ziggy’s Roman Cafe
In the child-filled, picturesque Brooklyn neighborhood of DUMBO, strollers are plentiful but restaurants are not. So when kid-friendly Ziggy’s opened late last year, the neighborhood rejoiced. Founded by business partners and fellow parents Helen Zhang (a former publicist and marketer) and Igor Hadzismajlovic (a partner and alum of Employees Only), the pair tapped pizzamaker Federico Crociani to create a menu of thin-crust Roman-style pies.
Ziggy’s menu is rounded out with plenty of pasta and Italian delights, plus, with Hadzismajlovic around, expect expertly-crafted cocktails. Still, the menu is just as kid-friendly as the bi-level space itself, which gives little ones room to roam freely, unlike most dining establishments in NYC. 15 Main St., DUMBO, Brooklyn, ziggysromancafe.com
Gluten-Free Options at Pasquale Jones
With an incredible wine line to match the excellent pizza, in a chill-yet-chic space, Pasquale Jones celebrates a decade of serving guests in SoHo. Thanks to a wood-fired oven and chef Ryan Hardy’s varied menu, everyone can find something they like here including seafood crudo, pizza, and pastas, with gluten-free pizza and pasta available too.
The dining room includes Chef’s Counter seating with a front row seat to the open kitchen and twin wood-burning ovens where Hardy offers a six-course omakase tasting experience for true pizza heads. 187 Mulberry St., SoHo, pasqualejones.com
Comfort Foods at The Smith
For almost 20 years, there’s been a subway tiled restaurant that always comes to mind when New Yorkers in the know are faced with where to bring just about anyone: The Smith. Serving craveable food like macaroni and cheese and burgers, as well as more elevated and global creations such as a hearty braised short rib mafaldine and vegetable bibimbap; along with salads, brunch fare, and craft cocktails, there’s truly something for all.
With four locations conveniently situated around the city, The Smith is an easy place to turn for a work lunch, a group dinner, boozy brunch, or anything in between. Multiple locations, Manhattan, thesmithrestaurant.com
Eat With Global Flare at The Noortwyck
The West Village may be teeming with above-bar dining options, but with long lines, insane wait times, or impossible-to-get reservations, The Noortwyck is the place to go. Especially when no one can decide where to go. Chef and partner Andy Quinn’s menu features dishes ranging from Beef Wellington to duck milk buns to seasonal agnolotti and kale salad.
As a whole, the food, service and vibe are elegant and approachable, and the booth options keep kids at bay and cushion weary bums after a long day exploring the city. It works for a casual dinner with friends and date night. As they say, The Noortwyck has range, not to mention creative cocktails and an extensive wine list curated by sommelier Cedric Nicaise. 289 Bleecker St., West Village, Manhattan, thenoortwyck.com
Roast Chicken and Other Delights at Barbuto
For more than two decades, chef Jonathan Waxman has been serving his Barbuto diners some of the best roast chicken, kale salad, and chocolate budino available in this great city. At Barbuto, the aforementioned roast chicken may be the star of the show, but the California-Italian menu is teeming with options that would make anyone drool. Think homemade gnocchi and mushroom pizza to the chef’s often imitated rosemary potatoes. 113 Horatio St., West Village; and 60 Furman St., DUMBO, Brooklyn, barbutonyc.com
Elevated Pub Food at Bar Mercer
SoHo can be a tricky place when it comes to finding a restaurant to keep everyone happy at lunch or dinner, but fortunately there’s Bar Mercer. Preston Clark, a veteran of neighborhood mainstay Lure Fishbar, is at the helm of the kitchen at this elevated pub just off Mercer Street, across from the Angelika movie theater.
With a cozy gastropub vibe, this is a perfect spot for post-shopping or post-movie, whether your party craves dishes from the raw bar, crudos, or salads. On the richer side, dig into the excellent Housemade Pigs in a Blanket, English Fish & Chips, and an A5 Wagyu French Dip sandwich. 25 W. Houston St., SoHo, barmercer.com
