9 Best Restaurants in New York City, New York

Chama Mama

$$ | Chelsea Fodor's choice

The food of the Republic of Georgia is one of the best and under-represented cuisines of the world. Most of the excellent Georgian restaurants in New York are lodged deep into Brooklyn, but Chama Mama is a superb Manhattan option if you want to avoid a long subway ride. Start with khachapuri, the ubiquitous baked cheese bread (the boat-shape version from the region of Adjara has become the international face of Georgian cuisine) and then move to shkmeruli, a tender Cornish game hen cooked in a garlicky cream sauce. The khinkhali, broth-filled dumplings, are also excellent. There's now a second location on the Upper West Side (Amsterdam Avenue and West 78th Street).

Dillinger's

$ Fodor's choice
The Soviet-era childhoods of its two owners inspired the food and decor of this casual coffeehouse that has impressed the neighborhood with its Russian-inflected lunch and brunch fare. Popular dishes include the buckwheat-and-kale salad and the avocado toast, both topped with a fried egg if desired. Cheburashka sweetened coffee, named after a character from Russian children's literature, is the signature drink. It's tempting to linger here, either in the sunny front room or, in warm weather, on the large back patio.

Kafana

$$ | East Village Fodor's choice

In Serbia, a kafana is a neighborhood tavern with a menu of hearty Serbian staples like ćevapi, finger-sized minced beef sausages, or karadjordjeva, a tubular pork schnitzel stuffed with ham and rich, creamy kajmak cheese. This rustic cash-only Serbian eatery, located in the wilds of the East Village on Avenue C, has excellent artery-hardening fare and an impressive list of natural wines from Serbia. Top off your meal with a shot of rakia, the potent fruit brandy that is ubiquitous in the Balkans. 

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Korzo

$$
The menu at Korzo is Eastern European comfort food with flair, and it's definitely the place to come when you're hungry and you want some very tasty, hearty food. The Hungarian-style burger, served in a fried bread pocket, has a reputation all its own. The "Halušky Petite Hand Cut Potato Noodles" are also highly recommended: think French fries smothered in cheese, bacon, and chives. The vibe here is laid-back and family-friendly, with a TV in the bar up front.

Little Georgia

$ | Brighton Beach

This sweet little shop on a side street has some pretty fascinating grocery products—pickles, dried persimmons, hot sauces, and frozen khinkali (Georgian handheld dumplings)—but the real draw is the prepared food counter at the back. Go for the khachapuri, the beloved Georgian cheese-filled bread shaped like a boat and topped with an egg, or the Georgian-style chicken shawarma. There's no seating here, so be prepared to take your hot snack to the beach, or more likely, to eat it while walking, since you won't be able to resist digging in.

Russ & Daughters Cafe

$$ | Lower East Side

The sit-down location of the long-established (since 1914), family-owned Russ & Daughters “appetizing” shop on Houston Street offers the same smoked fish, caviar, bagels, and potato latkes as the original, along with egg dishes, salads, and cocktails in a bright, updated-deli atmosphere. The “boards” are individual (but shareable) platters of smoked fish, accompanied by your bagel, bialy, or bread of choice, so that you can assemble your own sandwich.

Breakfast Brunch Eastern European Lunch $$
127 Orchard St., New York, New York, 10002, USA
212-475–4880
www.russanddaughterscafe.com
Known For
  • classic Jewish deli food
  • expect lines for weekend brunch
  • original takeout location still at 179 East Houston Street
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: No dinner, Reservations not accepted

Toné Georgian Bread Bakery & Cuisine

$ | Brighton Beach
The specialty at this off-the-beaten-track Georgian bakery is khachapuri (cheese bread) and diners in the know have been coming here and ordering it to go for years. Cozy café seating, though, invites patrons to eat in and try other delicious Georgian cuisines. The adjaruli khachapuri is a version of the savory bread with an egg cracked into the gooey farmer's cheese—stir it into melted cheese and scoop it up with the crispy bread. Other tempting items on the menu include the lamb or chicken kebabs and the lobio (red bean salad with coriander, walnuts, and pomegranate).

Varenichnaya

$ | Brighton Beach
The menu at this unassuming restaurant just off the boardwalk is chock-full of must-haves, starting with the standout vareniki—Ukranian-style dumplings filled with meat, cheese, cabbage, or potatoes and topped with caramelized onions—and the pelmeni, savory, tortellini-like meat dumplings. The deliciously balanced borscht has a deep, rich flavor that’s not too sweet. Finish your meal with a glass of kampot, a nonalcoholic fruit drink that's made by boiling fresh fruit in lots water.
Eastern European Lunch Dinner $
3086 Brighton 2nd St., Brooklyn, New York, 11235, USA
718-332–9797
Known For
  • authentic Ukrainian dishes
  • budget-friendly menu
  • friendly, simple atmosphere

Veselka

$ | East Village

Potato pierogi and other Eastern European staples like borscht and stuffed cabbage are available from early to late at this East Village stalwart, which opened in 1954; the name means "rainbow" in Ukrainian. The authentic Ukrainian-diner food is the perfect stick-to-your-ribs ending to a night on the town—or beginning to a new day, since there's also a full array of breakfast staples. It's a neighborhood experience, with tables of families sharing space with the hipsters. The spacious, sunny interior, with giant wall paintings to please the eye, is great for people-watching.