The New York Restaurants We Loved in 2024

As a lifelong New Yorker…

… pizza accessibility is of the utmost importance to me, so it may not come as a surprise that I’m skeptical of the hard-to-get pizza reservations around the city. But when a Resy opened up for two at Una Pizza Napoletana, I leapt on it, curious to see what all the fuss is about. I went in expecting to have a couple of good, “satisfying-but-not-lifechanging” pizzas. Instead, I was completely blown away.

My friend and I got the bianca pizza (mozzarella, garlic, basil, sea salt, olive oil) and the filetti (think the bianca, but with cherry tomatoes). The crust was the perfect combo of doughy and crispy, and the olive oil drizzled on top added a depth to the flavor that I’ve never had in a pizza before. Months later, I’m still thinking about. And the cheese (!!) was so good.

It’s an open kitchen, so you can see the individualized care and attention each pie gets — it’s like watching a well-oiled machine hum. This might’ve horrified my Bronx-born-and-raised, $1-slice-loving father, but I’ve been converted: Believe the hype. Una Pizza Napoletana is absolutely worth it.

— Liora Fishman, Senior Email Marketing Manager

This place is so deserving of all the hype it’s received this year…

Theodora’s equal parts intentional and creative with its cooking, and everything I’ve had the privilege to try was delicious.

The ricotta toast is a mainstay in my orders, but I recently also added the ceviche and bluefin special. The ceviche was the best I’ve had in recent memory — red snapper paired with charred pineapples and surrounded by a leche de tigre I practically licked from the bowl. The bluefin special was an innovative twist on a tuna salad, and I hope it makes another appearance soon. Even if it doesn’t, I’m sure I’ll find yet another dish to fall in love with next time I go.

— Harkirat Anand, Technical Product Manager

It was hard to pick just one restaurant meal I loved this year…

… but if I had to pick the one that lingers most in my memories, it’d have to be when I went with friends old and new to M. Wells on a weirdly chilly August night. It was everything you’d hope to have: great conversation, genuinely warm hospitality, and exceptionally good (and fun) food and drink. I’ll miss having more nights like that at M. Wells, especially given that they’re closing their doors for good on Dec. 31, but I’m so grateful that I’ll always have the memory of that lovely night.

— Deanna Ting, New York and Philadelphia Editor, Resy Editorial

My one rule for my husband…

… when I make him choose where to take me out on my birthday is that it has to be somewhere that I’ve never been. And while I don’t always go for steak, I’m happy he chose Keens this year. The room was beautiful, the steak was delicious, and the martinis were on point. It did not disappoint and I would 10/10 recommend.

— Duncan Goodwin, Sr. Implementation Specialist

Nothing really beats the dinner you have…

… on the day you get married. And after our city hall wedding, the only place my newly minted husband and I wanted to take our gathered families to was Keens.

We were a group of 10, prepared (read: hungry), and seated around a large round table upstairs. What ensued was a joyous, full-blown feast, a proper parade of meats — bacon-laced wedge salads, mutton chops, prime ribs, a porterhouse, and stiff drinks to wash it down — which we shared and devoured all. Add to that a waitstaff so gracious and warm — they’ll genuinely seem to enjoy talking about Pokémon cards with your young nephews — and you’ve got what makes Keens so damn special.

— Noëmie Carrant, Senior Writer, Resy Editorial

In thinking about the dining highlights of my year…

… I hold Saturday nights at Henry’s close to my heart. It’s the type of neighborhood gem that you want to become a regular at the moment you first enter. It’s a cozy refuge, pleasantly nostalgic; always warm and inviting. The bartenders are exceptional (special nod to Christian, the absolute best!) — I come for cocktails and French fries at the bar more often than dinner, but their little wooden booths are a lovely spot to share a pub fare meal as well.

— Isabelle Andrews, Director of Technical Product

After being away for some time…

… my husband and I were craving a neighborhood outing, and we were so happy we landed on Haenyeo. We’ve been coming here for years, and it always hits. We got the fluke crudo to start (I truly could’ve eaten three orders), which was so bright and slightly spicy from the chile. The japchae was also incredible (will have to make this a must-order whenever we visit!), but really, everything on the menu is delicious, and the service is always a 12/10.

— Juliana Dutan, Senior Business Enablement & Operations Manager

In a city with thousands of restaurants and plenty of hot new openings…

… I still find myself returning to da Toscano. It’s the perfect spot for a group dinner at one of their beautiful booths, where a minimum of one pasta per person must be ordered. Don’t skip the roasted oysters, the focaccia with taleggio butter, or the braised artichokes to start. You can’t go wrong with any of the pastas, and the meal must always end with the olive oil cake and Grandma’s cheesecake. Thank you to the da Toscano staff for always being the most welcoming!

— Lala Liban, Senior Hotel Program Management and Innovation Manager

Consider this my love letter to the perfect neighborhood spot…

This isn’t my one favorite meal of 2024, but a series of favorite meals at one place, each just as good (if not better) than the last.

When Oxalis closed last year, I was devastated. Gone were the special nights out where my wife and I could walk down the street and have an incredible meal alongside best-in-class hospitality — the combination of quality, warmth, and proximity is hard to come by these days. So, when we found out the same team would be opening Cafe Mado, an all-day café, in its stead, we were cautiously optimistic: Would it live up to our favorite memories at Oxalis?

Absolutely, and more. Each of our 10+ visits this year has been met with exciting flavors, rotating menus, and that familiar feeling of home. It’s become a place where we bring friends, can still have a nice night out, or just pop in for a baguette and coffee. My favorite dishes continue to be the perfectly crisp french fries with harissa, the blackened yuba in a spicy sauce, the breakfast sandwich with longaniza, and the ever-so-elusive crispy fish sandwich, which I only had once but still remember to this day.

All the love in the world to Steve Wong, chef Nico Russell, and the whole Cafe Mado staff for keeping the neighborhood alive with this gem.

— Charles Zhao, Director of Restaurant Product

I kind of fell in love…

… with Place des Fêtes this year. Their dishes are subtle, creative, and nuanced (like a potato dumpling with celeriac and buttermilk), the wine list is solid, and they have one of those spaces that makes you think: How’d they fit all of that in there? Depending on where you sit, the vibe’s a bit different — my preference is the bar, so you can watch the line.

— Ria Mar-Fan, Senior Product Services Manager

This one could make me tear up…

I’ve been enjoying L’Express’ steak frites since I was an angsty teen and guess what: It still hits! When I found out they made the incredibly wise decision to join Resy, I booked my anniversary dinner there. Unbeknownst to me, my husband also used to go to L’Express as an angsty teen, and that’s fate folks. Also, always order the French onion soup.

— Tess Gostfrand, Senior Travel & Lifestyle Services Manager

You know how sometimes, you’re seated at a restaurant and think…

… “Wow, this must be the best table in the house”? That’s how I felt at brunch at Sailor on a rainy fall afternoon.

The restaurant’s quite small and feels like being in someone’s home: nautical paintings adorn the brick walls and wooden beams line the ceiling. We were seated at a corner table overlooking the dining room and the servers’ counter, where a towering ginger cake was perched, waiting under a glass dome.

Brunch is my least favorite meal to go out for, but the quiche at Sailor was something special. Herby, buttery, and accompanied by a salad with a tangy vinaigrette, it’s the perfect counterpart to the rich, custardy eggs. And that ginger cake! We obviously had to order a slice after staring at it throughout the duration of our meal. It tasted like Christmas.

— Alex Johnson, Senior Marketing Manager

I’ll be thinking about this duck special for a while…

… specifically, the duck confit farro at Heroes, which was unreal. But don’t worry: bold flavors and creative combinations shine throughout the menu at Ariel Arce’s latest restaurant — don’t miss the flavor-packed fried sushi rice and know that the beef tongue skewers and scallops are standouts as well. Overall, Heroes’ high-energy vibes, fun atmosphere, thoughtful service, and exceptional food made for a truly memorable dining experience.

— Jessica DeGeorge, Restaurant Success Manager

One of the best dishes I had this year…

… were the chile crab noodles at Phoenix Palace, the sister restaurant to Potluck Club. We had an awesome time, starting with one of my favorite beers on earth: Neon City Hong Kong-style pale ales. We also loved the crispy duck breast with a pretty unique hoisin-romesco sauce, but the most surprising dish of the night was the chilled tofu — refreshing yet extremely delicate and refined.

Kim, our server, was lovely, and made the experience really special. If you love Potluck Club, you will love Phoenix Palace — definitely check it out.

— Will Stern, Senior Product Partnerships and Business Development Manager

This is our neighborhood go-to spot…

… and for good reason. The cocktails at Gertrude’s are fantastic and their prices are fair (which is getting harder to say in Brooklyn). Plus, the food always delivers, whether it’s their Reuben-style burger (or a Monday burger special), the dill-pickle-brined chicken, a mountain of Brooklyn’s best fries, or the seven-layer cake. All this and genuine hospitality? Count me in as a regular.

— Jerome Noel, New York Field Account Executive at Tock

My most frequent and beloved meal this year…

… was brunch at Leo in Williamsburg. It’s also the ultimate hack for getting Apollo Bagels brought directly to you without having to wait in line. The ideal sweet-and-savory order is a bagel plate for two, a breakfast plate (with bacon), and a pancake, all shared between three to four people — or just two, if you’re particularly skilled.

— Caryn Ganeles, Senior Restaurant & Industry Content Manager

Even though I’m a big fan of Italian cuisine…

… I’d somehow never made it to La Pecora Bianca before (and they’ve had multiple locations throughout the city for years).

We went to the Bryant Park location on a whim, and without a reservation on a busy Saturday night in September, fully expecting to be turned away. Instead, we were immediately seated at the bar, where we enjoyed some Chianti as we took in the relaxing atmosphere.

We had the local burrata to start, which came with sweet, honey-cooked apples and saba that perfectly complemented the rich cheese. I opted for the garganelli for my main (highly recommend), served with an arugula pesto and wild mushrooms. I’ll definitely be returning to one of their locations soon, and will be adding the burrata add-on to whichever pasta I order then.

— Harry Lubitz, Business Operations Analyst

I’ve had plenty of prosciutto and burrata in my life…

… but the burrata at Roscioli might be the best I’ve ever had. The tuna crudo and porchetta should’t be missed either, and we finished the meal with a delicious olive oil-drizzled almond cake. The space was super cozy and I daydreamed about sitting at a table by the window, watching the snow fall on MacDougal Street with a glass of Italian red and some antipasti. That’s going on the 2025 mood board.

— Adrianna Harris, Restaurant Success Manager

One of the coolest pop-ups this year…

… was Lev — their food easily made it into my “top meals of 2024” list. While the location (and menu) changes, they often took place at a beautiful brownstone in Bed-Stuy, known as The Hancock. The experience is communal, with pillows laid about for seating and a self-serve cheesecloth pulley contraption for tea. Sometimes, the events were pre-paid in advance but most of the times, you could just show up and pay on site. My favorite bite was the lamb neck flatbread, followed by a glass of wine at Frog to end the night.

— Alex Larson, GTM & Strategic Initiatives Manager

When I picture the quintessential “winter wonderland”…

… it looks like a cold day in Midtown, steps away from the Rockefeller tree, where the festive energy is brewing like a warm cup of hot cocoa. The only thing that could make this scene better is nigiri. And lots of it.

Enter Hōseki, a six-seat sushi counter whose name translates to “precious stone.” Hidden inside Saks Fifth Avenue (never knew an omakase oasis could be hidden past the returns line in a busy department store), this omakase experience felt like an early holiday present wrapped in a Kelly green bow (their signature color).

Chef Morgan Adamson is just as warm as the festive environment that surrounds her. She is obsessed with the craft … and it shows. My favorite bites (though tough to decide) were the king salmon from New Zealand with truffle salt, scallops from Provincetown with yuzu zest, fluke caught in Montauk with yuzu salt, and shima aji (Japanese striped jack) with ghost pepper salt.

Pro tip: They’re only open for lunch, so fuel up for an afternoon of shopping with a reservation anytime between 12 to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.

— Amy Schwartz, Senior Restaurant Marketing Analyst

I loved the intimate atmosphere…

… at Rosella. The staff was so intuitive and accommodating. We had the ceviche, crudo blanco, Spanish mackerel nigiri, and shrimp nigiri with junmai from Brooklyn Kura. The head chef also recommended the pickled mussels, which I regret not getting. The crudo blanco was incredible, though: We ate it in the smallest increments possible to savor every morsel (the trout roe on top was bursting with flavor). And the nigiri was also divinely paired with the most complementary, delicate flavors.

— Shauna Steinbach, Senior Brand Designer

On a humid summer night in late August…

… I made my first trip to Rosella. Since the menu changes seasonally and I lack total recall, I can’t remember dishes by name, but what I do remember is the herbaceous, bright dishes and a sparkling wine that were perfect complements to the balmy night. Oh, and that when in doubt, add the uni!

— Ria Mar-Fan, Senior Product Services Manager

After being on my list for a long time…

… I finally got to try Osamil this year. Everything we had was amazing but I highly recommend the uni bibimbap and seafood rosé tteokbokki — both balanced the traditional Korean and more fusion-y flavors really well. Pro tip: The pork shank is a huge portion and can easily feed three to four people.

— Alexis Yam, Project Manager

I was one of the lucky ones…

… who got to go to Laser Goat back in May — a collaborative dinner between Mike Solomonov of Laser Wolf and Stephanie Izard of Girl & the Goat. The menu was so fun, interesting, and delicious, and it happened to take place on a gorgeous night with a 10/10 sunset. It was such a special meal, and definitely a highlight in 2024 dining for me.

— Jamie Goldstein, Resy Strategic Partnerships

Get ready to be transported to a house party…

… somewhere in Texas the moment you walk into Yellow Rose. The kind of party with incredible food and frozen drinks, and where you’d want to stay all night long. Opt for the buzzy bar, where the food comes out hot and fast — I loved their sizzlin’ fajitas and tacos, and I’m definitely going back to try the queso fundido and squid skewers. Dining there with my mom before the “Titanique” musical was one of my most fun meals all year.

— Tess Gostfrand, Senior Travel & Lifestyle Services Manager

After absolutely killing it…

… (read: losing handsomely) at Literary Trivia at the Center for Fiction, my two teammates and I set off in search of comfort food somewhere warm. We landed at the bar at Miss Ada, and soon had a spread of superb dips, breads, and cocktails in front of us. It was a busy, lively night, filled with laughter and many book recommendations, and ended in free shots and red-nosed hugs goodbye.

— Ellie Plass, New York Writer, Resy Editorial

This originally-from-L.A. staple…

… always knows how to combine the perfect ambiance with charm to create a wonderfully intimate and cozy experience. And indeed, my friends and I had a 10/10 experience at Lucky’s in SoHo. We were able to catch up over a wedge salad, brussels sprouts, a New York strip, some lobster mac ‘n’ cheese (my favorite dish; definitely splurge on the lobster add-on), and of course, dirty martinis. The service was amazing and our bartenders were very friendly.

Pro tip: The restaurant’s on the smaller side, but they seem to have more bar seats available on Resy, which is the route we took (and loved).

— Santana Williams, Card Marketing & Programming

You’re always promised a good time…

… at Astoria Seafood. It’s always different, memorable, and fun, whether you’re celebrating your birthday or showing out-of-town friends what a dining experience can be like in New York. There’s simply nothing like getting extra-fresh seafood with no extra flair. And massive bonus points that’s it a BYOB restaurant.

— Felicity Lin, Resy Benefit Management Manager

My inner voice screamed “Woohoo!”…

… when I got close enough to see that the storefront with the gorgeous yellow glow I’d already spotted from down the block was indeed my destination: San Sabino. This Italian American seafood spot in the West Village from the Don Angie team boasts a beautiful dining room and great food — the shrimp parm was a favorite, along with the steak “magazzino” and its crispy anchovy crust.

— Tae Yoon, Contributing New York & Philadelphia Editor, Resy Editorial

I was lucky enough to attend…

… one of the Atomix x Kadeau collaboration dinners this summer, and it remains one of the most incredible experiences I’ve had in 2024. Atomix is already a special place, but bringing in the Kadeau team and their Nordic cuisine created a one-of-a-kind meal. Alternating between dishes from chef Junghyun Park and the Atomix team and Nicolai Nørregaard and the Kadeau team, the menu was pretty flawless. Favorites included the smoked salmon and a stunning Korean squash and crab dish. To top it all off, it was so much fun, with a casualness rarely found in a fine dining setting.

— Aaron Ginsberg, VP of Strategic Partnerships & Industry Developments

I can’t wait to go back to…

… Tucci: the ambiance, level of service, and incredible food make it a truly unforgettable dining experience. Out of all of the great dishes they serve (from tuna carpaccio and arancini with caviar to a veal chop marsala), my absolute favorite is the chicken parm by far.

Pro tip: The upstairs and downstairs spaces have two very different vibes. The upstairs space (perfect for a date or a smaller group) has a warm, cozy, yet modern feel to it with its red booths and open kitchen. Downstairs is dimly lit and boasts an incredible bar (also perfect for date night or a larger group).

— Callie Randall, Card Membership Programming & Marketing Manager

As someone who typically dislikes steakhouses…

… I visited 4 Charles four times this year. Their burger, elote-style corn, blue cheese creamed spinach, French fries, and chocolate pie are all exceptional. As for the steaks? They’re salty, crusty, and cooked to perfection.

— Nish Junankar, Senior Software Engineer at Tock

It’s hard-to-get a Resy for a reason…

… but if you do manage to get into Coqodaq, you’ll be so happy you did: the vibes are absolutely immaculate, the food is really good, and it’s such a fun experience. The cocktails are inventive, too — I especially enjoyed the signature The Egg, which is a vodka-based drink that comes with a frozen lychee “egg” that slowly melts as you drink it. As for food, the Bucket List set is the way to go.

You’re first served a chicken consommé before your first fried chicken course, which comes with a bunch of sauces to try, all of which are special in their own right. Then, you get another fried chicken course, where you’ll have to decide which kind of glaze you want (either soy-garlic or gochujang). Afterwards, you’re given delicious cold perilla seed noodles, and a cup of soft-serve frozen yogurt to end it all. But in addition to all of that, you can always order sides as well — special shoutout to the Caesar salad, which had a nice kick to it.

— Lindsey Block, Product Designer

I’ve done a bunch of tasting menus in New York…

… from Per Se and House to Restaurant Yuu and Eleven Madison Park, and Aska was the best fine-dining experience I’ve had in the city. My wife and I enjoyed it so much, we went again — that’s something that we’ve never done, and it was even better the second time around (!).

— Nish Junankar, Senior Software Engineer at Tock

After a perfect solo day in Red Hook…

… I ended at Hometown BBQ for a late lunch, where I was one of the first people in the ever-growing line. I’d ordered way too much food for just one person, which only added to my excitement: it was my first time here. I’m a Virginia girl, and my family is from Memphis, so I have pretty specific barbecue expectations, and Hometown absolutely fit the bill on all of them. It was a beautiful summer day; I was sitting outside at a picnic table with a book and a fresh sauce stain on my white shirt. Of course, dessert was Steve’s Key Lime Pie with a view of my girl, Lady Liberty.

— Ellie Plass, New York Writer, Resy Editorial