The Resy Hit List: Where In New York You’ll Want to Eat in May 2025

You’ll find many pubs throughout Midtown but none quite like this one from Sam Yoo, the chef and owner of Golden Diner and NY Kimchi (conveniently located downstairs). Lively and bustling, Golden HOF is the kind of place where you’re encouraged to pull up a chair, order a drink, and pair it with their expertly executed anju, ranging from freshly shucked oysters with spicy chojang and crispy pajeon (Korean-style pancakes), to that much-loved Golden Diner cheeseburger. Our absolute favorites on the menu, however, include the refreshing crudité with a housemade ssamjang aioli, the cheesy and fiery buldak dumplings, and the Korean fried chicken (definitely get the cumin and green Sichuan). Drinks are playful, often incorporating Korean ingredients, too, like the naengmyun martini or the highly drinkable melona milk punch. And should you still have room for more, head downstairs to NY Kimchi for some crudo, grilled meats, and soft-serve ice cream while you’re at it.

Cactus Wren is not your typical neighborhood wine bar. And how could it be, given that it’s from the duo behind Michelin-starred Sixty Three Clinton? Everything, from the food to the service, is done with finesse, in a way that’s still easygoing and approachable, but still manages to surprise from time to time. Take, for instance, the smoked eel tart snack that combines the smokiness of eel with the tartness of apples, and the saltiness of optional dollops of caviar. Or the delightfully rich chicken liver mousse and onion pizza, or another special involving bright basil pesto and morels. The wine list is also refreshing, focusing on lesser-known producers and regions. Whatever you order, you can’t go wrong, and it’s never a bad idea to stop by, whether you’re seeking a full feast, or just a snack or two with some wine at the bar.

After traversing the globe for years, enchanting diners from New York to Paris, one of our favorite pop-ups, Ha’s Đặc Biệt, finally has a permanent home for their thoughtful cooking that draws inspiration from Vietnamese cuisine. Taking over the original Gem Wine space on Broome Street, Anthony Ha and Sadie Mae Burns have cultivated a charming spot where you can (and should) feast on dishes like pate mam chung; chicory, puntarelle, and Asian pear salad; snails with tamarind butter; and a buttery curried lobster and sweetbread vol au vent, just to name a few. The space is cozy (read: tiny) but it’s an ideal spot to spend a chilly winter’s night.

The latest restaurant from chef Ed Szymanski and restaurateur Patricia Howard (Dame, Lord’s) makes you feel like you’ve been transported to the coasts of Spain and France, and indeed, Crevette is a warm, welcome respite from what has felt at times like a never-ending winter here in New York. The martinis are served ice cold, the raw bar selection is on point, the Spanish tortilla gets topped with a generous dollop of sweet peekytoe crab and saline seaweed butter, and the grilled golden chicken is served with a heaping pile of the Platonic ideal of perfectly crisp fries. And then, of course, there are the desserts, like pears poached in cassis with whipped mascarpone, or a whimsical tarte tatin in cream puff form. What more could you ask for?

Given New Yorkers’ enduring obsession with baked goods and hype bakeries, we’d be remiss not to remind you about of the city’s loveliest, elegant patisseries — the gallery-like Lysée from acclaimed pastry chef Eunji Lee. Here, French technique melds beautifully with Korean ingredients and New York tastes and, best of all, you can make a reservation to enjoy it all. Lysée offers everything from weekend brunch and the ability to choose your sweets à la carte to a signature menu featuring some of their greatest hits, like the trompe l’oeil corn dessert and the exquisitely layered kouign amann. You can’t go wrong with whatever you order, but do know that the shortbread cookies, signature lysée mousse cake, and the V.I.C. (that’s very important chocolate cake, to you) are particularly special, and important.

For nearly a decade now, Houseman has been charming New Yorkers as the quintessential neighborhood spot. On an unassuming stretch of Hudson Square, chef Ned Baldwin and his steadfast team are still cooking up everything from creative vegetable dishes to a standout roast chicken and a classic all-American burger. And the front-of-house staff, many of whom have been there since the beginning, make you feel right at home, whether it’s your inaugural visit or simply your latest. Case in point: While dining there with a vegan friend on a recent visit, they used a Sharpie to note each and every vegan dish on the menu, as well as an off-the-menu special. With an oft-changing menu that can satisfy everyone, and warm hospitality, Houseman is a must visit for all of us who long for the kind of restaurant that you can return to again and again.

It’s been such a treat to bear witness to the evolution of chef Erik Ramirez’s cooking, which is deeply rooted in Peruvian traditions but also fearless when it comes to experimentation. We first saw that when he opened Llama Inn in 2015, followed by Nikkei-driven Llama San in 2019. With Papa San, that spirit of mixing cultures and influences gets further amplified in Peruvian izakaya form. A few examples: A must-order St. Louis tavern-style pizza gets dressed with eel, shiitake mushrooms, pecorino, and bonito flakes that flutter among the melted cheese. A comforting hake chowder, served in a donabe pot, comes with fluffly milk bread rolls; udon gets a cacio e pepe treatment. The ceviches and tiraditos remain spectacular, including a delicate version that combines razor clams and sweet lychee fruit. Whatever you do, however, save room for the sundae party — you won’t regret it.

If the lines outside the door are any indication, it’s clear that schmuck is one of the city’s buzziest cocktail bars — and for good reason. The cocktails are irreverent and expertly crafted, the vibes are laid back, the decor really is “mid-century-modern-meets-space-age-meets-1970’s basement chic,” and the snacks are satisfying and highly shareable. In other words, you’re pretty much guaranteed to have an incredible time. You should know there are two distinct spaces and menus — the Living Room, which has limited reservations, and the walk-in-only Kitchen Table. You can’t go wrong with whatever drink you order, but we’re especially partial to the Larb Gai, martini, and Bread with Tomatoes.

A year after opening, this hit from acclaimed chef Vikas Khanna is proof positive that the city’s reverence for Indian cuisine only continues to grow. Reminiscent of the clubhouses found throughout India during the British Raj, Bungalow invites you in with all your senses. Khanna’s cooking thoughtfully and elegantly represents lesser-known regions of India. You can’t go wrong with whatever you order, but do take note of these non-negotiables: yogurt kebabs, crisp on the outside and filled with creamy hung yogurt, paired with a fermented purple cabbage puree; and a stunning spice-roasted pineapple with a coconut sauce. Cocktails aren’t an afterthought, either; try the Chai Pani, which took more than two months to perfect.

In the former Periyali space on 20th Street you’ll find this relatively new Mediterranean restaurant in its place. Here, chef Alex Tubero draws on a multitude of traditions — Greek, Italian, and Catalonian, especially — fashioning them into crowd-pleasing, pitch-perfect dishes: gem lettuce dressed in a sesame-anchovy vinaigrette that’s savory and refreshing all at once; king salmon crudo spiced with harissa and lime; and perfectly al dente macaroni di busa in a bright tomato sauce, accented with pecorino Sardo. But perhaps most surprising is what awaits for dessert: a showstopping rich and decadent dark chocolate mousse that’s exceptionally creamy.

Sri Lankan and South Indian cuisines shine at this gem of a spot on the Upper East Side. Come here for the ideal dosas and/or hoppers, and fill up on dishes like the rich paneer ghee roast, a thoroughly satisfying lamb lamprais, the heat-seeking cauliflower 65, savory pan-fried spicy kingfish served on a banana leaf, or the classic kothu roti. And if you happen to stop by for brunch on a Sunday, do spring for their special banana leaf meal — a feast if there ever were — available in vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, with biryiani, pickles, poriyal, papadum, and dessert.

New York has no shortage of excellent raw bars — see here for proof — but this elegant newcomer from chef Greogry Gourdet, housed on the second floor of the new Printemps department store on Wall Street, is something else. It’s French, in keeping with Printemps’ Parisian origins, but it’s also distinctly global in its influences, in keeping with Gourdet’s own culinary ethos. That equates to Creole shrimp cocktail, French sardines paired with plantain chips and yellow pepper hot sauce, market crudite paired with creamy cashew and fermented chile, and charred vegetables served with an epic green goddess dressing.

If you, like us, love the cozy, comforting Vietnamese fare that you’ll find uptown at Banh on the Upper West Side, chances are high you will thoroughly enjoy their newest spot, Banh Anh Em. Banh has always specialized in Vietnamese dishes that are often difficult to find in New York, and Banh Anh Em continues that tradition. The pho Nam Ðịnh is a non-negotiable, made with extra wide housemade noodles submerged in a slow-cooked beef broth, accompanied by pickled garlic and onions in punchy hot sauce. So too is the housemade bánh cuốn, rice sheets served with grilled pork, shredded young mango, and pickled mustard greens. And there’s also bánh căn, perfectly crisp and fluffy eggs cooked on a charcoal grill that you eat with sides of mango and hot sauce and a steaming bowl of pork soup.

Walk-ins only.

Aunts et Uncles excels at vegan, plant-based comfort food, perfect for nourishing weekday breakfasts, leisurely brunches on the weekend, and laid-back dinners every night of the week. So get going south of Prospect Park, and don’t sleep on the Tivoli taco, spiced with cumin and ground chiles, the So Simple sandwich, their riff on a chicken sandwich, or their take on a lobster roll, made with hearts of palm. Make sure you check out their gift shop, too.

Should you find yourself near the Williamsburg waterfront, stop by this new bakery and all-day cafe from veteran pastry chef Renata Ameni. Ameni, an Eleven Madison Park alum who oversaw pastry at Crown Shy and SAGA, is skilled when it comes to things both sweet and savory. Named for her childhood nickname, Birdee features nods to her Brazilian heritage (pao de queijo and alfajores, anyone?) but also offers whimsy in many forms: pepperoni pizza croissants, a lemon-lime meringue danish, and satsuma ice cream with toasted meringue and honeycomb (a crowd favorite from Crown Shy). If you don’t have a sweet tooth, Birdee sells bacon-egg-and-cheese sandwiches on housemade kaiser rolls, a chicken Caesar sandwich on focaccia, and an Italian dip.

Walk-ins only. More info here.

After a devastating basement fire that closed the restaurant back in September, this much-loved steakhouse is back, and we couldn’t be happier. New York has plenty of steakhouses — some of the best in the country — and in a city known for them, St. Anselm stands out, not just because it sells an exceptional butcher’s steak cut for just $34. It’s because St. Anselm embodies the spirit of a truly modern steakhouse, one where there’s so much more to the menu than just steaks: everything from the expertly cooked spice-crusted pork porterhouse or the King salmon steak with garlic butter, to the sweet tea-brined poussin, to the sides (much more than an afterthought) like pan-fried mashed potatoes bright grilled shishito peppers with lime and chile. Here too, the wine list remains one of the city’s sleeper hits.