The New York Restaurants We Loved in July

There’s a certain type of restaurant that makes you forget what year you’re in…

… and Raoul’s is that kind of time machine. There’s a reason why it’s been booming since 1975 — it’s too much of a classic to not withstand the test of time. The walls are clad in eye-catching art; the booths are covered in rich, black leather; and the back wall has a chalkboard menu handwritten in French. Walk upstairs to the bathroom and you’ll be greeted by a tarot card reader. It’s the kind of place where you feel like everyone should have cigars in their mouths, taking a puff between courses. Its authenticity is its superpower and its old-fashioned energy is impossible to fabricate. As for the food, I tried a steak au poivre for the first time — a steak that has fed generations of New Yorkers — and was told it doesn’t get better than this. We shared the brown butter goat cheese ravioli that delicately balanced tangy, creamy, and nutty notes, and washed it all down with a bottle of crisp white wine. We finished with the crème brûlée, which melted in our mouths and put a cherry on top of our meal. All I have to say is: Put me in a Raoul’s booth, feed me steak, and I’m yours. No notes.

— Amy Schwartz, Senior Restaurant Marketing Analyst

My boyfriend and I had the most delicious meal…

… at Maretta. Though we live a few blocks away, I’d somehow never noticed this chic Italian restaurant right on Avenue B, and I aim to become a regular now. We had some amazing grilled prawns in Calabrian butter, the best clam linguine I’ve personally ever had, the estate pizza (cured green tomatoes, garlic and parsley butter, and fried capers — incredible), and two glasses of a great chilled red wine. I truly cannot get over how good our meal was, and I’m already dreaming about the dishes we skipped but want to try next time (potato pavé and tiramisù, duh).

— Harper Dodd, Senior Software Engineer

It’s hard to beat the view…

… at Celestine: a lush patio on the waterfront, right beneath the Manhattan Bridge. We kicked it off with their mezze platter: hummus, muhammara, and baba ghanoush, served with piping hot, fluffy pita. It was all so good, I really couldn’t pick a favorite. The seasonal cocktails were refreshing and perfect for a warm night out. We also enjoyed the pistachio pesto bucatini and some chilled asparagus, which both hit those perfect summer notes. We finished off with a scoop of gelato to cool us down. What a total summer dream.

— Jessica DeGeorge, Partner Success Manager

OK, yes, I lived in Bushwick for 10 years…

… and yes, I’m a peak millennial, and yes, I love a wine bar. So, you could say I’m somewhat of an expert? All jokes aside, With Others really is superb. It checks all the boxes: a great list of interesting low-intervention pours (including an entire section dedicated to chilled reds), snacks to pair, and a breezy patio with both open air and covered seating options.

— Lizzie Takimoto, Writer/Editor, Resy Editorial

You haven’t done outdoor dining right…

… until you’ve squatted on a low plastic stool, out on the sidewalk at Mắm. There’s just something about families and friends taking over half the road and an already pretty narrow street in Chinatown, sitting low on periwinkle stools, so that they can feast on everything from XL snails to chicken cartilage on overturned red crates. We were there for the incredible bún đậu, a beautiful platter of pork belly, fried intestine, vermicelli, housemade tofu and blood sausage, herbs, and more, all to be mixed and matched and dipped in a perfectly funky fermented shrimp paste sauce called mắm tôm — the embodiment of umami.

Pro tip: Save room for dessert and a drink at Mắm’s wine bar next door — Lai Rai has an excellent guava sorbet and Laughing Cow-flavored ice cream on the menu right now.

— Noëmie Carrant, Senior Writer & Editor, Resy Editorial

Even on a sweltering summer night…

… nothing could dampen my spirits while dining at Osteria Radisa with friends under the moonlight. Service was warm and friendly, and the dishes were so special. Yes, it’s Italian food in a neighborhood with many Italian options, but it’s likely you won’t find dishes like these anywhere else. Everything we ordered was a hit, but my favorites that night were the specials: a juicy cut of swordfish steak, topped with truffles and an oxtail jus; and pitch-perfect parcels of potato-and-cod-stuffed ravioli. Don’t sleep on the crisp fritto misto, squash blossoms, or the eggplant-laden strozzapreti.

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

We probably ordered too much food for two…

… on our recent meal at Aita. To start, we had the funghi misti (summer mushrooms with grilled sweet corn and Manchego) and a special that night: a fig and prosciutto plate, which was excellent. For mains, we both got pasta: an order of the oxtail ravioli (a long-running menu item for a reason) and the bucatini, which came with zucchini blossoms, and which we rounded out with a great bottle of Barolo.

— Leonard Mazzone, Senior Software Engineer

As a Lowcountry local…

… I am always scouting out the best oysters in town, and Quatorze had such a good variety; they were all so fresh. The real star of the show, though, was the French onion soup — it was so comforting.

— Kathryn O’Brien Dolbir, Regional Sales Manager

This was my second visit…

… to Kiko, and for the second time, I was blown away. The space is beautiful, the cocktails are delicious, and the menu … my goodness, it’s hard to decide what to get because everything sounds so good. We ended up ordering the Dungeness crab DIY hand rolls (fun and absolutely delicious), the chicory and red cabbage salad (might be one of the best salads I’ve ever eaten?), the lobster crispy rice with the creamiest curry (contender for my favorite dish of 2025), and the Berkshire pork secreto (marinated in coconut and condensed milk — what could be better?). I’ll continue to shout my love of Kiko from the rooftops. It is simply so special.

— Jamie Goldstein, Strategic Partnerships

For a birthday celebration…

… we went to Saga and splurged on the wine pairing, and weren’t sorry. The sommelier was amazing and carefully explained each wine; you could tell that every pairing was carefully crafted. The meats and seafood were cooked to perfection, and I loved how colorful the plates were. Among my favorites was the Hokkaido scallop, dressed with stinging nettle and a warm chicken consommé poured on top.

The service was impeccable and there were lovely celebratory touches for the birthday, like a handwritten welcome note and a personalized thank you e-mail following the meal. Dining here, you can expect a highly personalized and deliciously well-paced experience from beginning to end.

— Melissa Hui, Paid Media & Sponsorships Manager

There are few places I’d rather be on a Sunday night…

… than Inga’s. The cozy Brooklyn Heights gem always starts with warm and attentive service. The small menu is packed with thoughtful, seasonal dishes that really never miss. Standouts this time included the morel toast, soft shell crab, agnolotti, and schnitzel, but we couldn’t resist adding a burger to the table as well (one of my favorites anywhere).

— Isabelle Andrews, Director of Technical Product

This is the spot you’re taking your bestie to…

… because she’s worth it and the whole Trad Room team feels like family by now. You’re ordering: Whatever the newest, most interesting mezcal cocktail is — especially the Madre, or the Wagyu old fashioned — and always the spicy cucumber salad, the crispy spicy tuna or salmon, the karaage fried chicken, and the burger. The burger is so decadent, it falls apart on its way to being shared. The best thing about Trad is the energy of the room that’s filled with neighbors, where you’re almost guaranteed an accidental run-in with an old friend, and that even beyond their extensive selection of shochu, they have raicilla for the agave fans, too.

— Kelly O’Grady, Implementation Specialist

Sometimes, fusion cuisine gets a bad rap…

… but more often than not, it’s worth trying out. Such is the case with Kansha in the Upper East Side, where the chef expresses his native Peruvian heritage in tandem with his Japanese culinary training, resulting in dishes like ají amarillo and chicken gyoza. The lomo saltado was the star of the night with its extremely tender strip steak and flavor-packed potatoes. And the Toyosu set (three pieces of premium nigiri) were so meticulously crafted, it made me want to try more of their nigiri on my next visit.

— Sean Park, Senior Product Manager

As a perfect Fort Greene gem…

… it’s no wonder Third Falcon made the New York Times’ 100 Best Restaurants in NYC list. The menu rotates often, but they’re known for their brioche and butter from Normandy that is spectacular — it’s one of the best butters I’ve ever tasted. I had a seasonal tomato tart that was perfection and ideal for the summer. Pro tip: Definitely ask for the off-menu burger, it’s one of the most well-balanced burgers I’ve ever had.

— Felicity Lin, Resy Benefit Management Manager

Another Resy colleague suggested…

… Shōsh to me and she wasn’t wrong: I loved it. The menu is vegetarian Mediterranean but they take a creative approach to each dish. The seared gem lettuce was our favorite starter — it had a yuzu aioli that had a little kick to it, and was topped with roasted macadamia nuts. But if you go, you shouldn’t skip the shawarma made from celeriac that’s served with hummus and a side of freshly baked focaccia.

— Sarah Slaton, Product Designer

For a special, cozy, and delicious date night…

… head to Mokyo, led by chef Kay Hyun. Tucked behind a small, discreet entrance off of busy St. Marks Place, the space immediately felt intimate and inviting. We started with the recommended corn dumplings and oxtail spring roll, which were both packed with flavor. From there, every dish just got better: mala chile noodles with a gentle kick that kept us going back for more; scallops in a creamy, umami-packed sauce with seaweed oil; perfectly balanced lobster roll bites; a bright and zesty artichoke ceviche topped with dill and fragrant olive oil; and slow-cooked ribs that melted in our mouths. Each plate had such a thoughtful flavor profile that kept us excited for what was coming next. Mokyo really delivered.

— Kou Pang, Senior Product Marketing Manager

The perfect place to catch up on a random weeknight…

… is Turntable Chicken & Rock. My sister and I had a couple beers and shared some excellent wings. The vibe was super cool and music-themed, with vinyl records and turntables everywhere. It’s such a great spot to hang and have casual eats and drinks.

— Isha Shrotriya, Product Operations Analyst

Hidden underneath La Compagnie’s Flatiron location…

… Experimental Cocktail Club is a new speakeasy with immaculate vibes. Think swanky décor, low ceilings, and dim lighting, though my favorite part of the experience was the fact that I had no idea what 99% of the drinks contained. We put our trust in our waitress and she didn’t let us down. I’ll definitely be back.

— Lindsey Block, Product Designer

If you don’t like making choices…

… head to Masalawala & Sons for weekend brunch. The set $38 menu (with the option to choose between vegetarian or non-vegetarian) is served thali-style, with several dishes whose flavors were new to me and incredible. I loved the spicy mustard and the luchi (a big, poofy bread) was wonderful, too. We later found out about the story behind the restaurant, and that the owners are from Unapologetic Foods, the same group behind restaurants like Semma, Dhamaka, and Adda. If you’re into variety, this place is for you.

— Linda Li, Chief of Staff of Resy Technology

It’s never not a good time…

… to go to Haenyeo. If you’re in Park Slope — or really, anywhere nearby — it’s always reliable and easy to tailor to whatever you’re craving: a glass of wine and oysters, cocktails and dessert, or a full meal of Korean classics. Their sundubu is one of my favorites, ever; it’s super savory and loaded with cockles, squid, shrimp, and scallops.

— Lizzie Takimoto, Writer & Editor, Resy Editorial

Dinner was a standout from start to finish…

… at Le Chêne. The atmosphere is a perfect balance between elegant and inviting, and service was seamless throughout. We started with the uni French toast, which were rich and briny, then onto green bean beignets that were paired with a creamy tarragon sauce. But the dish I can’t stop thinking about is the pan-seared sea bass, which was cooked to perfection, and with a sauce so good, I genuinely considered drinking it. We capped the meal with both tarts on the menu: a bright, summery peach basil one, and a traditional tarte tatin. What a truly spectacular meal.

— Jessica DeGeorge, Partner Success Manager

If you love a good martini…

… you owe it to yourself to go to the new Chateau Royale in Greenwich Village, from the same team behind Libertine. While it’s true you can never go wrong with ordering a martini wherever you go, not all martinis are created equally, and the Chateau Martini is a real standout. The secret to its excellence? It’s arguably the most ice-cold martini you can find in the city. As soon as you place your order in the upstairs dining room, they’ll bring out a bar cart displaying a chilled glass and a frosty bottle of pre-batched gin and spirits. (You can also get it with vodka, but why?) And within seconds, it’s all yours to enjoy.

The food is equally excellent — a faithful ode to New York’s long tradition of French restaurants like La Grenouille and the Quilted Giraffe. Our favorites included the royal red shrimp with Espelette aioli; artichokes with Hollandaise; and the sablefish with beurre blanc and caviar. I can’t wait to check out the downstairs bar to try the chien chaud (hot dog) and duck club sandwich, and I’ll definitely be ordering that martini once more.

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

It’s hard to pick a favorite dish…

… from Wayan, because, truly, all of the French-Indonesian small plates are incredible. The lobster noodles are not to be missed, and the duck was a delight. The Elixir Hijau cocktail (mezcal, green Chartreuse, honey, parsley, mint, Thai basil, chile) was so good, I’m now trying to make it at home.

— Samantha Goldstein, Senior Data Analyst

My go-to spot for large groups…

… and we’re talking eight or more, is Buddakan. The ambiance is great, especially if you are lucky enough to be seated in the grand dining room. The menu has a lot of variety and the apps are great for sharing, family style. My top recommendations: the lobster egg rolls, the General Tso’s soup dumplings, and the black pepper beef.

— Justin Brown, Senior Partner Success Manager

You can’t go wrong ordering family style…

… at Flushing’s excellent When in Bangkok. The tom yum was excellent and a table favorite, with the perfect amount of spice. We also shared crab fried rice and pineapple curry duck — both were incredibly savory. We rounded out the meal with mango sticky rice and Thai tea sizzling roti (apparently a go-to for regulars). Everything was so tasty.

— Zachary Cole, Senior Android Engineer

This was my favorite restaurant during our NYC visit…

At Tonchin, we started out with some drinks, and loved the green yuzu margarita with its green salt. For appetizers, we ordered the tsukune buns, which were so fluffy and flavorful. Then, I had one the best ramens I’ve ever had: the Tokyo ramen, with its incredibly rich and flavorful broth and its thinly cut pork belly, which I enjoyed eating much more than the typical thick cut. But the dish that stole the show was the matcha shaved ice, which thankfully my girlfriend really wanted to try, because I had practically run out of stomach space. But once it arrived to our table, holy moly: The ice was so thin and soft, the matcha flavor was spread around every piece of ice flake, and it was all topped by red beans and some kind of matcha mousse. I’d definitely come back on my next visit.

— Salvador Tranquilino Ramos, Engineer III

I was so surprised and delighted by my meal…

… at Lei. Dreamt up by Annie Shi of King and Jupiter, Lei is a cute little wine bar on Chinatown’s iconic Doyers St with some really interesting Chinese dishes.

The celtuce and the scallop crudo are must-haves from the small plates section — both were so, so delicious with some really interesting textures. The cockles, the frito whiting, and the short rib were also excellent, even the side of rice with sweet potato was really special. I almost said no to dessert, but I’m so glad I didn’t pass on the chance to try the sticky toffee rice pudding. I can’t wait to go back and try the rest of the menu, and I strongly recommend grabbing a table before it gets impossible.

— Amelia Lewis, Product Designer at Tock

Every dish was an absolute flavor bomb…

… at The Chatti, helmed by chef Regi Mathew. You can find delicious, one-of-a-kind Kerala and Southern Indian dishes here that are hard to find elsewhere in New York, like banana flower patties, jackfruit cutlets, and grilled pomfret with gooseberry sauce.

— Pang Fei Chiang, Global Dining Business Enablement & Operations Manager

The St. Jardim team quietly reopened…

… Fedora, and I’m so here for it. Loved the dim, cozy vibes and both orange wines I tried. Definitely don’t skip the pierogies  — they were so good.

— Melissa Linder, Strategic Partnerships Analyst

Opt for the prix-fixe menu…

… when you go to Moono. For $75, you get three courses and your choice of a main dish — we loved both the galbi jjim and bossam, along with the fresh banchan that came with it (I love having a variety of kimchi on the table), but I was especially obsessed with the mushroom sotbap for two. The desserts were a unique twist on Korea’s traditional dessert and snacks — it took me back to my childhood, but also had me wondering how they leveled it all up so nicely.

— Michelle Meng, Integration Manager

I recently took family to…

… Moono for a wonderful birthday celebration, and the crowd went wild for everything from the amuse-bouches to the spicy Korean fried chicken, an assortment of pancakes, a perfect branzino, and for the finale, a mushroom sotbap that was an umami bomb. The service was memorably warm, and kept a steady supply of their incredible housemade kimchi coming throughout the meal. Cocktails were a treat too, the Gamcho being a personal favorite (clarified rum, ginger, and licorice).

— Jeff Colson, Senior Mobile Engineer

After getting there at 4 p.m. to secure our spot on the waitlist…

… we were seated at Tatiana at 8 p.m. at a table with a view of the gorgeous opera house. As first-timers, we ordered all the classics and fan favorites we had noted, and came back with our own list of must-orders, listed below.

First, the curried goat patties are absolute flavor bombs, thanks to well-spiced curry and meat tucked into gorgeous, flaky, buttery puff pastry. Secondly, Mom Duke’s shrimp has a divine sauce, and we used our toasted brioche to soak up every last drip of the sauce. Thirdly, and finally, the Bodega Special, which was unforgettable. The cosmic brownie is the brownie of every 90s kids’ dreams, but the best part was undoubtedly the powdered donut ice cream, which had that exact powdered donut flavor and mouthfeel.

— Celine Chan, Social Media Manager

For a great happy hour…

… head to Virginia’s, where we got a cucumber gimlet, the crème fraîche onion dip with chips, and the shrimp cocktail. But the real star of the show was the adult Happy Meal, which, for $30, includes a burger, fries, and wine or beer. Noting that the fries were the best fries I’ve ever had — they were crispy and just the right amount of salty.

— Lauren Pung, Colleague Experience Group Analyst

It’s a staple for a reason…

… Dante has good vibes, good food, and even better drinks. I’ve been on a recent martini tear, and boy did they deliver. I love when restaurants let you control that amount of “dirtiness” in a martini. The star of the meal was dessert: a special Caffè Panna (the best) almond ice cream, which was amazing.

— Julia McAvoy, Senior Restaurant Marketing Manager

There’s something about fried chicken in a restaurant setting…

… and no one makes it as fun and unique as Coqodaq. With the Bucket List set, you get to try three different fried chicken glazes, get squeeze bottles for their different sauces (my favorite was the garlic parmesan), and get a soft serve “froyo” for dessert. Aside from the food, the handwashing station was an entire experience unto itself, with all types of hand soaps for diners to use before, during, and after dinner. I’ll definitely be back.

— Sloane Wachs, Strategic Partnerships Marketing Intern

What struck me the most…

… during our time at Lilia was the feeling of balance. The vibe was hip but welcoming, the noise level was lively but not too loud, and the food felt both classic and modern. The pink peppercorn mafaldine lived up to the hype, and we adored the grilled clams, the homemade mozzarella on toast, and the asparagus. The Italian Job dessert was especially memorable, with vanilla gelato, fennel seed, and olive oil — it was a really unique sweet-savory-herbal combination that came together beautifully.

— Lori Goldberg, Senior Software Engineer

We were originally going to go for pizza…

… but when my girlfriend and I walked past Mezcali in the Financial District, we were immediately drawn in by the space’s big, open windows and the smell emanating from the kitchen. So, we went here instead, and started with a spirit tasting, which included two shots of mezcal and one shot of Tequila.

For dinner, my girlfriend ordered the diablo steak tacos, which had a great texture between the crunchy tortilla strip chips, the steak, and the sauces. And I had barbacoa, which was probably the best barbacoa I’ve had in a U.S. restaurant (I was raised in Mexico City). The meat was so flavorful, and the onions on top had a really good flavor.

— Salvador Tranquilino Ramos, Engineer III

More New York staff picks, right this way.

Noëmie Carrant is Resy’s New York-based senior writer and editor. Some of her other favorite meals this month took place at Saranrom Thai in Elmhurst and at the Seaport, slurping $1 oysters at The Fulton by Jean-Georges. Follow her on Instagram. Follow Resy, too.