Where to Eat in NYC 2026: A Baby Boomer and Gen Zer Share Their Picks
/The dining scene in New York City has never been more dynamic, or more revealing of how different generations experience it. As someone who lives for a great meal, I've always kept my annual Where to Eat list simple: the restaurants from the previous year that wowed me. The ones that I’d happily send my friends to.
But this year, I’ve included another viewpoint: my Gen Z daughter Jolie's take on navigating this incredible food city. While I remember leafing through my dog-eared Zagat Guide at her age to decide where to eat, Jolie turns to social media, usually Instagram, but also TikTok, along with sites like Eater and The Infatuation. Friends’ recommendations still matter, too, though they’re just as likely to come via a post or story as through an actual conversation.
However, no matter the different decades we were born in, we’re both chasing the same things: food that stops you mid-bite, a sense of innovation, and the energy of a lively room. I love that her radar leads me to places I might never have discovered on my own, and that I get to treat her to restaurants she might not splurge on herself. A win-win for both of us.
Below are our picks, along with photos of favorite dishes.
Lisa, The Baby Boomer
My section starts off with five special-occasion, fine-dining restaurants, followed by a group of sophisticated yet more relaxed spots.
The Modern – Midtown, 9 West 53rd Street. Located inside MoMA, this two-Michelin-star restaurant delivers creative, delicious cooking in a sleek, modern setting, with service that’s attentive but not overbearing. The views of the sculpture garden are a real bonus.
Kanpachi crudo and summer squash, toasted orange miso, and basil.
All Photos in this section by Lisa Denning.
Gabriel Kreuther – Midtown, 41 West 42nd. I loved every dish I ate here—each one packed with flavor and clearly thought through. The cooking leans contemporary French-American with Alsatian roots, and it all comes together in a refined but comfortable setting with warm, attentive service. It’s the kind of place you save for a special occasion, and one of my best meals of 2025.
Citrus-marinated hamachi with fermented farro, avocado, and yuzu vinaigrette.
Ikigai – Fort Greene, 87 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn. The restaurant’s name means “joy of living,” and dining here will certainly bring joy to your life! This is a Kaiseki dinner experience, meaning an artistic, multi-course Japanese haute cuisine menu. With seasonal ingredients, meticulous presentation, and off-the-charts flavors, this serene spot offers a memorable, cultural journey. The $185 tasting menu is well worth it. Run, don’t walk here!
Jidori egg with black truffle.
Jean-Georges – Upper West Side, 1 Central Park West. Timeless and elegant, offering a choice of a ten or six-course world-class menu. The staff is fully on its game: friendly yet professional, while executing flawless dining room choreography. Worth the splurge!
Scamorza Ravioli with Kabocha, Chanterelle mushrooms, and menuette parsley.
Il Cantinori – Greenwich Village, 32 East 10th Street. A candlelit, old-school Italian restaurant long known for its handmade pastas and romantic atmosphere. On a summer evening, try to snag one of the few outdoor tables, as we did. The pasta was to die for!
Homemade spinach & ricotta cheese ravioli, with butter, sage, and a touch of cream.
L’Accolade – Soho, 302 Bleeker Street. This cozy Parisian bistro delights with its delicious cocktails and natural wines, and a terrific seasonal menu that changes often. You can’t go wrong with any dish.
French rice pudding, coconut, lime & macerated strawberry
Market Table – West Village, 54 Carmine Street. There’s a reason this place has been going strong for nearly two decades! It’s a solid option if you're looking for upscale American fare in the West Village, in a warm, cozy atmosphere.
Summer tomatoes
The Corner Store – SoHo, 475 West Broadway. Buzzy New American spot. The ambiance is cozy, with old-time charm: vintage sconces and small classic paintings lining the walls. From their website, the food is described as “straight forward, yet nostalgic, and inspired by the things people know and love—such as Spinach & Artichoke Dip, Caesar Salad with crispy cream cheese and everything bagel croutons, Lobster & Caviar Rolls, Wagyu French Dip with steaming au jus poured tableside, French Fries with our own secret sauce, and a Samoa Sundae & Apple Hand Pies for dessert.”
Markette, Chelsea, 326 7th Avenue. Chef India Doris, formerly of Saga and Crown Shy, presents a menu of Caribbean-inspired dishes in a warm, inviting dining room. This is a great spot for before or after an event at Madison Square Garden.
Grilled Flatbread with stracciatella and Calabrian Chili
Kansha, Upper East Side, 1312 Madison Avenue (at 93rd Street). This Japanese-Peruvian restaurant delivers Nikkei cuisine—a thoughtful blend of the two cultures’ techniques and ingredients—in an intimate downstairs dining room accented with Peruvian textiles and Japanese tableware. Upstairs, a six-seat Hinoki wood counter offers an omakase experience, with a multi-course tasting menu of beautifully crafted nigiri finished with subtle Peruvian touches.
Ceviche in tiger’s milk with choclo (corn) and sweet potato.
LenLen – Flatiron District, 40 East 20th Street. Playful, modern Thai. Its name comes from a Thai phrase meaning “to play, lightly.” Eat a little. Drink a little. Chat a little. It’s an invitation to step inside, let your guard down, and stay awhile. This is a fun spot with a party-like ambiance and attentive staff.
Salmon Yum: Raw Salmon with seasonal fruit, cherry tomatoes, onion, and chili.
Noreetuh – East Village, 128 First Avenue (at St Marks Place). Elevated modern Hawaiian cuisine in a small, candlelit space. Great food and service. Known for its extensive, award-winning wine list. The name “noreetuh” means playground in Korean. Co-owners Jin Ahn and Chung Chow wanted a name that embodied a playful, welcoming environment for exploring diverse flavors, from Korean-influenced dishes to German wines.
Mussels in a miso broth and Hokkaido scallops with pickled hearts of palm, yuzu-chili
Chambers – Tribeca, 94 Chambers Street. Outstanding market-driven, creative food in a warm, inviting atmosphere with friendly, knowledgeable service. If you’re a wine lover, Chambers offers an award-winning list.
Heritage pork, peppers, tonnato, Thai basil, anchovy wine sauce.
Penny – East Village, 90 East 10th Street. This chic spot is known for its pristine raw bar, creative seafood dishes, extensive wine list, and sleek marble bar setting. Don’t miss the warm sesame brioche, a soft, fluffy, sesame-flecked slice of heaven served with sweet salted butter and optional anchovies.
Brioche, tuna carpaccio, and chocolate pudding with hazelnuts.
La Sirène – Upper West Side, 416 Amsterdam Avenue (at 80th Street). A cozy, classic French bistro with red leather booths, window seats, and an intimate, romantic vibe. The menu sticks to rich French staples—think escargot, onion soup, steak frites, and one of the best cassoulets in New York City.
Cassoulet Toulouse style, made with cannellini beans, carrots, tomato, garlic, duck confit, slab bacon, and pork sausage, braised with noble duck fat, white stock, and foie gras jus.
Marlow East – Upper East Side, 1022 Lexington Avenue (at 73th Street). Polished, white-tablecloth neighborhood spot with surprisingly great food for such a packed, scene-y place. Everything we ordered was spot-on delicious, including the Ora King Salmon with chili, citrus, and coriander appetizer and the halibut with eggplant and sunchokes main course.
Chicory citrus salad and Ora king salmon
Jolie, The Gen Z
Jolie’s list includes a few classics that could easily have made my own, but it’s largely driven by newer openings and casual, easygoing spots.
Quique Crudo – West Village, 27 Bedford Street. Small walk-in-only spot in the village specializing in delicious Mexican Ceviche and seafood.
Mar y Tierra seared scallop with homemade chorizo with chipotle aioli and salsa verde.
All photos in this section by @joliefisher.
Swoony’s – Carroll Gardens, 215 Columbia Street, Brooklyn. A popular American bistro known for its cozy, classic steakhouse-like vibe, lively atmosphere, excellent comfort food, and creative cocktails.
Mussels with pasta shells in a crème fraiche, grainy mustard sauce.
Mommy Pai’s – Nolita, 203 Mott Street. From the Thai Diner team, this casual Nolita spot serves Thai-spiced fried and grilled chicken fingers with playful sauces, tropical drinks, and a fun, kitschy vibe—perfect for a quick, flavorful bite.
“Combo Meal”: Thai-spiced chicken fingers and Mommy Cakes with house-made sauces.
Hungry Thirsty – Carroll Gardens, 407 Smith Street, Brooklyn. This buzzy spot serves bold and spicy Thai dishes that are shareable in a colorful, casual setting.
Beef Panang (Thai curry)
Lillo – Cobble Hill, 331 Henry Street, Brooklyn. This tiny, six-table, cash-only, no-frill spot in Brooklyn is run by owner-chef (Lillo) and serves excellent, authentic Roman cuisine. Beware, though there is no alcohol served, no BYOB allowed, and NO BATHROOM!!
Jolie told me that, despite all that, I “have” to go! I told her I’d do takeout since I cannot eat Roman food without a glass of wine! Mama mia!!
Fettucine al Porcini
Croft Alley – Soho, 210 Sixth Avenue. Popular rustic-chic café known for its California-style comfort food.
Tuna melt with truffle oil (amazing!)
Dame – West Village, 87 Macdougal Street. This tiny seafood restaurant is a favorite of our whole family. Each dish is packed with varied textures and flavors, keeping the palate fresh and eager for the next bite.
Fish and chips and sticky toffee pudding
Thirteen Water – East Village, 208 East 7th Street. This popular spot is known for its creative, modern twists on traditional sushi, such as truffle tuna and salmon tomato. Their omakase, served at a U-shaped counter, offers great value: $85 for 13 courses.
Txikito – West Chelsea, 240 Ninth Avenue (24 & 25th Streets). Cozy, lively Basque tapas spot known for creative small plates (pintxos) and shareable dishes, including delicious creamy cod croquettes.
Octopus carpaccio with paprika.
