These Are New York's 57 Best Restaurants
Introducing The Lo 57, your definitive guide to eating out in NYC. Spoiler: Superiority Burger sits at the top.
This massive guide to the city’s best restaurants is paywalled, but we’re discounting annual subscriptions by 21 percent! Subscribers will also have access to a live chat about The Lo 57 on Monday at 2:00 p.m.
I was back in Denver last week to squeeze in some autumn cycling, and to check out a few new spots like Alma Fonda Fina, Xiquita, and Carne. The trip also doubled as a writing retreat; I plotted my annual list of the best new places to eat — a column I’m stoked to publish in December.
But here’s what else I was working on: a guide to NYC’s best restaurants.
This is The Lo 57.
Maybe you’re a local looking for a new tavern to become a regular at. Or maybe you’re in town for a few days and want to check out a few great taco spots and a steakhouse. Either way, this guide will assist in that daily dilemma: where to eat!
How is this different from other lists?
There are lots of guides out there, but you’ll find this one to be more fun, personal, and argumentative. We’ll include suggestions on what to order in italics above some of the blurbs. We’ll also tell you what dishes to avoid, because we don’t believe in criticism by omission.
This isn’t content. This is journalism.
Also! The Lo 57 is organized by category. Here are a few of them: The top pasta and noodle spots, open-fire grilling, party restaurants, stellar tacos, the best fried chicken, the top wine bars, the finest sandwiches, and more. And while we don’t have room for 100 restaurants like our friends at the NYT, you’ll find this list to be longer and more detailed than just about any other digital guide out there. What I like about longer guides is that you can JKS to find what you love: Just Keep Scrolling!
Will there be new spots on the Lo 57?
Every restaurant on this list is at least six-months old, though I’m saving the bulk of the big openings like Carnitas Ramirez, Corima, Brass, last year’s Misipasta, and others for future guides. Though I managed to sneak in a few spots (Theodora, Penny) that opened this spring.
How long is it?
Long! Think of this as a guidebook that you can skim. And because blurbs can get boring by themselves, I threw in a few micro essays — on sandwiches, wine bars, and culinary experimentalism in the East Village.
Are you missing any big categories or restaurants?
There’s no cocktail section, but I hope to change that next year. If you don’t see your fave restaurant here, it might be in one of our other paywalled guides, like The Sushi List, Budget Steaks, The Splurge Guide, the Shellfish Guide, or New Wave pizza.
Why did you choose 57?
Because of “Passenger 57.” Always bet on Sutton!
The Lo 57: Your Cheat Sheet to Eating Out In NYC
NYC’s Best Restaurant: Superiority Burger
When my out-of-town food friends visit New York, their chief request is predictable and inevitable. “Can we eat at Superiority?”
We can. Even though I was just there two nights ago. Even though that posh new caviar chicken spot is texting to say there’s a table available if we arrive in 10 minutes — no thanks!
In fact, here are 10 reasons why we all need to keep revisiting this neo-diner and lunch counter by Brooks Headley. Again and again.