16 restaurants that scream “New York City”
New York is undoubtedly a restaurant city. In a place where most people live in small apartments with even tinier kitchens, the best restaurants aren’t just a convenience—they stand in for New Yorkers’ living rooms and backyards, giving residents spaces to gather outside their homes.
While there are restaurants on every block, some make such an impact on the city’s culture that it’s hard to imagine New York without them. A storied oyster bar is synonymous with Grand Central Station. An inventive Nigerian spot expands the restaurant landscape in Bed-Stuy. An acclaimed soul food spot is a Harlem landmark.
These are the qualities that make up The Greats: 16 restaurants, ranging from laidback to dressed up, that define what it means to eat, live, and love in New York City.
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