Best restaurants near Times Square

Benares

• Price band: 2/4

Just a short stroll north of Times Square, the subdued dining room at Benares offers a respite from midtown madness, as well as a taste of the ’hood’s most ambitious Indian cooking. Virtuoso chef Peter Beck (Tamarind) oversees the region-hopping bill of fare, which includes a robust selection of

Danji

• Price band: 2/4

With butcher-block tables, inventive Korean-inspired small plates and a Michelin star to boot, this diminutive eatery is of the rare breed that would likely be just as packed downtown as it is on West 52nd Street. Chef Hooni Kim (Daniel, Masa) brings his haute French training to bear on the food of

Don Antonio by Starita

• Price band: 2/4

While tourists bumble into Sbarro looking for a New York slice, pizza aficionados have been busy colonizing this pedigreed newcomer—a collaboration between Kesté’s talented Roberto Caporuscio and his decorated Naples mentor, Antonio Starita. Start with tasty bites like the frittatine (a deep-fried

Esca

• Price band: 3/4
• Critics choice

Esca is the area’s slickest and most creative choice. Part of the Mario Batali–Joe Bastianich empire, the menu takes a whirl through Southern Italian seaside cooking (spaghetti with lobster). Start with the signature raw antipasti, called crudi, then move on to excellent, shareable pastas such as

Gazala

• Price band: 2/4

Chef-owner Gazala Halabi (Gazala Place) opens her second venture dedicated to the cuisine of the Israeli Druze (a religious group with ties to early Islam). Her menu includes various kinds of hummus, along with smaller bites at a meze bar.

Hakkasan New York

Animated by a luxurious array of ambient sounds, scents and lighting, Hakkasan New York is a stunning evolution of the London original that is acclaimed for its Michelin-starred modern Chinese cuisine.The 11,000 square foot restaurant features a signature "cage" carved out of dark English oak and

Kashkaval

• Price band: 2/4
• Critics choice

Warm woods and soft lighting evoke a turn-of-the-century general store at this midtown eatery and gourmet emporium. The restaurant, tucked behind the retail shop, suffers from sluggish service, but all is forgiven when tangy Mediterranean spreads—vinegary artichoke dip, hot-pink beet skordalia—hit

Sushi Zen

• Price band: 2/4
• Critics choice

Opt for a seat at the 10-stool sushi counter to witness the respect with which the masters at this peaceful den approach their work: every step, from the preparation of the dishes to the storing of their ingredients is done with a precision and deliberateness akin to artistry. While traditional and

Toloache

• Price band: 2/4
• Critics choice

This Mexican eatery from chef Julian Medina (Maya, Zocalo) suits its Theater District locale: The dynamic, richly appointed duplex is adorned with beautiful tiles and murals of Mexican scenes. Buzzed-about concoctions include a crunchy grasshopper taco, but flashes of brilliance show up in more