These 12 famous NYC restaurants are worth visiting at least once

This cavernous cafeteria is a repository of New York history, and its classic Jewish deli offerings are nonpareil. Be sure to go hungry: start with a snappy, all-beef hot dog, then flag down a meat cutter and order one of legendary sandwiches. Go for the brisket, which sings underneath a generous spread of horseradish, or the thick-cut pastrami stacked high between slices of rye and a layer of spicy brown mustard.

Although a slew of Luger copycats have prospered in the last several years, none have captured the elusive charm of this beer-hall style eatery, with well-worn wooden floors and table and waiters in waistcoats and bow ties. Excess is the name of the game here, like exemplified by the huge porterhouse for two. Go for it all—it’s a singular New York experience that’s worth having.

This cherished Harlem mainstay has been serving some of the city’s best soul food for more than 60 years. Classic dishes like the chitterlings, fried catfish and smothered chicken and waffles are truly memorable. Each side dish (there are nearly a dozen options) is worth trying, but the candied yams and collards are especially divine.

When the OG location of the famous frank joint triumphantly reopened in the spring of 2013 after Hurricane Sandy forced it to close for the first time in nearly a century, it wasn’t just the unofficial start to summer—it was the comeback of the year. The original subway tiles and iconic signage still shine, as do menu staples like crinkle-cut fries and thick-battered corn dogs.

The Grand Central legend has been located inside the epic and gorgeous hub that shares its name since the terminal itself opened. Pan roasts and chowders are still on offer beneath that iconic vaulted ceiling today, 111 years after they first started hitting the tables. Reliably awe-inspiring platters of just-shucked oysters are available in up to a whopping three-dozen varieties to choose from at any given time. Note: Grand Central Oyster bar is presently only open on weekdays (11:30 AM to 9:30 PM).

First opened at another location nearby in 1920, this Chinatown mainstay has been a pillar for all hours gatherings of groups of all sizes and stripes for over 100 years. Still a New York City dim sum favorite today, you’ll choose from oodles of small plates options like roast pork buns, rice rolls and every style of dumpling imaginable. Don’t be surprised if you’re planning your next visit for more before you walk out the door.

With interiors adorned with memorabilia like the smoking pipes of long-ago guests like Babe Ruth and Teddy Roosevelt, beveled-glass doors, two working fireplaces and dark woods that recall a time when Gilded Age baron “Diamond Jim” Brady piled his table with bushels of oysters, slabs of seared beef and troughs of ale, a visit to Keen’s feels like stepping back in time decades. To this day, the menu includes a thick mutton chop and steaks that hold their own against any in town.

For 75 years, the gilded dining room nestled inside Central Park was a New York hallmark and a scenic magnet for tourists, brides and megawatt diners (Grace Kelly, John Lennon) alike. When the razzle-dazzle cash cow went bankrupt and shuttered in 2010, many big-name backers expressed interest in reviving the historic space, but a pair of Philadelphia crêpe-makers won the bid. The pair revamped the landmark as an urban farmhouse decorated with wood-beam ceilings, leather-covered tables and multiple hearths, with an elevated rustic menu to match.

A fancy red-sauce purlieu like Bamonte’s for old-school, family-style strengths: think superb clams casino, seafood fra diavolo, stuffed mushrooms and grill top staples like lamb and veal chops and shell ribeye steak. But it’s also got a storied legacy as the place to be on Sunday nights, which consistently makes it one of the hardest reservations to get in town.

The storied slice at Harry Rosen's 73-year-old Downtown Brooklyn mainstay is so revered that it has become synonymous with New York–style cheesecake itself. To this day, it’s made the same way, with humble Philadelphia cream cheese and a sponge cake base. But that’s not all: the all-day cafe also serves up some of the best diner fare in the city.

While this celebrated saloon is certainly long in the tooth (139 years young), occasional updates regularly revitalize the old boy. Most importantly, the hamburger is still juicy and customizable, with topping choices like cheese, bacon, chili or béarnaise sauce. For some lighter-but-still-decadent fare, the Maine Lobster cobb salad, with its succulent lobster meat over bright greens and chunks of blue cheese, is a great steak alternative.

Minetta Tavern’s lovingly restored dining room is still as nostalgic as always, maintaining much of its 1930s-era scenic charm to this day. And don’t sleep on the menu, which delivers impeccably executed New York bistro specials like housemade paparadelle, in addition to rich classics like steak tartare and fois gras.