Back in September, the Michelin Guide awarded a whopping 76 NYC eateries stars for their 2019 edition.
While the bulk of the stars pay tribute to upscale dining experiences (see: Per Se, Eleven Madison Park), we wanted to know where decorated chefs like to dine when they’re not on the clock.
So we asked seven of the recipients to share their top picks for breakfast, lunch or dinner around this fair(ish) city.
Best part? Unlike the restaurants the chefs themselves helm, you might actually be able to get a reservation at these ones.
Image from Marea
Chef Samuel Clonts, Uchū
“One of my favorite places to dine is the bar at Marea. I love it. It’s perfect for a walk-in. They have some of the best pasta in the city. I usually will go in, order a bottle of champagne and two bowls of pasta: always the Octopus Fusilli, and one of the seasonal offerings on the menu.”
Image from Taco Al Pastor
Chef George Mendes, Aldea
“In Brooklyn, Tacos Al Pastor in Dumbo — insanely fresh, delicious ingredients. I get either the pork or the chicken tacos al pastor. Kudos for making their own fresh tortillas! In NYC, it’s Superiority Burger, because Chef Brooks buys the best of ingredients at the farmers market and prepares the most delicious burgers and other bites. Insane!”
Image from Lilia
Chef Scott Schneider, Ai Fiori at The Langham, New York
“For Breakfast: I love a good bacon, egg and cheese sandwich on either on a soft roll or bagel. I think it’s the perfect hangover cure as well and I love that I can eat it on the go. Rego Bagel is the spot in my neighborhood (Rego Park) where I usually get mine. They do a great version of the authentic classic, but any NYC neighborhood deli or bodega will work.
For lunch: Tonchin has the best ramen, I think, in the city. The spicy ton-ton is one of my favorites and I also love the Japanese potato salad with crab.
For dinner: Lilia in Brooklyn is one of my favorite spots to eat in NYC. It’s hip and the atmosphere is just as good as the food. There is a large selection of really well-made and hearty pasta dishes and a nice selection of appetizers to share, which is what I usually tend to go for.”
Image from Uncle Boon’s
Chef Aaron Bludorn, Café Boulud NY
“One of my favorite restaurants to eat out at in New York City is Uncle Boon’s. It’s a restaurant that represents Thailand in every way. The food is authentic and delicious with a wild ride of sweet, salty, sour and spicy. The ambience is dimly lit with dark wooden carvings and Thai movie posters that truly do transport you to a different country.”
Image from Coppelia
Chef Akshay Bhardwaj, Junoon
“I really enjoy going to Coppelia, which is open 24/7. No matter how late our dinner service runs we can always count on heading over there afterwards and getting consistently great Cuban food and cocktails.”
Image from Kokage
Chef Shion Uino, sushi AMANE
“The go-to is Kokage’s Zaru Soba. Their carefully handcrafted noodles are delicately made with ingredients adjusted based on the day’s weather (moisture content in the air) and the condition of the buckwheat flour. Their attention to detail yields a very fragrant soba noodle that has a nice color and good nodogoshi (smooth texture down your throat). Also, their kaeshi (dipping broth for the soba) is very well balanced and suits their handcrafted soba nicely. I enjoy ordering the sobayu (hot water the soba noodles were boiled in) — add it into the kaeshi and enjoy it all like a soup.”
Image from Aaron + Ursula G./Yelp
Chef David Shim, Cote
“My favorite restaurants to go to are Lanzhou Handmade Noodles and Taijin Dumpling House in the basement of Golden Shopping Mall in Flushing. When I go to Flushing on my days off with the family, we like to stop here often to grab lunch and it always hits the spot. I order the roasted duck hand-pull noodle from the Lanzhou, dozen of pork dumplings and order sides of kelp salad and marinated pig ear to share. I really enjoy this place because it’s all about the food. Everyone shares tables (usually you’re sitting right next to strangers). I see the same guy hand-pulling noodles every time I go and also see the same lady making dumplings as she sells them. It is very genuine, filled with great people and bold flavors, without breaking the bank. And really, the food here is so good!”
Main image from Tonchin
This article was featured in the InsideHook NY newsletter. Sign up now for more from all five boroughs.
