NYC Has 4 Of The 50 Best Restaurants In America, New Ranking Says

NEW YORK CITY — Four of America’s best restaurants are located in New York City, according to a new list from The New York Times.

To develop The Restaurant List, 14 New York Times and editors took 76 flights to 33 states, where they ate more than 200 meals, the publication said. The sleuths showed up unannounced and made reservations through a smartphone app.

"We pay for all of our food, and we don’t accept freebies. We eat like you do, with the same hope for a meal to remember, to be welcomed and delighted," The Times wrote.

More than half of the restaurants have opened since the 2024 list was published, The Times said.

In New York City, four new Manhattan restaurants stood out as remarkable, according to the Times.

Borgo

Brooklyn restaurateur Andrew Tarlow has crossed the river with Borgo, his first Manhattan spot, which opened in September 2024 in Kips Bay.

Chef Jordan Frosolone reimagines Italian classics — think molten fontina-filled focaccia, Sungold-bright ravioli, and wood-fired branzino — served in a candlelit dining room with a roving martini cart.

As New York Times critic Melissa Clark puts it, "Borgo’s smart, confident cooking and timeless, welcoming sensibility make it feel as if it’s been there forever. Let’s hope that eventually comes true."

Borgo is located at 124 E 27th St., New York, NY 10016, and is open seven days a week.

Ha’s Snack Bar

At Ha's Snack Bar, a tiny Lower East Side bistro, chefs Anthony Ha and Sadie Mae Burns-Ha blend French technique with Vietnamese flavors — think tripe-stuffed vol-au-vent, chile-crisp head cheese, and fish sauce in everything. Ha's Snack Bar opened in January 2025, and a larger version is in the works, The New York Times’ Priya Krishna reports.

"The two plan to open a larger version of the restaurant soon. How will they top a warm-up act that’s already exceptional?" Krishna writes.

Ha's Snack Bar is located at 297 Broome St., New York, NY 10002, and is open every day except Sunday and Monday.

Kabawa

"Love yuh self," the menu at Kabawa declares, and chef Paul Carmichael delivers with a Caribbean tasting menu rooted in his Barbadian upbringing and bold imagination.

Expect airy-edged bammy, pepper shrimp reimagined as a Scotch-bonnet–streaked crudo, and goat so tender it falls apart at the touch, all served at a counter facing the open-concept kitchen.

Next door, Bar Kabawa keeps the party going with shaved-ice daiquiris and flaky patties, The New York Times’ Ligaya Mishan reports.

Owned by Momofuku, this East Village restaurant opened in March 2025.

Kabawa is located at 8 Extra Pl., New York, NY 10003, and is open Tuesday through Saturday.

Smithereens

At Smithereens, Nicholas Tamburo’s moody new seafood spot in the East Village, the inspiration is less beachy clam shack and more like the deep waters of New England, The New York Times’ Ligaya Mishan reports.

Tamburo shines a spotlight on underdog catches like bluefish, mackerel and whiting — using every part, even the bones — while giving classics a surprising twist. Chowder comes frothed over creamy rice with hidden quahogs, and the cider doughnut might be the best you’ll ever taste Mishan wrote.

"Dark and stormy is the theme of this seafood restaurant, which pays homage to the flinty soul of New England but charts a course all its own," Mishan wrote.

Smithereens is located at 414 E 9th St., New York, NY 10009, and is open Tuesday through Saturday.

Know of a business opening or closing in Manhattan? Email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.