An insider's guide to New York dining: Lyft rideshare data reveals where locals love to eat
An insider's guide to New York dining: Lyft rideshare data reveals where locals love to eat
It's a crime to have a bad meal in New York. But with so many restaurants to choose from, you can't blame visitors for sticking to tried-and-true classics — even if it means they're often rubbing elbows with fellow tourists.
dug into its rideshare data to discover which hot restaurants are most likely to fill up with local New Yorkers — and which are particularly popular among out-of-towners. Here's what we found:
Where locals go
The Brooklyn "Park" Effect: Walter's, Bernie's, Colonia Verde, and Le Crocodile
Four of the top seven spots were park-adjacent Brooklyn restaurants: , , , and .
Nestled right next to Fort Greene Park, Walter's — coming in first place as Lyft locals' most popular restaurant — is a with a simple menu. Colonia Verde, also near Fort Greene Park, is a Latin food spot with a with a ceiling made of .
Bernie's, located right on the edge of Brooklyn's beloved McCarren Park, serves reliable, hearty,. And not far away is Le Crocodile, a more French restaurant located at the Wythe Hotel.
New and Trendy: Rolo's, Trad Room, and Winona's
Although only opened in , the has dubbed it a Critic's Pick — so at this point, it's . (Fun fact: "The Bear" star used to this Ridgewood spot before he was famous.)
With only under its belt, is a Japanese izakaya bar in Bedford-Stuyvesant (off the Utica Avenue subway stop) that offers an expansive menu of sashimi, sushi rolls, burgers, and fried chicken.
Another Bed-Stuy haunt, is a natural wine bar with a wide range of food options like smoked fish pâté and fresh tagliatelle.
Downtown Staples: Wu's Wonton King, Cervo's, & Emmett's on Grove
With several round tables and a massive menu that's ideal for sharing plates, , established in on the Lower East Side, is known for its authentic Chinese dishes. Plus, it's BYOB.
Located in Chinatown, serves Iberian-inspired seafood and offers a chic, tiled set-up for outdoor dining.
The only West Village restaurant to break the locals' list is , which self-describes as a "." With cozy wood paneling and plenty of seats at the bar, it's known for its tavern-style pizza and has a particularly affordable happy hour.
Where visitors go
New York Classics: Tavern on the Green, John's of Bleecker, and Joe's Shanghai
A trip to New York isn't complete without a classic New York slice — and what better place to grab a pie than in the heart of Greenwich Village at , which has been making pizza since ? Just be prepared: You'll likely have to get .
Nestled along the edge of Central Park, location is simply unbeatable. The iconic New York spot first in the 1880s before transforming into a restaurant in and has been featured in over the past 45 years (including "Ghostbusters"!).
— the only Manhattan restaurant south of Houston to make the list – claims to have served millions of its iconic soup dumplings over the almost three decades it's been in Chinatown.
Celebrity Chefs: Red Rooster Harlem and Eleven Madison Park
Marcus Samuelsson's is known for its "" food (particularly the ) and fun environment that includes a bar and live music. Bonus points if you can make it for the "Sunday Gospel Experience" brunch at Ginny's Supper Club downstairs.
, owned and run by chef Daniel Humm, has been around for more than 20 years, has , and notably in 2021.
Iconic Steak Houses: Keens and Peter Luger
The iconic , which opened in Midtown in 1885, embraces its history with its throwback decor: wood paneling and leather couches abound and smoking pipes line the ceiling.
Similarly impressive in its history is , which opened in Williamsburg in — it was the only restaurant on the list to lure tourists from Manhattan to an outer borough.
Transformative Aesthetics: Thai Villa, La Grande Boucherie, and Baar Baar
La Grande Boucherie, a French brasserie that fills up an entire block in Midtown, features an ornate bar, a fancy area specifically dedicated to seafood, and a dining area — filled with greenery and skylights — that makes you feel like you're eating .
Thai Villa is adorned with lamps, intricate floor tiling, candles, and golden decor. Located in New York's Flatiron neighborhood, this restaurant is known for its classic and authentic Thai dishes that are "."
In a similar vein, Indian gastro bar Baar Baar boasts an with quirky light fixtures, an impressive cocktail bar, and art painted directly on the wall. The spot is also known for its Indian that's accompanied by live music.
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