Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Skip to footer

Ahoy NY Food Tours Blog

Back to Ahoy NY Food Tours Blog

The Best Restaurants in New York City of 2014

Happy New Year! We wanted to take a quick look back at 2014. It was truly a big year for the New York food scene. There were a number of high profile restaurant openings, adding many tempting new options to try. Here are the best restaurants in New York City of 2014.

Mission Chinese Food – 171 E Broadway
For what seems like far too long, Mission Chinese Food finally reopened in a new location in the Lower East Side. They are still serving fresh innovative takes to classic Chinese dishes like their cumin lamb ribs and lobster & coconut fried rice.

Ivan Ramen Slurp Shop – 600 11th Ave
There are a lot of ramen shops in New York City but Ivan Ramen Slurp Shop is truly something special. They offer authentic, delicious ramen that really hits the spot at the always buzzing Gotham West Market.

Gato – 324 Lafayette St
Bobby Flay’s latest venture in New York City is Gato, a fun Spanish restaurant in NoHo. To cut to the chase, their paella is an absolute must!

99 Favor Taste – 285 Grand St
99 Favor Taste is a unique restaurant in Chinatown that offers hot pot and tableside grilling. There are many beef, chicken, seafood and vegetable options for both. It has been packed ever since it opened so a reservation is highly recommended.

Bacchanal – 146 Bowery
Just outside of Chinatown, there is Bacchanal. They have a beautiful dining room and a menu full of tempting dishes that are sure to excite including (but not limited to) their grilled Spanish octopus, grilled Sirloin steak and roasted venison.

The Halal Guys – 307 E 14 St & Other Locations
If you are looking for a quick, tasty lunch around the city, halal food carts are a great option. One of the most well-known Halal carts is the The Halal Guys. In fact, they opened their first storefront this year on 14th Street, a few blocks away from Union Square. Their chicken over rice is definitely worth the trip.

Cherche Midi – 282 Bowery
We were sad to see the popular pizzeria Pulino’s close but in its place there is Cherche Midi which is a classic French restaurant that also serves dishes like lobster ravioli and prime rib (both highly recommended). In addition, it is great spot for brunch.

Dirty French – 180 Ludlow St
Dirty French is another French restaurant that also has been the talk of the town. Their food is simply a work of art and is insanely delicious. Lamb carpaccio, tuna tartare, steak au poivre…Mmmm.

Russ & Daughters Cafe – 127 Orchard St
Russ & Daughters is our go to spot for lox, cheese and more and we were very excited about the opening of the Russ & Daughters Cafe. They have all the Jewish comfort foods and we especially love the classics like their bagel with lox and potato latkes.

Mighty Quinn’s – 103 2nd Ave & Other Locations
Finally Mighty Quinn’s was somewhat of a hidden gem entering 2014 but they have since expanded to two new locations and they had their share of buzz in 2014. Their stars are definitely their ribs and brisket, which are both just packed with flavor. Mighty Quinn’s is in fact our pick for the best BBQ restaurant in New York City. These are not words that we throw around lightly.

Mighty Quinn's Barbeque Dinner