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We laid out the case for why New York dining is better than ever. Today, we present the top 17 picks of the year, including a three-way tie for restaurant of 2015.
New American Restaurant · Williamsburg · 43 tips and reviews
Eater: Semilla was one of the three spots awarded best restaurant of 2015. Even if you rarely eat meat,the vegetable-centric Semilla will challenge your notions of what's supposed to taste good.
820 Washington St (btwn Gansevoort & Little W 12th St), New York, NY
Italian Restaurant · Meatpacking District · 160 tips and reviews
Eater: Santina is the last of the three spots awarded best restaurant of 2015. The place is a Renzo Piano-designed glass cube, a human terrarium whose interior evokes the Amalfi Coast circa 1953.
835 Avenue of the Americas (at W 29th St), New York, NY
Portuguese Restaurant · Chelsea · 68 tips and reviews
Eater: The olive-and-egg-laced salt cod casserole for two might be one of the city's best large format dishes (it's even better as a leftover). And they let you order BEER TO GO.
French Restaurant · Lower East Side · 74 tips and reviews
Eater: An affordable share-plates analogue to a spendier tasting menu venue. Imagine beef tartare with pimenton oil, smoked cheddar, horseradish, and buckwheat groats. You dig?
New American Restaurant · East Village · 55 tips and reviews
Eater: Momofuku Ko has transformed into a four-star fine dining gem on the Bowery. Expect bespoke graffiti, a roomy chef's table, and pressed mackerel sushi that would make Jiro Ono himself swoon.
171 E Broadway (btwn Rutgers & Jefferson St), New York, NY
Chinese Restaurant · Two Bridges · 400 tips and reviews
Eater: Mission Chinese has grown into a two-tiered banquet hall with two tasting menus, two cocktail bars, and amuse bouches for everyone (cilantro egg dumplings).
Korean Restaurant · East Village · 81 tips and reviews
Eater: Seafood broth with crispy rice is the type of restorative dish you'd hope for during a winter night, while honey butter chips represent a gourmet delight.
15 W 56th St Fl 1 (btwn 5th & 6th Ave), New York, NY
Fried Chicken Joint · Midtown East · 75 tips and reviews
Eater: This is the only location to grab the Fuku bites. These are chewy, spicy, crunchy improvements to the classic chicken nugget. It's also the only place you can sample Mission Chinese Fuku fingers.
1209 Jackson Ave (btwn 47th Rd & 48th Ave), Queens, NY
Ramen Restaurant · Hunters Point · 158 tips and reviews
Eater: This Long Island City joint serves the city's best tonkotsu. The result is a silky, chowder-like mouthfeel, and a richness level that doesn't make you feel terrible when you're finished.
French Restaurant · Midtown East · 83 tips and reviews
Eater: Expect white tablecloths, four-star service, and elegant Gallic-German fare. That means beer soup with ham hocks, scallion kougelhopf, and foie gras & squab croustillants.
Indian Restaurant · Alphabet City · 139 tips and reviews
Eater: Enter Australian import Babu Ji, whose self-serve beer fridge, casual vibe, and dashes of creativity –– lobster-stuffed potato croquettes! — have generated epic waits for dinner.