Bordered by lush parks, the Gramercy and Flatiron area is studded with countless restaurants of all levels and styles, including one of the city’s exciting new Italian restaurants, a head-turning Indian spot, anda fancy French steakhouse. Though the neighborhoods
aren’t necessarily culinarily groundbreaking, the options for where to eat are on the up.
The boundaries for Flatiron and Gramercy are 23rd Street to the North, 14th Street to the South, First Avenue to the East and Park Avenue South to the West.
Updates to this map: For this round, we’ve added Thai restaurant Lenlen, San Francisco newcomer Bun Mee, Mexico City’s El Califa de León, and buzzy Mediterranean Motek.
Grandma’s Home
56 West 22nd Street, New York, New York 10010
(646) 329-6770
This is the first branch of a Chinese chain of over 200 restaurants serving the food of Hangzhou, southwest of Shanghai. The decor is sumptuous, featuring modern art and ancient pottery, and sure there are great soup dumplings in the usual permutations. But why not also try the long-simmered peppercorn beef in a lively and incendiary yellow gravy, the scallion oil noodles, or the braised pork belly served with steamed bao instead of rice.
El Califa de León
20 W 23rd St, New York, NY, 10010, US
The nearly 60-year-old Mexico City taqueria — which was the world’s first Michelin-starred taqueria in 2024 — has landed in Flatiron. Start with the gaonera, its signature taco of thin-sliced beef tenderloin cooked with little more than salt and lime; then move on to bistec with New York strip; costilla with rib-eye; or chuleta with pork chop. Corn tortillas come from Sobre Masa, and there’s a vegetarian taco with poblano and huitlacoche created specially for New York. Unlike the tiny Mexico City original, this one has a dining room in addition to standing tables and margaritas.
S&P Lunch
174 5th Avenue, Manhattan, NY
(212) 691-8862
Eric Finkelstein and Matt Ross of Court Street Grocers run S&P in Flatiron, formerly Eisenberg’s, an old-school lunch counter, the latest in a handful of owners in the spot’s near 100-year history. This is the kind of place to order a pastrami sandwich, bacon and peanut butter, a cheeseburger, a tuna melt, or a ham and cheese — and an egg cream. The restaurant hasdipped into evening bar possibilities through May, too.
La Tete d’Or
318 Park Ave S, New York, NY, 10010, US
(212) 597-9155
This is Daniel Boulud’s newest restaurant, a pricey French steakhouse that’s also very good. There’s no bad seat in the sleek dining room, where every table is a perch to people watch, yet you’re far enough away from other tables to have private conversations. Order the onion soup, the French wedge, your favorite beef cut with all the sauces, and sides like potatoes gratin. Fun desserts include soft serve sundaes, the cookies, or bananas brulee.
Maki Kosaka
55 W 19th St, New York, NY, 10011, US
(917) 261-5538
Maki Kosaka, the more affordable offshoot of Michelin-starred omakase spot Kosaka, is one of the neighborhood’s top options for downing sushi in a pretty, flower-filled space thanks to the plant shop connected to the restaurant. There are over a dozen versions of stuffed temaki rolls and “grab” sushi served with sheets of toasted nori seaweed for customers to use to scoop up the fish and rice. Or, let the restaurant do the choosing for you with two different under-$50 set sushi meals.
Bun Mee
115 East 23rd Street, New York, New York 10010, United States
San Francisco staple Bun Mee opened its first location outside of California in October. It originally came from Denise Tran, who debuted the first one in 2011 and now has five locations in San Francisco. The New York location and two planned follow-ups will be operated by John McClave, who works in real estate; his wife, Nam Hoang; their son, Egan; and Hoang’s brother, Huy. The shop serves six variations on banh mi in addition to salad, noodle, or rice bowls, plus sides including fries and chicken wings.
Motek – Flatiron
928 Broadway Flatiron, New York, NY, 10010, US
The Miami-born Levantine chain drew a line down the block when it opened here, its first New York location, in September 2025. It has since expanded across Manhattan. Start with the wood-fired laffa, which you cut at the table with scissors, and a few spreads: labneh with za’atar, spicy feta with roasted pepper, or the beet taramasalata. Then order the harissa spare ribs, the crispy cabbage salad with lime-mint vinaigrette, and the lamb shawarma. The kitchen cooks without seed oils, and most dishes run under $40. On weekdays from 2 to 5 p.m., mini pitas, wine, beer, and cocktails are $5 each.
Coqodaq
12 E 22nd St, New York, NY 10010
(855) 446-7379
Simon Kim’s follow-upto his steakhouse Cote dresses up Korean fried chicken served beside oysters, caviar, and Champagne. The deal, a $42 bucket, includes consommé, two kinds of gluten-free fried chicken, sauces, and cold perilla noodles. Save room for soft serve frozen yogurt.
Bōm
17 W 19th St, New York, NY, 10011, US
+12122561368
A hidden jewel tucked inside Oiji Mi, this Michelin-starred cushy 17-seat counter is the setting for a tasting from Brian Kim, who begins with bite-sized seafood selections such as ossetra caviar with Chinese dates and tofu; and king crab with anchovy, and moves on to grilled meats including wagyu with truffles and smoked trout roe.
Massara
913 Broadway, New York, New York 10010
+16462120913
Stefano Secchi and his partner, David Switzer, have opened this bigger follow-up to sibling to Rezdôra. It emphasizes rustic charm and the dishes of Southern Italy with live-fire cooking and a grill. Consider starters like octopus with beans and the sweet mosto cotto, pizzette, and a chicory salad. Move on to share a couple of Secchi’s famous pastas with sausage and broccoli rabe or with tomatoes and scamorza and potatoes. There’s also whole fish and meaty bistecca wagyu.
Cosme
35 E 21st St, New York, NY, 10010, US
(212) 913-9659
This standby from Enrique Olvera was groundbreaking when it opened in 2014, celebrated for its showcasing of Mexican flavors in a modern fine dining setting. Start with whatever tostadas and aguachile are on the menu; move on to a tlayuda, consider the main course mole, and don’t miss the duck carnitas. And of course, the signature dessert is the cornhusk meringue.
Hawksmoor NYC
109 E 22nd St, New York, NY 10010, USA
(212) 777-1840
This U.K.-based chain’s first stateside location garnered attention for its steak menu and opulent dining room inside the restored United Charities Building in Gramercy. But what shouldn’t be overlooked, as former Eater critic Ryan Sutton notes, are the more affordable steaks — including a dry-aged rump roast that currently goes for $40 — that are not only a good value but stand up to some of the best steakhouses in NYC. The steakhouse also has a number of specials — a Sunday Roast; $10 corkage Mondays; a Wednesday through Saturday lunch for one ($25), two ($40), and three courses ($55); and a more affordable bar menu.
Passerine
36 East 20th Street, New York, New York 10003
+12126804945
Chef Chetan Shetty, who has cooked in New Delhi, Washington, DC, and Chicago, plays with Indian flavors to make showy dishes, enhancing humble recipes with luxury ingredients and thoughtful presentations. There are a couple of avenues for how to order: the $140 tasting menu, the snacky drawing room, and a la carte.
LenLen
40 East 20th Street, New York, New York 10003, United States
+16464298220
This new bar inspired by 1970s Bangkok features a menu of familiar Thai comfort-food dishes and street stall fare from Peter Ki Suk Tondreau, with items like roasted chile eggplant dip and crab-fried rice. Drinks range from a jasmine martini or Thai tea to wine pours by the glass for under $20 and reasonably priced by the bottle.
Gramercy Tavern
42 E 20th St, New York, NY, 10003, US
(212) 477-0777
One of Danny Meyer’s most famous restaurants, this grand space where chef Michael Anthony has won three New York Times stars and a slew of James Beard Awards, houses two experiences: the dining room with a $175 menu, and the more relaxed a la carte Tavern. Among the price-fixe dishes are roasted carrots with quinoa and pumpkin seeds; summer squash ravioli with ricotta and lemon; roasted duck breast and bacon with wild rice; and lamb with beans and kale. Tavern options include roasted oysters with Swiss chard and apple; duck liver mousse with sour cherries; grilled pork shoulder with squash and tomatoes; sweet potato pappardelle with braised beef; and wood-fired bass with bacon aioli.
Chito Gvrito
173 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10003, USA
(646) 767-0154
If the recent rise of Georgian restaurants in New York City had to be traced back to one dish, it would no doubt be khachapuri adjaruli. The hollowed out bread that looks like a boat filled with molten cheese, butter, and sometimes a raw egg yolk is a star dish at Chito Gvrito. But there are nearly a half dozen versions of khachapuri here along with lamb chops and eggplant rolls that make this spot stand out among the recent spate of Georgian establishments opening across the city.
Joe Jr.
167 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10003, USA
(212) 473-5150
At this low-key diner-coffee shop, frequented by locals and looking blissfully untouched by time, resides one of the city’s best burgers. The no-frills, griddled burger here is crafted from seven ounces of fresh ground chuck. A standard white bun encases the juicy, crumbly patty, which is accessorized with the classics: lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, and, if desired, American cheese.
