Our ‘Best of NYC’ list is growing and every month we’ll highlight the top spots you need to check out. This month we wanted to curate a list of the most impressive restaurants to visit. 

The ambiance of a restaurant can make or break an evening, so it's crucial to strike the right balance between food and vibes. If you’re on a first date, you might want to go somewhere more intimate, like & Son’s, where you can talk and get to know one another inside their Steakeasy (steakhouse and speakeasy). On the other hand, if you’re planning a birthday bash you might want to go somewhere with an exciting scene, like Catch. 

With many of us starting to gather for the holidays and make New Year's Eve plans, we rounded up the best restaurants in NYC where you can celebrate with impressive food and a good atmosphere. The best part? While you won't get any of these meals for less than $20, all of these restaurants are part of Bilt Dining so you’ll earn bonus Bilt Points when you pay with any Mastercard®, Visa®, or American Express® linked to your Bilt Wallet. Check out our favorites in NYC right now.

Reyna in Union Square 

Good for: Catching up with friends, birthday dinners, impressive cocktails

A true feast for your eyes and stomach, the gorgeous Mediterranean Tapas and cocktail bar serves impeccable vibes and is great if you’re looking for impressive drinks and tapas to share. 

The restaurant features a long marble bar when you walk in and pink and teal velvet seating throughout the restaurant. Their signature cocktails are served in unique presentations. Eleanor’s Mistress is a gin-based cocktail served with a beautiful white rose and Bored in Buckingham, a bourbon-based beverage, is assembled tableside and torched to give it a subtle rosemary aroma.

But it isn’t just the cocktails that impress, the food is just as captivating. Their tapas infuse Turkish, Greek, and Spanish flavors, which you’ll find in dishes like their signature lamb shank baklava. The house made dips are fresh and easy to share, with the muhammara and labneh being some of the most popular. 

The Lebanese tacos with falafel and the manchego and cauliflower croquet are super flavorful and unique. However, the most underrated dish on the menu might be the big green salad. It packs major taste and crunch. We highly recommend this place if you're looking for a unique dining experience and want a little taste of everything.

Philippe Chow in the Meatpacking District

Good for: group dinners, birthdays, work dinners

A New York institution, Philippe Chow, an upscale Chinese restaurant, has been serving Manhattan’s sophisticated foodies for over 15 years. Their Upper East Side location is more formal, while the newer downtown Meatpacking spot is a bit sexier and is the place to be if you’re looking for more of a scene for large parties or a special date.

Downtown, you’ll descend a mirrored staircase into a dark and vibey restaurant. A good beginning to your meal is one of their traditional satay dishes, like the chicken satay skewers (covered in signature peanut sauce), soup dumplings, and “Mr. Cheng’s noodles” which are hand-pulled and served with the most delicious pork sauce. 

Peking duck is always the measure of a Chinese restaurant, and this tableside one is quite impressive. It’s carved to perfection with very thin, crisp mahogany skin, served with a plum hoisin sauce, fluffy bao buns, and fresh cucumber and scallion sticks. To finish the meal they serve a cotton candy baked Alaska, which is torched tableside and a must if you’re celebrating a special occasion.

Catch in the Meatpacking District

Good for: birthdays, group dinners, people-watching

If you’re looking for a cool scene with people watching, Catch is the place to be. Known for its restaurant-club vibes, you’ll often find celebrities and influencers here for their popular sushi and seafood dishes. After dinner, you can head to their rooftop which turns into a lounge with bottle service after 10 pm. If you’re more into steak, Catch Steak recently opened up around the corner and serves up similar vibes.  

The menu is primarily composed of global-inspired seafood and excellent sushi, like the signature Catch roll. This features crab, salmon, and miso-honey and is torched to perfection tableside. The sashimi menu is impressive, with the madai ceviche( Japanese Red Snapper, Pickled Peach, Pomegranate, and Citrus-Amarillo Sauce) recently debuting. A classic favorite that will impress any truffle lover is the truffle sashimi. It’s fresh, flavorful, and perfect for sharing. 

You can't go wrong with their main courses, but splitting a handful of appetizers with the table allows you to sample more of their food. The crispy shrimp with spicy mayo is a must-order and for meat lovers, the crispy chicken bao buns and wagyu fried rice are fabulous. The fried rice is served in a sizzling skillet with an egg yolk, that makes the dish perfectly creamy. And don't forget to order the “Hit Me” Chocolate Cake, which comes with a Klondike-type ice cream bar on top that one lucky diner can smash open with a spoon. 

Catch and Catch Steak has locations in NYC, LA, Aspen, and Vegas.

& Son Steakeasy in the West Village

Good for: intimate dinners, catching up with old friends, dinner and drink specials

Directly across from the 9th Street Path Station, you would have no idea that this hidden gem in the West Village features a grand dining room and cozy speakeasy bar. 

When you walk in you’ll find an inviting casual bar where you can enjoy happy hour and food specials all week, like their Adult Happy Meal served Wednesday - Friday from 5-7 pm (Prime burger, fries, and a beer for $25). Head further back to the dining room and you’ll find a beautiful, low-lit room lined with leather booths. Upstairs though is the prime spot, where you’ll find a cozy library bar and a few dinner tables that overlook the restaurant. 

While you can dine a la carte, they offer an all-inclusive steak dinner, starting at $49 per person that allows you to select an appetizer (pigs and a blanket or a bread basket), salad (Caesar or wedge), and an option of four cuts of steak. The meal comes with three sides (creamed spinach, garlicky mashed potatoes, and creamed spinach) so luckily you don't need to make any decisions there. 

Bottom Line

While you don't have to hunt too hard to find the best pasta in NYC or the best pizza in NYC, finding a good restaurant for an impressive meal or special occasion can be hit or miss. With impressive meals can also come an impressive bill, but thanks to Bilt Dining you’ll earn bonus points when you dine at any of these restaurants.