The top restaurant groups in NYC have a history of creating some of the city’s most iconic restaurants. The Union Square Cafe was one of the first places in the city to relax and enjoy fine dining, and Gramercy Tavern redefined American cuisine with its acclaimed burgers. Whether you prefer Southern cuisine or Michelin-starred fare, this group has something to offer everyone.
Union Square Hospitality
Union Square Hospitality is one of the best-known restaurant groups in the city. Founded in 1985, the group has a long and successful history. Many of its restaurants have received Michelin stars. Union Square Hospitality is home to many iconic NYC restaurants, including the Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, and Shake Shack. Its restaurants boast an impressive range of cuisines, including Southern and Michelin-starred dishes.
The group’s restaurants serve excellent food with warm, personal service. Its best-known restaurants include Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, Blue Smoke, and Jazz Standard. The group also owns Union Square Events, a restaurant incubator that offers culinary training.
Union Square Hospitality Group has a new requirement for employees to be vaccinated against Covid, a viral disease caused by the co-infection of two types of bacteria. Those working indoors must have proof of vaccination. Unvaccinated diners are still allowed to eat outside.
Union Square Hospitality has been criticized for some of its labor practices, but it is committed to pursuing a positive change for the sake of the staff. Danny Meyer’s focus on the working conditions of his restaurants has helped inspire other restaurateurs to follow suit. The company has also recently been recognized as one of the industry leaders in paying employees a fair wage.
Happy Cooking Hospitality
Happy Cooking Hospitality is a New York City restaurant group founded by Gabriel Stulman, and it has become one of the city’s premier dining destinations. The group’s restaurants include Studio, George Washington Bar, Simon, Whale, and The Jones. Gabriel Stulman has developed his love for the hospitality industry while working in restaurants around the city.
Happy Cooking Hospitality opened its first restaurant, Joseph Leonard, in the West Village, in 2009. The group now owns four restaurants in New York. Joseph Leonard, named after Gabriel’s two grandfathers, is an American Bistro with classic French influences. Jeffrey’s Grocery, an oyster bar, is another popular restaurant. The group is working on its fourth restaurant, The Jones, which will open in April.
Gabe Stulman’s Jolene restaurant is located on Great Jones Street in NoHo. The menu includes classic American bistro favorites. Dishes include Zucchini Fritters, Steak Tartare, and asparagus with anchovy butter. The restaurant’s prime location and beautiful view of downtown Manhattan make it a popular spot among fashionable Manhattanites.
Gage and Tollner
Founded in 1879, Gage and Tollner are one of the oldest dining institutions in the city. Their iconic dark-toned beer hall-style dining room on Fulton Street is one of the city’s landmarked interiors. It was so popular that the restaurant was sold out by 1911, but its founder Eugene Tollner kept the doors open and made the rounds every day until his untimely death on his way to work.
Gage & Tollner is located in a building that has undergone many transformations. In the past, it was helmed by legendary Brooklyn chef Edna Lewis. Two longtime hospitality veterans have revived the restaurant: chef Sohui Kim and Ben Schneider. The upscale eatery is a popular destination for Brooklynites who love classic cooking. Guests can enjoy steak, clam belly broils, baked Alaskas, Parker House rolls, and Pink Ladies.
Gage & Tollner has been in New York City for over a century and recently reopened its Brooklyn location. The historic building is landmarked on the exterior, and the dining room was only the third interior space in New York City to receive landmark status. The New York Public Library and Grant’s Tomb also have landmark status.
Tao’s
Tao’s is one of the best places to eat in New York City. The group has seven restaurants, including Tao Asian Bistro, number one for a fourth consecutive year, Tao Downtown in New York City, and Lavo New York. The food at Tao’s is considered modern and fresh, and the prices are reasonable. The food is served at two locations in New York, one in the Chelsea neighborhood and one in midtown Manhattan.
Tao’s New York City restaurants are designed to make every meal an experience. Their food and drinks are unique and delicious, and their decor is filled with Buddha sculptures, geisha graffiti, and faded Chinese calligraphy. The restaurant’s lounge and bar follow the same decor mantra, serving up boozy beverages to accompany their finger-licking menu.
Tao Group is a nightlife company owning restaurants in Manhattan and around the country. Some of their other restaurants are Lavo and Beauty and Essex. The company also recently announced that it would open several restaurants at the Marriott Moxy hotel, located at 485 Seventh Avenue at West 36th Street. The hotel will feature Tao-run projects on the second floor and a rooftop bar with fantastic views of the Empire State Building.
Astoria, Queens cocktail bar
The Queens Astoria is home to the DiWine gastropub and cocktail bar. The restaurant offers inventive cocktails and cheese and meat charcuterie boards. The restaurant is open for dinner until 1 AM daily and offers happy hour specials. Nearby, Zenon Taverna is a splendid Greek restaurant.
Weekend Sun is the neighborhood’s most famous cocktail bar. Designed with a chic industrial aesthetic, this cocktail bar offers a mix of small plates and larger main dishes. The cocktail menu has a variety of exotic drinks, such as absinthe and rum. The neighborhood has a large population of immigrants, making it one of the last untouched hotspots in New York.
Astoria is home to an eclectic dining scene, from historic Greek institutions to Egyptian seafood shacks and Colombian bakeries to requisite bars. Despite its diversity, health experts consider dining out a high-risk activity for unvaccinated people. But even vaccinated patrons can be at risk in a neighborhood with high COVID transmission levels.
Astoria is home to a variety of Brazilian restaurant groups. The Brazilian-inspired food culture is prevalent in Astoria, where plenty of grill houses and juice bars exist. While there are numerous Italian restaurants in New York City, the «kilo» culture is particularly popular at Point Brazil. The restaurant’s popular menu includes a 15-hour-smoked brisket. In addition, the restaurant serves several other fresh seafood items.
Bridge Cafe soft shell crab
This historic seafood shack has served local soft shell crabs since the late eighteenth century. Financiers and politicians also frequented the tavern. Even President Biden was a frequent customer. Though heavily damaged by Hurricane Sandy, the bar hopes to reopen soon. The pub is tucked away in a hidden seafood shack in Soho.
Ear Inn in Soho
Located in the far west part of Soho, the Ear Inn is one of the most iconic bars in New York City. It is one of the oldest bars in the city and is literally inside the Holland Tunnel. It also has one of the best beer lists in the city. Broome Street Bar is a classic bar with lots of space and a long list of beers. It is also one of the few bars of its kind in the heart of Soho.
This intimate and cozy bar was once home to colorful characters from the Hudson. It features a dark wood bar, wobbly tables, and retro ephemera. The locals love the place, which is hard to miss, despite its small size.
The history of the Ear Inn dates back to 1890. Its building was initially built for the African-American James Brown, an aide to George Washington. Irishman Tom Cloke subsequently turned it into a rough boozer for dockers. The name «ear» refers to a monthly music magazine published upstairs.
