Mouthwatering Gastropubs in New York

Baar Baar

★★★★☆ 3.9 • $$$

"Everything from the service to the ambiance to the food was top tier. I'm shocked that the Star rating in Yelp isn't above a 4 - while I was worried it would be overhyped, the food exceeded my already high expectations. The diced lamb appetizer was amazing and the chicken in the meat platter practically melted in my mouth. They were also super accommodating with allergies and made sure to clearly separate things out for me. The biryani was overflowing with flavor and the lamb fell right off the bone and was so tender. The drinks were also strong yet delicious!! If you're looking for a fun place to celebrate a special occasion, the staff will also make sure you have an amazing time."

Rosie O'Grady's

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (668) • $$

"Walked in to get some steak for lunch. A big party was booked for the bar area as that was the only TV. Stood around and really wanted a place there with TV for college football. The host was super nice and tried helping out by sending us to another place with TVs, we walked out then decided to come back because the food looked better here. Then he worked some magic and was able to sit us at a table in the TV area. Amazing! Food ordered were all good except the chicken was overcooked. Steak was cooked very well. Definitely a bit more rare if you want medium (i had no issues with it) came with mashed potatoes. Burger was great. Fries regular. Chicken burger minus the buns. I asked for more lettuce instead but guess it's a rare request. No big deal since the portions were big. Ordered spicy margaritas which were great. All in all, it was a good place. Yelp reviews are definitely subpar compared to their google review. I appreciate the staff were attentive and had a good experience. We went for lunch. Bathroom is past the wine cellar and down to the right. Only suggestion there is handless knobs, because you know some people do not wash their hands!"

Allswell

★★★★☆ 3.7 (467) • $$

"Love it - great food, good price and great staff. One of my favorite neighborhood spots."

Mad For Chicken

★★★★☆ 3.9 (74)

"I would consider this fast casual, and within that class I would rate it a 4.We got the bulgogi bowl and the soy garlic wings with fries. Oh yeah and a couple of lychee martinis. The bowl was good, but had I known they had regular japchae I would've preferred that. The bulgogi was a bit sweet for my personal taste, but it was otherwise seasoned well and cooked just right. And the proportion to other ingredients in the bowl was on the mark. The chicken and fries were good, but not so distinctively superior to any other Korean fried chicken in the city. Most notable was the service. We basically had 20 minutes to dine and drink because we were in a rush. We let the host and server know up front and they got us taken care of. And they were so sweet. And they gave us a bonus bowl of fresh popcorn. Thanks for the kind treatment!"

Bar Basic

★★★★☆ 3.9 (155) • $$

"Great Tex mec food with updated twists. Loved my grilled corn & romaine salad, also tasted the kale quesadilla which was out of this world! Service was friendly and prompt. Atmosphere was a casual bar and a few tables, some in the back outside. There is a opening to the street which gives the place an open, airy feel to it. On seventh Ave in Brooklyn near a lot of other area neighborhood stores. Convenient street parking."

The Penrose

★★★★☆ 3.9 • $$

"The Penrose was adorable for a cute Sunday brunch! We had a carafe of Bellini's, delicious food and a wait staff that was extremely sweet & hospitable. A really cute neighborhood joint if you're ever in the area but even still, one I'd travel to. Absolutely would visit again, the food surprised me I must say everything was absolutely delicious!"

Oscar Wilde

★★★★☆ 3.8 • $$$

"11/14/24: We stopped in Oscar Wilde's around 4:30 PM for a cocktail and light bite. We sat at the bar and were served our choice of water immediately.-Cocktails: We started out with a "Lost in Love" ($17) and a Stella Artois.The drinks took a while to come out. However, my cocktail was totally worth the wait. It was absolutely delicious and not overly sweet. In fact, I think it's the best cocktail I ever had! It was made with a perfect blend of Drakes Organic Vodka, Giffard Peche, Strawberry Campari, Lemon & Sugar. -Food: We shared a tasty Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich, plus a yummy pickle. The sandwich came out quickly after the order. -Ambiance: Oscar Wilde's is like traveling back in time. The entire bar/restaurant from top to bottom is completely decorated with beautiful stained glass windows, fancy chandeliers, ornate lamps etc.... ( I wouldn't want to have the job dusting here! LOL...)Of course, there were plenty of pictures of the man himself, even in the restroom. Loved the pulsating music in the background too! I think this place could definitely use more bartenders. Unless, we just came on a shift change?Oscar Wilde is located at 45 West 27th St. NYC, NY."

Osamil

★★★★☆ 4.3 (842) • $$$

"Yum!! The perfect place for late night small bites and some drinks (we had soju). The daenjang foie gras mousse was the highlight and they gave quite a lot of it so we ordered an extra side of toast! This helped with how the dishes are a bit on the smaller size in terms of portions."

Goldie’s Tavern

★★★★☆ 4.3 (43) • $$

"This place is a gem! It's a standard pub, but plenty of space inside and on the patio. YES it has precious Patio seating! There's speakers outside so you can still have music or play the pub games. It's also a great location it just down 30th so it's quieter than all the craziness on 7th. Plenty of TVs for sports. There's Mixtape Bingo every Tuesday. Surprised me the vegan chicken I had and is the best! Crispy and delicious! Staff is super friendly (we love Savannah!) and drinks are well made. The Vesper martini is strong and not too sweet."

Barn Joo 35

★★★★☆ 4.2 • $$

"Located in Midtown Manhattan along 35th street. Barn Joi 35 is the place to be if you love Korean food and pair it with your favorite drinks. They have an intensive drink list - cocktails, soju. Upon entering the restaurant, you're greeted by the hostess and seated to your table. The ambiance is cool and chill, perfect for group dinners, family night out and date nights. The drinks! I love love it!!Try the Midtown Forsynthia or better get the four soju taster combo. Also recommend the Matcha, such a refreshing drink with hint of pineapple and not so sweet. We tried some of their appetizers which I truly recommend. The soft shell crispy crab, the soy garlic wings, the calanari with nuts and the fried dumplings! For main dishes- we tried the bulgogi hot bowl and new york strip entree. Absolutely delicious. And presentation was excellent! Overall, the experience was incredible. Such a cool spot to have a great time."

Death Ave

★★★★☆ 3.8 (692) • $$

"This Greek influenced bar is easily a place you will be back for more!The house made pita chips were light and not hard like most pita chips are made. Soft enough to scoop from their house-made appetizers and not leave you with a chipped tooth haha.I was not thrilled with their Fried Pickle Chips. I think they tried too hard here. The batter was thick yet tasty. It held the pickle chip and its flavor well, but the chip was a thicker cut. This is no good. A thicker chip will hold the pickle juices and it will not fry well and get crispy. Therefore, when you take a bite, the hot juices will burn your mouth.The highlight for me was their Lamb Chops... sooooo good!!! Mouth watering, cut just right, meaty, flavorful, juicy. I am craving some right now. They were so good that I didn't even feel the need to dip them into the chimichuri sauce it came with."

Side Door

★★★★☆ 4.1 (82)

"Really cool pub in Midtown. We went in the middle of the day so didn't have any issues with service like some of the reviews I see here. They were attentive and fast, and they have an inspired menu. There were many more things I would've loved to try, but we got the Romanian mici sliders, which were amazing, and the Hungarian langos, which I enjoyed at first but then it got to be too much. A little too doughy and cheesy, if that's possible. Maybe if they used the same amount of dough and cheese but made two slightly thinner ones instead, it would be more balanced. Still, better than your traditional pub fare. What left me stumped was the beer selection. If you walk into a self-described gastropub in the west coast you're greeted by so much variety, ambers, stouts, saisons, etc, that you end up with decision paralysis... but in a good way (?). Not so much here."

MUI

★★★★☆ 4.1 (417) • $$

"Cute korean spot for drinks and light snacks tucked away in ktown. Doesn't get too crowded as the spot is on the 5th floor and lowkey kinda hard to find. The elevator also takes a while but you can always take the stairs (walk up past Miss Korea). The spot is vibey and full of seats, but gets a bit loud as you may imagine. Service is pretty decent and they are accommodating of dietary restrictions, though they just omit and don't do replacements. I liked their chapchae and seafood hot pot best but would also recommend their other food!"

Haymaker Bar and Kitchen

★★★★☆ 3.9 (430) • $$

"We have been stopping here for several years prior to phish at MSG. The food, service and beer selections are excellent. "Lou" (spelling) the bartender is very friendly and she had no problem answering our food and beer questions. She even went through the extra effort of trying to get the Eagles game on the tv for us. I had the double smash burger with bacon and it was A+. Friends had the chicken sandwich and also loved it. It was a tap takeover, so most of the beers were either tilted barn or Lawson's but they also had equilibrium, Hill farmstead, and other world class breweries available. Plenty of wine and cocktail options as well. Highly recommended if attending a show at MSG. Only about 2 blocks from the venue. Cheers."

Turntable Chicken Jazz

★★★★☆ 3.8 • $$

"You Turn Me Right Round Baby Right Round...If you're in search of a dining experience that hits all the right notes, this jazz-themed Korean eatery is a must-visit. From the moment you step in, the warm lighting and the soulful tunes of jazz transport you to a cozy yet sophisticated space. The ambiance strikes a perfect balance between relaxed and upscale, making it ideal for both casual dinners and special occasions.Now, let's talk about the star of the show--the food! Their fried chicken is delicious. Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and seasoned with just the right kick, it's the kind of dish you'll be thinking about long after your meal. They also offer a curated drink menu that features craft cocktails which complement the food beautifully.But what truly sets this place apart is the vibe. The playlist keeps the atmosphere lively yet laid-back.Will definitely pre-game here again!"

HandCraft Kitchen & Cocktails

★★★★☆ 4.2 (521) • $$

"A friend of mine and I got together to get lunch. When I arrived I found parking not too far away. I walked in and was greeted. The place was cute, and they had hidden back area opening soon, which reminded me of a speakeasy! We were served by Emma, and she was awesome! We started with drinks of the espresso martini, ild fashioned and the Flor de Pina. For our meal, I got the truffle fried burrata and the mac and cheese! The mac and cheese was delicious and made with kale sauce! I then had the jerk chicken, which wasn't bad. My friend had the chicken sandwich, which she enjoyed! All in all I had a good experience!"

Take31

★★★★☆ 4.3 • $$$

"First of all, Take31 was accommodating when I made multiple changes with my reservations including when two people in our party were running 20 minutes late, but seated us right when the full party arrived. As a large party, they allocated 2 hours for us but never had us check out even when we stayed longer. To start off, we had two carafes of the homemade signature makgulli (Korean rice wine) ($17.95) --one in white peach and one in chestnut flavor. The flavors were very light that you hardly taste it, but they were refreshing and easy to drink. Note that they are ice shaved, so they have more of a smoothie consistency. All tables also had complimentary tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), which was great when you're hungry before the food arrives.Between the 7 of us, we ordered the Chicken Gizzard with Honey Garlic Butter ($15.95), Crispy Corn Pancake ($15.95), Pork Belly Rice Crepe Wraps ($25.95), Cod Roe Seafood Udon ($23.95), Shortrib Chapaguri ($20.95), Spicy Galbi Stew ($32.95). This was the perfect amount for us to each have a few bites. The favorites were definitely the noodle dishes and the stew. The rest of the appetizers were still good, but would try some other items next time. The rice crepe was a bit grainy though, which was interesting.This is a great spot for big parties to share, but be sure to make reservations for Friday and Saturay nights. We ended up spending under $35pp, which is such a great deal for delicious Korean food."

The Brew Inn

★★★★☆ 4.2 (192) • $$

"Run that extra mile ... so that starter ... then come and enjoy the indulgence of the Berger at Brew Inn. Best burger in Greenpoint. Friendly down home staff. Great beer selection. Neighborhood gem."

Bua

★★★★☆ 3.9 (564) • $$

"First things first, if you're a college student or a young adult between the ages of 20-25, then you might like this spot. If not, I don't recommend it. I'll explain...We were exploring the East Village in the evening and decided to try Bua, a local bar. A bouncer asked for IDs and we walked into a tight, dark space. There's bar seating and a few bigger tables to the left, but it's very small. You're constantly bumping into people. Not exactly dance friendly.Luckily we were able to snag some seats at the bar. I had to use my iPhone's flashlight to see the menu because that's how dark it is. In addition to drinks, they also have a not-so-impressive food menu. The food choices reminded me of high school cafeteria food (burgers, chicken strips, fries, nachos). The drinks were disappointing, to put it mildly.We ordered:*Tito's Sparkling Lemonade ($14) - Did I just drink water?... LOL. There was no alcohol, no lemonade, nothing sparkling about this.*Friend of a Friend cocktail ($14) - Yuck... it tasted like a cherry cough drop or Nyquil. The description said it contains dark rum, fernet branca, housemade blueberry syrup, lemon, and peychaud bitters. There was nothing good about it. I don't drink beer but my +1 ordered a few and said they were good.The crowd consisted mainly of college kids. I wasn't too big on most of the music choices, especially for a bar atmosphere. I understand that everyone has different music tastes, but ehhh. Big turn off for me. Music plays a big role in setting the mood and atmosphere.Honestly, I only enjoyed this spot because of the person I was with haha. We made the most of the tiny space we had and still danced. Objectively, it's just a small bar with very mediocre drinks."

Bartley Dunnes

★★★★★ 4.5 (98)

"We had a great disco brunch with Charlotte! The vibe was lovely and food was great! Came with some friends for a Christmas crawl and truly enjoyed the cozy bar vibes downstairs for a pre brunch drink and then the disco vibe upstairs for our brunch!"

The Crooked Knife

★★★★☆ 4.1 (51)

"The Crooked Knife was definitely worth it. The food was pretty great and the unlimited mimosas were even better."

Lillie's Victorian Establishment

★★★★☆ 3.9 • $$

"My friends and I decided to have a halloween day dinner at Lillies and it was great! A lot of other customers were dressed up in costumes and we received some surprise candy before our dinner. Wait staff were awesome, we've chatted with them and it was fun how they reacted to all of our costumes.The cocktail drinks came out delicious and all of them included fun garnishes on it. Since I was dressed as a thief I decided to get the Thieving Thespian drink which I highly recommend. The Chicken Pot Pie was nice and flaky on the top and nice and creamy on the inside!Would definitely check it out again. Also FYI they were already changing to Christmas decors on Halloween (Nutcracker displays and bears inside) so I suggest going a few days earlier if you want to see their Halloween themed establishment!"

VERSA

★★★★☆ 3.7 (307)

"Came to a rooftop event and it was VERY GOOD. As we made our way through the restaurant, I noticed the nice decor, beautiful lighting, and plenty of tables. The rooftop has a great view of the Empire State Building and all along 35th Street. All of the food (sliders, tacos empanadas, spring rolls, charcuterie board, and cheese balls) were delicious, kept under heat lamps, and were constantly replenished throughout the entire evening.Versa has large televisions, perfectly located throughout, where everyone was able to watch the New York Mets beat the Milwaukee Brewers. The open bar was busy, the bartenders were incredible, and I enjoyed my Coconut Rum & Coke, which I lost count at five. I would definitely return to Versa and hope that you'll get to experience the rooftop, one day, soon."

Golden Years

★★★★☆ 4 (62) • $$

"Pretty good place to sit in the yard. Food is pretty meh. The staff was very friendly.Good for what it is"

Mad For Chicken

★★★★☆ 4.3 (210) • $$

"Who doesn't love Korean Fried Chicken?! Feels like the only Korean Fried Chicken in the area.I usually order takeout from here but they do have a decent indoor dining space. Chicken is usually pretty good, however the last time I ordered it was a little dry. Wish there was a tad bit more sauce. Nonetheless great flavor!"

That Bar

★★★★☆ 4 (94) • $$

"4.25 stars Great ambience to watch a game. Plenty of TVs with tables + bar seating. It is a smaller bar so can get crowded easily so if you want a table, you might need to get there early.We loved the pretzel, waffle, fries, and the drink selection. The chicken quesadilla was a total miss. Would not order that again"

K Town Pocha

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (402) • $$

"This is a fun spacious spot to hang out with groups of people and is located inside a basement. Service was good. In terms of food, I would recommend ordering their fried chicken, (very crispy and juicy), beef fried rice, or chicken teriyaki over rice. Their fruit lemonade is also sweet and refreshing to drink."

Sea Witch

★★★★☆ 3.8 (303) • $$

"Hallelujah, the full food menu has returned to Sea Witch! When we first went in 2020 they'd narrowed things down to some safe but kinda boring options, so I was pleased to see it restored to its full glory on a recent visit. I really enjoyed my fried oyster po'boy, and my friends liked their popcorn shrimp, pork schnitzel sandwich, and burger.Food aside, the bar has such thoughtful decor and chill vibes, from the very cool ship-inspired exterior and gorgeous fish tank behind the bar to the open and relaxing backyard, complete with ample seating and a mini waterfall with actual fish swimming around in it.I'm sure they do quite well for themselves in winter, but their patio's really the highlight once that warmer weather kicks in."

The Bedford

★★★★☆ 3.6 (514) • $$

"SO GOOD! Delicious food, easy reservations, friendly staff, good vibes, and in a prime location surrounded by restaurants and shops. I've been planning to turn soon."

Bangia

★★★★☆ 4 (578) • $$

"Staff were super attentive, came to our table like 10 times lol Spam rice balls were really good!! Sweet/spicy chickens were too saucy Coconut cream soju cocktail was hella strong"

Lillie's Victorian Establishment

★★★★☆ 3.7 • $$

"If you're looking for a great place to feel the spirit of the holidays in NYC, Lillie's Victorian is the place! You will feel like you've been transported to the North Pole with all the great decorations. I was there last Wednesday in the heat of the holidays. And at 4pm this place was hopping. I'd definitely recommend making a reservation. We were just in for a quick drink or two and Lillie's did not disappoint ! Our bartender made us some delicious Mezcal Margaritas with a holiday twist. They were scrumptious. The food looked and smelled delicious. I will have to come back for the next seasonal decor and check it out for myself. So much fun! Oh and there's also another location around Times Square. Have fun!"

Itaewon Pocha

★★★★☆ 4.1 (345) • $$

"Came here on a whim. The neon lighting and crowd caught me in a trance. The spot isn't too spacious but boy does it get full! I seemed to have gotten there at the right time on a Friday night, no line to get in and I was fortunate to scoop up the last seat at the bar. The bartenders were swift and helpful with recommendations, I sipped on my lychee martini while listening to K pop, rap etc. i was jamming! This was my first time at a Korean bar but it did not disappoint. We also tried the grapefruit soju and it was so good, dangerous really!! Their veggie dumplings were crisp and juicy, the fries and wings were also cooked to perfection. I would absolutely come again"

The Spaniard

★★★★☆ 3.6 (419) • $$

"Came to celebrate a beloved coworker who was leaving &we had cauliflower, hand cut fries, the artichoke dip w/toast, and the fresh chips with a lovely array of drinks. I enjoyed my whiskey mezcal cocktail, the service, and appetizers were tasty. I'll definitely come back and try the burger."

Bricolage

★★★★☆ 4.1 (725) • $$$

"My wife had the noodle soup with chicken and I tried the Lamb shank. Desert and tea were good. The alcohol drinks lacked alcohol lol. The service is top notch. Love the decor. Will definitely go back again. Also recommend this place for all to try."

Jiku Wicked Wings & Korean Grub

★★★★☆ 4.1 (152) • $$

"We had the spicy soy garlic wings, noodles with bulgogi and more. Every dish was so full of flavor. Enjoyed our meal and the service as well."