Everyone knows the restaurant business in Manhattan is brutal; the numbers prove it with as many as 80 percent of new city restaurants in failing within five years of opening. The places that manage to keep their doors open are exceptional. They’re not institutions by coincidence—they’ve had to be in order to survive, drawing visitors from all over the globe.
These restaurants have specialties and the wide diversity displayed in their menus represents what we want our city to embody in the world: a place that welcomes all.
1950’s
Second Avenue Deli – 1954
The best overstuffed deli sandwiches, matzoh ball soup, and other standards. The mood is festive, the food is filling, and you can still hear Yiddish.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba4Noy4Hg64/?hl=en
Arturo’s Coal Oven Pizza – 1957
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Arturos-Restaurant/121334861213342?rf=168801223205250
This old-school pizzeria is in the middle of the neighborhood that used to be the West Village version of Little Italy. They’ve been doing pizza right since forever.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BcqKbQ0nJKS/?hl=en
1960’s
Veselka – 1960
24/7 dining on unsurpassable pierogies, mushroom-barley soup, stuffed cabbage and borscht.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BaRVkn5BI4E/?hl=en
Sylvia’s Queen of Soul Food Restaurant – 1962
The mood is lively and personable, drawing in people from the neighborhood and around the world. Classic chicken and waffles, ribs, mac and cheese – it’s all good.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BcbOBjQFoQl/?hl=en
Le Grenouille – 1962
This French restaurant from the Mad Men era is famous for its bombastic floral arrangements as well as the fact that nobody looks at their cell phone while dining here.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BcQBNPjFRe1/?hl=en
1970’s
Kenn’s Broome Street Bar – 1972
https://www.facebook.com/Kenns-Broome-Street-Bar-189607137742744/
Kenn’s was one of the first restaurants to open when Soho began transforming from an industrial area to an artist neighborhood. In early years Kenn would accept artwork from artists who ran up tabs. The beer is good, the burgers are great and the Pigwich is addictive.
https://www.instagram.com/p/8YOmROMT3m/?hl=en
Forty Carrots – 1975
http://netstorage.bloomingdales.com/netstorage/media/menus/40_Carrots_59thstreet.pdf
Forty Carrots was the very first place to bring fro-yo to NYC. It’s still there, along with quick healthy salads and sandwiches in a retro space.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BD112NuOxED/?hl=en
1980’s
The Odeon – 1980
https://www.theodeonrestaurant.com/
The It-Girl of art-world Tribeca restaurants brought a sense of style to the new, neighborhood of Tribeca in 1980. It maintains that presence today. People go to drink Pernod, eat well, and steal the covetable pens.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXglAy7BUQi/?hl=en
Rosa Mexicano – 1984
It used to be, if you wanted Rosa’s guacamole you’d have to go to First Avenue almost under the Queensboro bridge. Now Rosa is everywhere. I have a special place in my heart for the original Rosa, because I was eating that guacamole the night the Mets won the 1986 World Series. The place exploded with joy – free drinks for all! And people ran outside and actually danced in the street, stopping traffic on First Avenue.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXYLuJpDU70/?hl=en
Dawat – 1986
Dawat is one of the finest Indian restaurants in the city – with the great Madhur Jaffrey behind it.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BKyc7qRABk2/?hl=en
Aquavit – 1987
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restaurant_Aquavit
Serving Scandanavian cuisine, Aquavit first opened with Marcus Samuelsson at the helm. Emma Bengtsson – one of three women in the US with two Michelin stars – succeeded Samuelsson in 2010.
