Soul Food$$harlem
Amy Ruth's on West 116th Street has served chicken and waffles in Harlem, New York City since 1998. Order the the reverend al sharpton: chicken and waffles.
Signature: Chicken and waffles, Smoked turkey wing
Order: The Reverend Al Sharpton: chicken and waffles.
Tip: Weekend brunch is the destination; weeknight dinner serves the same plate without the wait.
Turkish$$midtownDaily 11:00-22:00
ABA Turkish Restaurant on West 57th runs charcoal-grilled lamb and Mediterranean mezes a block from Central Park in Midtown West, New York City.
Signature: Iskender kebab, Lamb adana
Order: Iskender kebab: vertically grilled lamb on pide bread under tomato sauce and yoghurt.
Tip: Halal kitchen, open 11:00-22:00 daily; the lamb chop platter and the kunefe dessert are the consistent picks across recent reviews.
Thai$$flatironSun-Thu 11:30-15:15 & 16:30-22:15, Fri-Sat 11:30-15:15 & 16:30-22:40
Thai Villa near Union Square serves Bangkok and Chiang Mai cooking in Flatiron, New York City. Order the crab fried rice and the khao soi northern curry.
Signature: Pad kee mao, Khao soi
Order: Crab fried rice and the khao soi northern curry.
Tip: Two seatings on weekends: 18:30 and 21:00. The 21:00 service is quieter and easier to walk into without a wait.
Caribbean$$east-villageMon 12:00-16:00, Mon 17:00-23:00, Tue 12:00-16:00, Tue 17:00-23:00, Wed 12:00-16:00, Wed 17:00-23:00, Thu 12:00-16:00, Thu 17:00-23:00, Fri 12:00-16:00, Fri 17:00-00:00, Sat 12:00-16:00, Sat 17:00-00:00, Sun 11:00-16:00, Sun 17:00-23:00
Miss Lily's on Houston Street has run Jamaican island food in SoHo, New York City since 2010. Jerk chicken from the wood smoker, daiquiris from the back bar.
Signature: Jerk chicken, Curry goat
Order: Jerk chicken, rice and peas, fried plantains.
Tip: DJ nights run loud past 22:00. Brunch is the calmer service if you want to talk.
Japanese Izakaya$$$lower-east-sideMon-Thu 17:30-22:00, Fri-Sat 17:30-23:00, Sun 17:30-22:00
Yopparai on Clinton Street runs the Lower East Side's most serious sake bar in New York City. 70 by-the-cup sakes, izakaya snacks, 25 covers.
Signature: Sashimi platter, Sake flight
Order: Sake flight of three small cups and the daily sashimi.
Tip: Sake flights run with three-paragraph notes per pour. Bring patience and a friend who reads.
Greek$$lower-east-sideMon 12:00-23:00, Tue-Sat 12:00-00:00, Sun 12:00-23:00
Kiki's on Division Street has poured retsina and grilled lamb chops in the Lower East Side, New York City since 2014. Priced at $$. Kitchen leans greek.
Signature: Lamb chops, Saganaki
Order: Lamb chops, saganaki, peasant salad.
Tip: Walk in at 17:30 or 22:00 for the only two short waits. The garden out back is the prize.