I often visit Manhattan for 4 days at a time.
In terms of the essence of NYC, I see most visitors heading in 3 main directions, in terms of the foods they’re choosing to seek out.
Some people would mention Pizza, Bagel, Katz’s Pastrami or Corned Beef on Rye, a NY Steakhouse like Peter Luger or Keen’s, a hot dog from a cart, the shawarma from a cart, the cheesecake, a Black and White cookie. I think the Black & White cookie is a iconic cookie, but then again, so is Levain’s chocolate chip cookie (only eat half at once if you get a Levain cookie)
Others would mention all the regional foods from across the States and around the World that you can find in NYC.
Others focus on restaurants or chefs with a following, winning Michelin stars, James Beard awards, mentions in Food & Wine.
I tend to focus on regional foods, adding one or 2 restaurants recommended or chosen by friends, a few NYC iconic dishes and a visit to a historic or legendary restaurant.
Near Times Square
For a solid restaurant close to Times Square, I have liked Don Antonio for Neapolitan pizza, and Benoit for good quality French food, as well as a cinq à sept happy hour special last time I visited.
If you want a cheap and quick bite near at Times Square (tourist trap central), I recommend Real Kung Fu http://www.kfkitchennyc.com/ on 8th Ave or Shake Shack. One other restaurant I enjoyed that is close to Times Square is a Brazilian restaurant on 9th, I think Samba Kitchen .
West 50s, fairly close to Times Square, and near The Museum of Modern Art
For a special splurge meal (for me), I like to do lunch at the Bar Room at the Modern, on street level at the Museum of Modern Art. The Bar Room is the more economical part of The Modern, so it’s a way to have some upscale food at a somewhat lower price. My Bar Room splurge lunch pre-pandemic was running around $50 including tax, tip and a drink.
Upper East Side, near the Art Museums
I like having soup and a dessert at Café Sabarsky inside the Neue Galerie, if you’re planning to head to see the Neue Galerie, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Frick or the Guggenheim.
In General
I would recommend trying a NY Bagel, with Nova (smoked salmon- lox is cured and saltier) and a shmear (cream cheese), from Barney Greengrass on the Upper West Side (near Centrale Park and the Natural History Museum) or from Russ & Daughters .
Both have dine-in or take-out. The Russ & Daughters Café is in a separate space from the Delicatessen.
Van Leeuwan has some very good NYC ice cream, worth the splurge, more than one location.
Taxis are cheap relative to other cities, so I hope you plan to travel in every direction from your hotel to enjoy what Manhattan offers.
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