A ton of people have been reaching out to me on Instagram recently asking for these suggestions! Certainly appropriate for the holidays since they are big on tourism (let’s not forget the giant tree in the middle of Rock Center), and they’re both “centers”, which is fun.
Not going to lie, after the last year and a half, I was not upset about visiting these areas and partaking in some good ol holiday cheer. I had to do a little NYC photoshoot for one of my clients and we hit almost ALL of the big touristy spots. Might have been the first time in my life that I didn’t hate it.
Before we dive in, just one note: there are TONS of fast casual spots around both Lincoln and Rockefeller Center, but I wanted to focus on the restaurants where you can sit, and, in the words of my mom, “have a nice meal.” But I included a few of my favorite spots in 30 Rock too. They have some great options if you’re in a rush, as does Columbus Circle!
Here are some of my picks, and I cannot stress the importance of ordering the Mac n Cheese at The Smith enough. I really can’t.
Print
Rockefeller center
- Ace’s Pizza – if you like Detroit style pizza, you NEED Ace’s in your life. It’s SO good, it’s probably one of my go-to’s in Williamsburg, and they opened up a spot in the 30 Rock Dining Concourse. The Hot Burrata is insane, as well as the Pepperoni, and the Cheeseburger pie. And the garlicky cheesy bread. Screw it, everything is good. AND this location has sandwiches! I did a shoot for these and they were dope. Thank me later, many people on IG already have.
Menu
30 Rockefeller Center
718-764-8200
- Mastro’s – can’t really go wrong with a steakhouse if you’re a meat eater and this area has a LOT of them. Mastro’s is not only delicious, but adds a little extra flair with their presentations. And their steaks are “wet-aged”…admit it, you’re curious.
Menu
1285 6th Avenue
212-459-1222 - Alidoro – another awesome sandwich spot on the rink level of 30 Rock. Obviously plenty of Italian classics to choose from, hot and cold, build your own, and they even have breakfast sandwiches!
Menu
30 Rockefeller Center
646-692-4330 - Bill’s Bar and Burger – casual spot for burgers, fries, and a beer (or shake – it’s very kid friendly). It boasts two levels, so you shouldn’t have trouble getting a table. You can leave your fancy pants at home for this one.
Menu
16 West 51st Street
212-705-8510 - Papillon – French food in a great, lively space. Nice bar and drinks, but it can get very busy especially with the Patagonia vest crowd, so keep that in mind.
Menu
22 East 54th Street
212-754-9006 - Black Seed Bagels – highly recommend these Montreal-style bagels for breakfast or lunch. They’re a bit small, so if you’re craving a fat NYC bagel, this isn’t the place. It’s fast casual (I mean, they’re bagels) but their homemade Almond Butter & Jam is beyond worth it (photo below).
Menu
30 Rockefeller Center
332-239-7030 - Bar SixtyFive – this is at the top of the Rock on the 65th floor, so if you’re afraid of heights, proceed with caution. But the views are great and the drinks/snacks are too (albeit pricey, as if you didn’t see that coming).
Menu
30 Rockefeller Plaza, 65th Floor
212-632-5000 - Empellon – great Mexican spot with a focus on seasonal ingredients for tacos, guac, and drinks. Try the Queso Fundido with steak tartare.
Menu
510 Madison Ave
212-380-1215 - Del Frisco’s – if you’re in the mood for a steakhouse, this is a good bet. All the classics, truffle mac n cheese, and some of the biggest onion rings I’ve ever seen. Also fun fact: the building (1221 Avenue of the Americas) is where they filmed the office scenes in The Devil Wears Prada 😉
Menu
1221 Avenue of the Americas
212-575-5129 - Fieldtrip – by the great Chef JJ Johnson, this fast casual spot in 30 Rock pays homage to all things rice! Serving up hearty rice bowls with things like braised beef, crispy fish, salmon, quinoa falafel, and more. For dessert, they have rice crispy treats!! Not to mention “Rice Cream,” a delightful vegan soft serve.
Menu
30 Rockefeller Center
Lincoln center
- The Smith – one of my favorite all-occasion restaurants. Has a little something for everyone and for the love of god don’t sleep on the mac n cheese. Heads up: it can get loud in here, but not nearly as much as the East Village location.
Menu
1 Lincoln Plaza, 1900 Broadway
212-496-5700 - PJ Clarkes – classic NYC bar/restaurant known for pub fare and retro vibes. It’s the type of place you’ll want to order a dirty martini and some baked clams. They’re also known for their seafood towers (not my vibe, but maybe it’s yours)!
Menu
44 West 63rd St
212-957-9700 - Rosa Mexicano – Mexican restaurant known for its spacious setting, tableside guacamole, and happy hour. I love their spicy margaritas and it’s been around forever – doesn’t disappoint.
Menu
61 Columbus Ave
212-977-7700 - Cafe Fiorello – Bustling Italian cafe since 1974 with pretty great food. Some of my favorites are the calamari and thin crust pizzas.
Menu
1900 Broadway
212-595-5330 - Jing Fong – great Dim Sum restaurant with an original location in Chinatown so you know it’s legit – try the barbecued pork buns! They also have classic dishes like lo mein and fried rice.
Menu
380 Amsterdam Ave
646-678-5511 - Breads Bakery – this is probably one of my favorite places ever. Their Chocolate Babka is unmatched, and I recommend you take one home with you. They have solid lunch food too but don’t sleep on the pastries, especially the cheese straws/breadsticks.
Menu
1890 Broadway
212-633-2253 - Chama Mama – if you’ve never had Georgian food…well, may I interest you in a bread bowl filled with cheese, egg, and butter? Cool, same. The real name of that dish is Adjaruli Khachapuri by the way, and even if you can’t pronounce it, you must try it.
Menu
373 Amsterdam Ave
917-261-7430 - Parm – the sister restaurant (and more affordable) version of Carbone. The mozz sticks are delightful and the rigatoni vodka is heaven here as well.
Menu
235 Columbus Ave
212-776-4921 - Lincoln Ristorante – this is a rather pricey option, but it’s worth it. The space is stunning (huge floor to ceiling windows) and the food is primo. The Trofie pasta is a heavy favorite with calabrian chili, ricotta, and sausage.
Menu
142 West 65th Street
212-359-6500 - Momofuku Noodle Bar Uptown – this is in Columbus Circle (a few blocks away) and totally worth it. I still think about the brisket bao buns with horseradish mayo and the cumin-lamb noodles. If you’re going for lunch, you might have to wait a bit.
Menu
10 Columbus Circle
646-918-8752 - Bad Roman – this is located inside Columbus Circle and it was THE place to be seen when it first opened, aka, it was impossible to get a table. It might still be a bit of a tough resy to snag, but if you can, I think it’s worth it. If only for the pepperoni cups with ranch, the pasta, and the dessert. I’m not a dessert person, so when I call that out, it means something. The lemon cheesecake and the tiramisu were both amazing. They’re known for the filet mignon and cacio e pepe raviolo on top; I wouldn’t kick it out of bed, but it wasn’t my favorite part of the meal.
Menu
3rd floor, 10 Columbus Cir
(212) 970-2033
