I stumbled upon Max when my mom and I got hungry walking around in Tribeca. I went back two days later and then once more after that. Their Pizza Tartufata is the best pizza I've had in New York, and their spaghettis are equally delicious. It is definitely a must-try + it's on my favorite block in Manhattan (Duane Street). A few items I'd recommend off their menu are, obviously, the pizza Tartufata, spaghetti del marinaio, and the spaghetti alla chitarra. 

This is a Scandinavian restaurant with an interesting menu. The reason I dined here is because my friend used to be a chef here, and I tried some items on the menu that I would not have normally ordered myself and am happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised. 

The ambiance is pretty hip and happening and always busy, even on weekdays. I'd recommend the chicken & eggs (I used to eat meat back in the day), lamb tartare, and the mushroom mousse & cherry sorbet. 

I'm not going to say much about this gem of restaurant in Tribeca that's owned by Robert De Niro. Please go here. Just go and do yourself a favor. Make sure you try the sheep's milk ricotta when you do because it tastes delightful. Other delicious items on the menu are the roasted beets, squid ink linguini, and pretty much anything else you'll pick. 

This is a young and casual Mediterranean restaurant that's always fully packed. It's good for brunch, lunch, AND dinner. They don't take reservations, so be prepared to put down your name and walk around while you wait. A few items off the menu that I'd recommend trying are the Mediterranean breakfast, halloumi, yogurt & grapefruit, vegetable curry bowl, spiced beet dip, salt & pepper eggplant, and the tuna salad.  

This is a somewhat large restaurant on the cusp of Greenwich Village and SoHo. The space is nice too but nothing too memorable. Everything I've tasted here is pretty delicious; their chips and guac + margaritas are must-tries (the mushroom & brussel sprout tacos are very yummy too). 

This is a great Italian restaurant and this specific branch is in Brooklyn. They have a huge bar with tasty cocktails and all of their dishes are delicious; the tagliolini cacio e pepe, and lo zuccotto in particular.

This is the best Middle Eastern restaurant I've been to in New York. Everything on your plate has been put there for a purpose, and I can still taste the flavors of all the dishes when I close my eyes. The atmosphere's very warm and cozy, with dim lights and a brick oven in the main dining area during dinner. I don't think you can go wrong with anything, but the hummus, branzino, lamb chop, and banana bread pudding were absolutely incredible. 

This is a small spot in Nolita that's always packed, but with a short waiting time. It's actually a juice bar so the menu has an extensive list of juices that all sound amazing, but I've only tried the green, which is why it's the only one I'm able to recommend. Seating is not the most comfortable, but if you're on the prowl for a healthy meal, this is a great spot to hit. The watermelon salad, black bean burger, and avocado toast are all solid choices.

This is a chill, cute, and most important of all, tasty little place in Brooklyn. Don't be fooled by this photo, as the menu is made up of fried chicken, biscuits, beans, AND pies. I've tried 6 pies in one sitting and they were all amazing. The biscuit comes with a side of honey butter for which I would crawl my way back there. 

This is a cute little BYO with yummy food, so feel free to bring your own wine if you're planning on drinking (there's a bodega nearby too, so if you want to go for a last-minute purchase, you can also do that). Also, I'd recommend going when it's warm outside so that you can sit outdoors because the inside is a little tightly packed. The salmon, artichoke gratin, and onion tart are pretty good options. 

This is an upscale restaurant with a small but tasteful menu. I don't have much to say about it, besides the fun side-note that I bumped into Gwyneth Paltrow here once.

This is one of the many small restaurants on Mott Street. It's tightly packed, but with interesting looking people. The staff is not that friendly, but the food is tasty. They have live music on some nights. I'd recommend trying any pasta they have, as well as the fried eggs with Proscuitto. 

If you're looking for a fancy Chinese restaurant, this is NOT the place to go. If you're looking for a TRUE Chinese dining experience, then look no further. This is an under-the radar restaurant that's also under-the-ground, but has been around for a very long time. My friend's parents brought us here because they've been going for the past 36 years and have enjoyed it every single time. The staff is all-Chinese, and they value creating a rapid turnover, which affects the way they treat you. They tend to come off as a little rude, but remember to not take it personally. 

A few items to try are the crab, vegetable fried rice, snails, and flounder. The more you share, the merrier the experience. 

This is the restaurant on the entrance floor of the Bowery Hotel. The tables are placed very close to each other so you end up hearing your neighbors' conversations, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Their burrata, shakshuka, truffle fries, beet salad, and branzino are all delicious, which probably means that anything you order from the menu will be just as yummy. The couple on the table next to me were sharing a pizza and it looked really good. 

This is an AMAZING restaurant. As you've probably realised from my list so far, I have a huge weakness for Mediterranean food. I came here with a huge group so had the chance of trying a lot of the items on their menu. I can say with confidence that I would go back to eat everything I didn't have a chance to eat during my first visit. 

The first floor has an open kitchen with a large dining area. Upstairs, there are more tables for smaller groups and couples, plus a huge room for group dinners with access to their wine cellar. 

They make their own butter and bread here. Definitely worth trying. A few other things worth trying are the beef tartare, cheese plate, salmon, and pasta with mushroom ragu & ricotta salsa (they also have gluten-free dough). 

Finally, the chocolate sea salt cookies are like little pieces of heaven in your mouth. So save some room for them in your belly during the meal. 

This is, hands down, the best Israeli restaurant I've tried. There are only a handful of tables, which means that you end up waiting for a long time in line in order to sit down, but I would advise strongly against not waiting. Eat anything and everything you want to, you can't go wrong, but if I had to recommend a few dishes, I'd suggest the shakshuka, hummus, vegetarian couscous, and roasted beets.

This is a typical Greek/Turkish restaurant with an extremely strong Aegean vibe. As someone who spends her time by the Aegean sea every summer, I felt like I was back home in Turkey, eating at one of the local restaurants. The food is amazing and they also have Raki (Uzo) if you want to enjoy a drink or two with your dinner. Sometimes, they also have live music, which adds to the overall ambiance of the space. The tzatziki, hummus, Greek fries, and lamb chops are v delicious. 

This is a gigantic restaurant in Meatpacking with two floors that almost make you feel like you can get lost if you do not follow the hostess. The item looks very rich, but you might struggle finding something that sparks your interest if you do not like heavily-spiced foods. It's also a little cold inside, which is unexpected because the venue is decorated using warm colors and has a welcoming vibe overall.

A few items that are worth trying are the salmon, vegetables in green curry, and coconut sticky rice.

This is a very casual venue, a diner set-up to be precise, (this specific one is in Brooklyn's Williamsburg), and one that you can just walk into when you are hungry or craving chips, guac and margarita. Eat all you want, no one is going to judge you. :)