Though he was born and raised within the countryside of France, Chef Daniel Boulud’s acclaimed profession has grow to be intimately tied to New York Metropolis. He earned large-scale recognition in his function as the chief chef of Le Cirque in Manhattan’s Higher East Facet through the late ’80s and opened his first restaurant, Daniel, in the identical neighborhood in 1993 — however that’s only the start. 

The 1988 Meals & Wine Finest New Chef has greater than 20 eating places all over the world, 13 of that are positioned in New York. He’s additionally lived — and eaten — within the metropolis for a number of many years, studying the whole lot there may be to know in regards to the Manhattan eating scene.

To faucet into Daniel Boulud’s experience, content material creator Isaac Hindin-Miller not too long ago requested the famend chef about his favourite eating spots in New York Metropolis. Hindin-Miller, recognized for sharing must-visit places really helpful by influential figures like Tommy Hilfiger and FKA Twigs, naturally turned to Boulud for meals suggestions—and he didn’t disappoint. From the very best pastries to his go-to steak frites, right here’s the place Daniel Boulud says it is best to eat whereas on the town.

Finest place for pasta

In response to Boulud, one in every of his favourite dinner spots is 4 Twenty 5, a restaurant from fellow French chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. This upscale spot has been acknowledged each for its American and Italian menu gadgets — which embody delicate pastas like a celery root ravioli with black winter truffle and completely cooked proteins similar to a wagyu NY strip steak — and its lofty, putting design. Should you get the prospect to go, Boulud notes that he’s particularly a fan of the pasta as a result of it’s created by govt chef Jonathan Benno, who occurs to be a 2006 Meals & Wine Finest New Chef. 425 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022

Finest bar

I’m going to take a guess that Daniel Boulud appreciates an excellent martini as a result of he named Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle his favourite watering gap within the metropolis. Since opening within the Nineteen Forties, this bar has been recognized for its glamorous decor and old-school attraction — with illustrations from artist and youngsters’s e-book writer Ludwig Bemelman adorning the partitions — in addition to its icy chilly, good martinis. 35 E 76th Avenue, New York, NY 10021

Finest steak frites

For the basic French dish, Daniel Boulud (justifiably) says the very best restaurant is his personal. The chef opened his New York-French steak home La Tête d’Or pretty not too long ago, in November 2024. That is the form of place you go to for a celebration or particular date evening, and the costs replicate that, however you’ll be rewarded with nice high quality meat in opulent environment. Critiques usually notice the fries as a standout on the menu, so choosing the steak frites just like the restaurant’s proprietor is undoubtedly the very best transfer. 318 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010

Finest burger

Even in the event you’ve by no means been to New York Metropolis, you’ve possible heard of Boulud’s favourite place to seize a burger: Shake Shack. What you may not have recognized is that the fast-casual chain was based within the Massive Apple — so in the event you’ve by no means tried it, there’s no higher place to get pleasure from one in every of its flippantly smashed burgers on a gentle potato bun, paired with crinkle-cut fries and a milkshake. A number of places all through NYC

Finest pizza

For one of many metropolis’s most well-known bites, the restaurateur says he heads to Stretch Pizza. This informal however cute pizzeria is by famend chef Wylie Dufresne and the proprietor of Breads Bakery, Gadi Peleg. It’s not a slice store the place you stand whereas consuming, nevertheless it isn’t overly fussy both. Stretch is dedicated to the basic New York model of pizza, so that you’ll discover a skinny and crispy crust with simply the correct quantity of chew. Boulud additionally notes that he loves the wood-fired pizza from Mel’s, which sadly closed to the general public just some weeks in the past, however continues to be obtainable for personal occasions. 331 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010

Finest pastries

There are two bakeries included on this listing of top-notch suggestions, and both one will ship delicate, artfully crafted pastries. First up is Lysée, the French and Korean dessert gallery from 2023 Meals & Wine Finest New Chef Eunji Lee. She takes the phrase gallery significantly, and her desserts are introduced in a sublime, museum-like setting. Every pastry is handled as a murals, leading to delicate, flawlessly designed patisserie — some of the well-known gadgets is a corn mousse cake that appears precisely like a (very cute) corn cob. 

Boulud additionally offers a nod to Dominique Ansel, a bakery chain based by its eponymous French chef, who’s finest recognized for creating the cronut. Lysée, 4 E twenty first Avenue, New York, NY 10010; Dominique Ansel, two places in Manhattan

Finest chocolate

To snag one other nice candy deal with, Boulud suggests some of the well-known chocolatiers on this planet. Jacques Torres is one other fellow French chef with a concentrate on pastries and — above all else — chocolate. His confectionery Jacques Torres Chocolate has a number of places in New York Metropolis, together with its flagship location in Brooklyn’s stylish Dumbo neighborhood. Head to any of them for decadent chocolate bars, bonbons, scorching chocolate, cookies, and extra. Two places, one in Brooklyn and one in Manhattan

The place he desires to go subsequent

Though he hasn’t visited these institutions but, Boulud says he’s dying to attempt two new bistros in his favourite neighborhood, the Higher East Facet. Chez Fifi serves subtle dishes like a basic beef tartare and black bass with beurre blanc, whereas Cafe Commerce doles out barely extra comforting gadgets similar to hen schnitzel and a rigatoni carbonara. Chez Fifi, 40 E 74th Avenue, New York, NY 10021; Cafe Commerce, 964 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10021