15 Picks for Must-Try NYC Cuisines 🥯 🍕 🍨🍝🥪

Hello hello,

Six New York City restaurants recently earned Michelin stars.. Guess that’s six more food spots we’ll hopefully get to try one day! 😅

In this week’s newsletter:

🎫 Events We Love This Week: December 10-17 - Gingerbread houses you won’t believe & Chinatown’s holiday market

🇫🇷 You’ll Have to Check It Out - Midtown’s most beautiful and delicious French restaurant

😋 15 Choices for Iconic NYC Cuisine - Including a dessert spot we take ALL our visitors to try

Let’s do it. 👇

Note: As always, this email was written by an actual human who lives in NYC, not artificial intelligence. 🥸

Events We Love This Week: December 10-17, 2025

In the city this week? Here are some fun events we’re keeping an eye on.

The Gingerbread City - Until January 4th (free)

This isn’t your average gingerbread house your nephew made while eating most of the candy decorations..

NYC architects, designers, and engineers create these imaginative displays that you have to see to believe.

Tickets are free to enter The Seaport to experience gingerbread heaven. Reserve a time here.

Chinatown Holiday Market - Fridays-Sundays from 12-6pm (until Dec 21)

Shopping small this holiday season is a great goal, especially here in the city.

Welcome to Chinatown is taking over the 2nd floor of Kam Man Market with over 35 AAPI vendors.

Plus, each weekend has special pop-ups. See the full list of vendors here.

You’ll Have to Check It Out - La Grande Boucherie

There’s a funky street in Upper Midtown that cuts through the blocks between 6th and 7th Avenues.

It’s called 6 ½ Ave (about as close as you’ll get to platform 9 ¾).

And along that funky street at 53rd Street, you’ll find one of the most beautiful atrium walkthroughs and restaurants, La Grande Boucherie.

The ambiance is one thing, the food is a whole other story worth writing.

Prime Steak Tartare.

Bisque de Homard.

Mushroom Ravioli.

French Manhattan cocktail.

Basque Cheesecake.

We could keep going..

Or, you could check out their full menu here (and don’t forget to snag a reservation).

Our Top 3 Picks for 5 Iconic NYC Cuisines

New York City boasts top-quality restaurants from a variety of culinary types and countries of origin. If you’re coming to NYC for the first (or fifth) time, there are five cuisines you must try during your explorations!

While you’re sure to have great food regardless of the type of cuisine, these are five that we think are worth your time in the city.

1. Pizza

2. Bagels

3. Sandwiches/Heros

4. Italian

5. Desserts

The food ain’t gonna eat itself. See our top 3 picks for each cuisine. 👇

Happy eating,

Ashley & Devin from Better Together Here 😋