🚕 Seven NYC Restaurants Named America's Most Beautiful Dining Rooms

Good Morning NY!

This week brings major celebrations and design-forward dining to NYC's restaurant scene.

Ci Siamo has just been crowned the #1 restaurant in America on Yelp's prestigious 2026 list, while a legendary Vegas steakhouse makes its historic first expansion to Manhattan.

Meanwhile, seven NYC restaurants have been recognized as among the most beautiful dining rooms in the entire country by Robb Report.

Salumeria Rosi continues its expansion with a new East Village location, bringing authentic Italian fare to another neighborhood.

And as we celebrate these wins, we also bid farewell to beloved institutions like the iconic omakase spot Shuko, which is closing after 13 years of excellence.

Let's dive into what's new, what's beautiful, and what's worth celebrating this week.

Best Italian Expansion in NYC This Week

Salumeria Rosi, the Upper West Side stalwart that has been serving imported cured meats and morning-to-night Italian fare since 2008, has officially opened its second Manhattan location in the East Village.

The new space at 222 Avenue B, at East 13th Street, brings the same quality and authenticity that made the original a neighborhood favorite.

Expect croissants, biscotti, and cornetti in the morning, followed by handmade pastas, panini, salads, New Zealand lamb chops, daily specials, and an impressive wine selection.

The expansion marks a significant moment for the restaurant as it continues to grow its presence across Manhattan while maintaining the standards that built its reputation.

This is a major win for the East Village dining community, adding another destination for serious Italian food lovers.

Ci Siamo Crowned America's Best Restaurant for 2026

In a stunning achievement for New York City, Ci Siamo in Hudson Yards has been named the #1 restaurant in America on Yelp's newly released 2026 Top 100 Places to Eat list.

Helmed by executive chef Hillary Sterling, Ci Siamo has become one of the most consistently thrilling Italian tables in New York since its opening.

The wood-fired hearth anchors both the room and the menu, sending out blistered focaccia, charred vegetables, and deeply savory pastas that manage to feel rustic and refined all at once.

Sterling's cooking nods to Italian tradition while embracing a distinctly New York sense of scale and confidence, which clearly resonated with Yelp users nationwide.

The accolade also reflects broader dining trends: a rise in so-called "nonna-stalgia" or "grandma-core" dining—an appetite for slow-cooked, comforting, family-style food that feels like an antidote to the city's relentless pace.

Vegas Icon Golden Steer Brings Tableside Caesar to Greenwich Village

Vegas steakhouse legend Golden Steer, nearly 70 years old and the oldest steakhouse in Las Vegas, has officially opened its first national expansion in New York City.

The Greenwich Village location at 15th Avenue, at East Eighth Street, marks a historic moment for the iconic restaurant as it ventures beyond Nevada for the first time.

Expect the classics that made Golden Steer famous: tableside Caesar salads prepared with theatrical flair, large premium steaks, seafood towers, and loaded twice-baked potatoes.

The cocktail menu pays homage to #1 Bar, which was housed in the same building back in the 1930s, featuring drinks like an Old Fashioned with smoked date syrup and a New York Fizz with bourbon apricot-lavender syrup.

The arrival of Golden Steer represents a major moment for NYC's steakhouse scene, bringing West Coast prestige and tradition to Manhattan's dining landscape.

Seven NYC Restaurants Crowned America's Most Beautiful Dining Rooms

New York City has officially dominated Robb Report's national ranking of the most beautiful new restaurants in America, with seven NYC spots making the prestigious list.

Leading the aesthetic charge is Cafe Zaffri, a downtown stunner tucked inside a historic building with soaring atrium light, layered textures, and old-world theatrical design details.

In Tribeca, Huso offers a serene palette of oak, cream, and gray with deep blue banquettes and carefully placed art including pieces by Keith Haring.

Also in Tribeca, Musaafer NYC goes bold with lotus-flower chandeliers, mother-of-pearl inlays, and a dining room inspired by India's iconic palaces.

Other standouts include ABC Kitchens in Brooklyn with walls built from leftover Brooklyn Bridge stone, the sultry supper club Obvio, maximalist Mexican gem Limusina, and tiny Michelin-starred Yamada with its Japandi design centered on a hinoki cypress chef's counter.

Iconic Omakase Shuko Closes After 13 Years of Excellence

Shuko, one of NYC's coolest omakase destinations, is closing its doors on January 24 after a 13-year run at 47 East 12th Street in Union Square.

The unpretentious space with cool vibes and hip music became legendary for its unstuffy sushi and fun flourishes across a luxe tasting menu blending omakase and kaiseki for $270.

Shuko earned a glowing three-star New York Times review, welcomed visits from Beyoncé and Jay-Z, and was featured in the Netflix series Master of None during its early days.

Co-owners Nick Kim and Jimmy Lau, both alums of Japanese restaurants Masa and Neta, built a restaurant that felt more like a celebration than a formal dining experience.

In a press release, the duo said they are preparing "to step into a new chapter," leaving the door open for future projects while the restaurant community mourns the loss of one of its most beloved institutions.

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