Best Fine Dining Restaurants in Midtown East (10017)
5 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: January 2026
Our Top Pick
Le Pavillon
Seafood- and vegetable-forward French tasting menus in a lush, sky-high dining room.
Notable Picks
#1
Le Pavillon
8.9
Le Pavillon is Daniel Boulud’s garden-like, Michelin-starred French restaurant perched inside One Vanderbilt, with a seafood- and vegetable-focused menu and sweeping views over Grand Central. Diners come for precise tasting menus, polished service, and a serene, high-ceilinged room that feels built for celebrations and high-end business dining.
Must-Try Dishes:
Oysters Vanderbilt, Lobster Spaghetti, Vidalia Onion Tart
What makes it special: Seafood- and vegetable-forward French tasting menus in a lush, sky-high dining room.
#2
Il Monello
8.6
Reopened in Turtle Bay after a storied history dating to 1974, this fine dining destination near the UN features Executive Chef Jaime Chabla's refined Italian seafood and steaks. The garden patio and private dining rooms host diplomats and discerning locals alike.
Must-Try Dishes:
Potato-Crusted Sea Bass, Veal Chop Milanese, Chicken Il Monello
What makes it special: 50-year legacy reborn with garden dining near the United Nations
8.5
Vibes:
Business Lunch Power Players
Birthday & Celebration Central
Date Night Magic
Luxury Dining Elite
Open since the 1960s, Sparks Steak House is a classic Midtown institution known for dry-aged beef, big-portioned sides, and an old-school, clubby dining room. High-volume reviews over decades confirm it as a go-to for expense-account dinners, power lunches, and nostalgic steakhouse nights near Grand Central.
Must-Try Dishes:
Prime Sirloin Steak, Porterhouse for Two, Creamed Spinach and Hash Brown Potatoes
What makes it special: Long-running Midtown steakhouse where dry-aged beef, deep wine lists, and throwback decor anchor big-deal meals.
8.3
Opened in 2017 at the base of Trump World Tower, UN Plaza Grill is an upscale kosher steakhouse where braised boneless short ribs and BBQ-sauced rib dishes draw as much praise as the ribeye. Floor-to-ceiling windows, white linens and views toward the UN compound make it one of the more polished, special-occasion ways to eat ribs in 10017.
Must-Try Dishes:
Braised Boneless Short Ribs with red wine–balsamic sauce, BBQ Short Rib Sliders or Sandwich (when offered), Center-Cut Ribeye Steak
What makes it special: Fine-dining kosher steakhouse across from the UN where slow-braised short ribs and occasional BBQ-style rib plates are served in a sleek, glass-walled room.
8.1
At the base of a Midtown tower, Delbianco Italian Restaurant serves Northern Italian cooking with an emphasis on prime dry-aged steaks, whole fish, and carefully plated antipasti. Dark wood, soft lighting, and a quieter dining room than nearby power spots make it appealing for business dinners that still feel personal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Prime dry-aged New York strip, Branzino al forno, Sogliola alla mugnaia
What makes it special: Northern Italian fine dining focused on dry-aged steaks and composed seafood.