Best Fine Dining Restaurants in Upper East Side-Yorkville
7 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Sfoglia
A compact, reservation-driven trattoria where housemade pastas and market-driven antipasti feel genuinely destination-worthy.
Notable Picks
#1
Sfoglia
8.8
Sfoglia is a rustic Italian trattoria in Carnegie Hill where housemade pastas, seasonal antipasti, and long-simmered sauces justify a true special-occasion check. The chandelier-lit, brick-lined dining room stays tightly booked with Upper East Siders treating it as their neighborhood fine-dining standby near the 92nd Street Y.
Must-Try Dishes:
Seasonal crostini, Sea urchin spaghetti, Stuffed zucchini blossoms
What Makes it Special: A compact, reservation-driven trattoria where housemade pastas and market-driven antipasti feel genuinely destination-worthy.
#2
Sfoglia
8.8
Sfoglia is a rustic Italian trattoria in Carnegie Hill where housemade pastas, seasonal antipasti, and long-simmered sauces justify a true special-occasion check. The chandelier-lit, brick-lined dining room stays tightly booked with Upper East Siders treating it as their neighborhood fine-dining standby near the 92nd Street Y.
Must-Try Dishes:
Seasonal crostini, Sea urchin spaghetti, Stuffed zucchini blossoms
What Makes it Special: A compact, reservation-driven trattoria where housemade pastas and market-driven antipasti feel genuinely destination-worthy.
#3
Sushi Goda
8.7
Sushi Goda is an intimate Upper East Side sushi dining room where a contemporary omakase format and composed nigiri plates headline the experience. Guests come for the 15-course ContempOkase, polished service, and a room that feels special without tipping into white-tablecloth formality.
Must-Try Dishes:
ContempOkase 15-course omakase, Chef’s selection nigiri platter, Brownie & Matcha dessert
What Makes it Special: Contemporary omakase and composed nigiri served in a chic, intimate room.
A tight, modern omakase counter that plays in a clean, value-forward lane for Yorkville. The meal moves fast but stays deliberate: daily appetizers, a run of nigiri, and a composed finish that keeps the experience feeling complete rather than “just sushi.”
Must-Try Dishes:
Hikari (14-course omakase), A5 wagyu appetizer (with uni and ikura), Aged miso soup
What Makes it Special: A structured omakase progression with a serious-value price point for the neighborhood.
8.1
Korali Estiatorio is a whitewashed Greek dining room opened in 2015 that leans into whole fish, mezze, and grilled meats in a setting meant for slower, more polished dinners. It’s the move when you want a proper sit-down Mediterranean meal on the Upper East Side with a real wine list and table service.
Must-Try Dishes:
Grilled Octopus, Lamb Chops / Paidakia, Horiatiki Salad
What Makes it Special: Upscale Greek spot focused on whole fish, grilled chops, and polished service.
Worthy Picks
7.9
A sleek kosher restaurant that works for business lunch when you need a polished setting and straightforward, protein-forward plates. It’s best approached with a simple grill-and-sides order that keeps the meal efficient and meeting-friendly.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Kebab, Mixed Grill Kebab Combo, Beef Kebab
What Makes it Special: A kosher, polished room that stays professional for lunch meetings.
7.8
Island is a quietly upscale Carnegie Hill fixture, serving New American seafood and grilled meats in a yacht-like dining room that’s popular for anniversaries and neighborhood date nights. Open since the mid-1980s, it leans more old-school than trendy, but its steak frites and seasonal specials remain a dependable order for couples who live nearby.
Must-Try Dishes:
Steak Frites, Lobster Roll, Maine Blueberry Cobbler
What Makes it Special: A long-running Madison Avenue townhouse restaurant where steak frites and Northeastern seafood are served in a calm, yacht-club-like room.