8 NoMad Restaurants for Every Kind of Occasion

Best for: a shareable meal

Breads Bakery owner Gadi Peleg has already won our carb-loving heart, so we were stoked when he debuted this new spot inside the Arlo Hotel. The Middle Eastern restaurant specializes in mezze-style dishes meant for sharing, including a $25 daily spread with a dozen dips, pickled items and a giant fresh-from-the-oven piece of Jerusalem laffa bread.

11 E. 31st St.; lamalonyc.com

Best for: an afternoon pick-me-up

Pop into Danny Meyer’s Roman-inspired café when the midday slump hits and get reenergized with a cappuccino or cold brew (all coffee drinks are half price daily from 3 to 6 p.m.). Not seeking caffeine? Go for one of chef Jessica Weiss’s excellent pastries, which include both traditional Italian specialties such as bomboloni and biscotti and American-style sweets like apple fritters and corn muffins.

30 E. 30th St.; caffemarchio.com

Best for: a girls’ night out

This stylish spot is a reliable go-to for Italian cooking, and its Instagram-friendly interior is a welcome bonus. The airy space boasts two bar areas, tons of seating and mint-green accents, while the menu’s got everything we love: spritzes on tap, pastas all made in-house from organic flour and a bowl of tiramisu that’s literally the size of your head.

1133 Broadway; lapecorabianca.com

Best for: no-frills, super-fresh sushi

Love high-quality sushi but not the fancy price tag? This California import comes from the Sugarfish team and specializes solely in affordable hand rolls. You walk in, grab a seat, check off the set you want (starting at $13 for three) and watch as everything is made to order. It’s a fast, easy sushi meal that won’t disappoint.

15 W. 28th St.; handrollbar.com

Best for: a damn fine steak

It’s no surprise that the hipper younger sibling to Quality Meats knows its way around a hunk of beef, but the rest of the menu is just as enticing. On the steak side, you can’t go wrong with the bavette or hanger steaks, but make sure to order plenty of starters and sides. We’re partial to the grilled Nueske’s bacon with peanut butter, brown-bag curly fries and corn crème brûlée. Cocktails are on the whimsical side: There’s a Cracker Jack–infused old-fashioned, nitro negroni and smoky coconut-infused gimlet.

3 E. 28th St.; qualityeats.com

Best for: an intimate birthday dinner

At $46 per person for a three-course meal, Atoboy may have one of the most affordable tasting menus in New York City. And the best way to sample all of chef Junghyun Park’s Korean dishes is with a small group. Order everything on the menu and dig right in, though there are some plates—like the sunchokes with oyster mushrooms and black truffle or the spicy fried chicken—that you’ll want to keep to yourself.

43 E. 28th St.; atoboynyc.com

Best for: your parents visiting from out of town

Tucked inside the Evelyn Hotel, Benno comes from celebrated chef Jonathan Benno. The elegant fine-dining restaurant draws influences from both France and Italy—think a silky coddled egg with chanterelles and béarnaise mousseline, a rabbit and foie gras ballotine and lumache pasta with lobster fra diavolo. And the glam Art Deco–inspired dining room is sure to impress Mom and Dad.

7 E. 27th St.; bennorestaurant.com