2017 top independent restaurants in NYC
2017 top independent restaurants in NYC
By Restaurant Business Staff on Oct. 09, 2017Over the years, the leading independents ranking has become more geographically diverse. Nevertheless, almost three in 10 Top 100 independents are located in New York City. Here are the highest-volume restaurants in the Big Apple.
Tao Downtown
Annual Sales: $33,401,819
Average Check: $95
The Buzz: The David Rockwell-designed space is “intended to look and feel as if it has been there for decades and only unearthed recently to reveal the artifacts within.”
Carmine’s
Top 100 Rank: 4
Annual Sales: $33,147,017
Average Check: $33
The Buzz: Even if you can’t get to this Times Square location, Carmine’s now delivers its famous Italian food, too.
Lavo New York
Top 100 Rank: 7
Annual Sales: $26,822,655
Average Check: $85
The Buzz: Decor for this industrial-chic Italian restaurant uses antique mirrors, reclaimed subway tiles and bricks repurposed from old factories.
Smith & Wollensky
Top 100 Rank: 8
Annual Sales: $25,961,337
Average Check: $100
The Buzz: Its annual Wine Week promotion gathers 10 wines, each priced at $20.
Bryant Park Grill & Cafe
Top 100 Rank: 9
Annual Sales: $25,400,000
Average Check: $50*
The Buzz: The sales total includes $3.4 million from the Southwest Porch bar, burger cafe and outdoor beer garden in Bryant Park.
*RB estimate
Junior’s (Times Square)
Top 100 Rank: 11
Annual Sales: $23,972,978
Average Check: $24
The Buzz: Owner Alan Rosen says that when the location opened in 2006, its “Brooklyn NY” sign confused subway riders who thought they had exited at the wrong stop.
Vandal
Top 100 Rank: 12
Annual Sales: $23,680,917
Average Check: $80
The Buzz: Tao Group’s latest New York hot spot opened in early 2016 and still made the cut.
Tao Uptown
Top 100 Rank: 14
Annual Sales: $23,089,638
Average Check: $85
The Buzz: Singapore Mei Fun and Organic Beef Steak were the most popular 2016 menu additions from its 1,500-square-foot kitchen.
Buddakan
Top 100 Rank: 21
Annual Sales: $20,555,460
Average Check: $84
The Buzz: The $150-per-person beef tasting menu includes carpaccio, rib-eye, beef marrow and more.
The Smith (Lincoln Square)
Top 100 Rank: 27
Annual Sales: $18,950,000
Average Check: $43
The Buzz: Across from Lincoln Center, this location of The Smith sports a busy sidewalk cafe area.
Sparks Steak House
Top 100 Rank: 28
Annual Sales: $18,150,000*
Average Check: $90*
The Buzz: Little but the prices has changed at Sparks since it opened in 1966, and patrons like it that way.
*RB estimate
Quality Meats
Top 100 Rank: 29
Annual Sales: $18,003,504
Average Check: $100
The Buzz: Winning customer-suggested dessert: cheesecake ice cream with key lime pie ribbons, graham cracker crunch and toasted marshmallow swirl.
Del Posto
Top 100 Rank: 32
Annual Sales: $17,800,000*
Average Check: $162*
The Buzz: Prix-fixe menus range from $49 for lunch to $149 or $179 for dinner (wine is an additional $155 per guest).
*RB estimate
Blue Fin
Top 100 Rank: 33
Annual Sales: $17,500,000*
Average Check: $72*
The Buzz: Blue Fin parent B.R. Guest has been absorbed into the Landry’s hospitality mega-corporation.
*RB estimate
The Smith (Midtown)
Top 100 Rank: 35
Annual Sales: $17,450,000
Average Check: $44
The Buzz: What restaurant slow-down? The Smith’s bustling Midtown location posted a 14.7% gain.
Tavern on the Green
Top 100 Rank: 40
Annual Sales: $17,200,000*
Average Check: $70*
The Buzz: Two years after its dramatic remodeling and reopening, this Central Park landmark is regaining its momentum.
*RB estimate
Guy’s American Kitchen & Bar
Top 100 Rank: 42
Annual Sales: $17,000,000*
Average Check: $43*
The Buzz: Self-described home of “off-the-hook scratch-made food, hand-crafted signature beers, killer cocktails and rockin’ tunes.”
*RB estimate
Quality Italian
Top 100 Rank: 47
Annual Sales: $16,529,915
Average Check: $90
The Buzz: Parent Quality Branded opened a second Quality Italian location this year in Denver’s Halcyon Hotel.
Grand Central Oyster Bar
Top 100 Rank: 48
Annual Sales: $16,400,000*
Average Check: $54*
The Buzz: For the past 26 years, Executive Chef Sandy Ingber has risen at 2 a.m. daily to buy fresh oysters at the fish market.
*RB estimate
Beauty & Essex
Top 100 Rank: 50
Annual Sales: $16,308,810
Average Check: $85
The Buzz: Everything in the pawn shop—through which guests enter the restaurant via a back door—is for sale.
La Sirena
Top 100 Rank: 52
Annual Sales: $16,200,000*
Average Check: $80*
The Buzz: Mario Batali’s sprawling 220-seat dining room and 100-seat patio opened in February 2016; this year the bar became the Tapas Bar.
*RB estimate
‘21’ Club
Top 100 Rank: 53
Annual Sales: $16,117,593
Average Check: $190
The Buzz: Last year saw remodeling, expanded market marketing and PR efforts, and menu additions including Lobster Ravioli and Trout Almondine.
Keens Steakhouse
Top 100 Rank: 54
Annual Sales: $16,100,000*
Average Check: $90*
The Buzz: Serving prime steaks 364 days a year (a Christmas break) since 1885.
*RB estimate
Blue Water Grill
Top 100 Rank: 60
Annual Sales: $15,700,000*
Average Check: $74*
The Buzz: Tucked away in a corner of Blue Water Grill lies Metropolis oyster room and cocktail bar.
*RB estimate
The Smith (NoMad)
Top 100 Rank: 65
Annual Sales: $15,350,000
Average Check: $44
The Buzz: Opened in April 2016 in Manhattan’s NoMad neighborhood, but still did enough volume to qualify.
Junior’s (Brooklyn)
Top 100 Rank: 74
Annual Sales: $14,511,308
Average Check: $23
The Buzz: The fifth location opened in 2017 at the corner of 49th Street and Broadway in New York City.
Coffee Shop
Top 100 Rank: 79
Annual Sales: $14,300,000*
Average Check: $47*
The Buzz: Open 23 hours a day, serving Brazilian-influenced comfort foods and clever cocktails.
*RB estimate
Virgil’s Real Barbecue
Top 100 Rank: 89
Annual Sales: $13,755,053
Average Check: $26
The Buzz: Like so many operations, Virgil’s spent 2016 focused on delivery and catering opportunities.
Balthazar
Top 100 Rank: 95
Annual Sales: $13,300,000*
Average Check: $70*
The Buzz: Cultured French fare, breakfast through dinner and brunch on weekends, since 1997.
*RB estimate