1. Daniel
9.0
60 E 65th St (btwn Park & Madison Ave), New York, NY
French Restaurant · Upper East Side · 191 tips and reviews
New York Habitat: This Michelin rated restaurant makes for a great special occasion dinner. The best value is had in the 3 course prix fixe, or you can splurge for the 6 course tasting menu with wine pairing.
Compass: Daniel Boulud’s namesake restaurant is luxurious with tasting menus in the triple digits. For a special occasion, there’s no better place.
Daniel Chvatik: Great French restaurant, always a special occasion. I would pick Bouley if I had to pick between the two but Daniel makes for a lovely evening as well.
2. Elio's
8.6
1621 2nd Ave (btwn E 84th & E 85th St), New York, NY
Italian Restaurant · Yorkville · 53 tips and reviews
Brett Fromme: Best old school Italian food on the UES. Great wine list. Expensive, but you get what you pay for. Great for special occasions.
M: Great spot. Loved the spaghetti, but you can't go wrong with most dishes. Sitting outside is a bit quieter than inside, at times.
nymag: Actress Phoebe Cates calls this UES spot her "sanctuary of sanity" in this week's NY Diet. She and husband Kevin Kline love the steak au poivre. Read more.
3. Tanoshi Sushi
9.2
1372 York Ave (at 73rd St), New York, NY
Sushi Restaurant · Upper East Side · 113 tips and reviews
William Doonan: Don't forget to BYOB. I love anything with quail eggs. You must come here if you want to celebrate a special occasion. Nice ambiance and even better food/service.
Chris Konecny: Hole in the wall, very casual and superb sushi makes for a great restaurant experience. Omakase only. BYOB
Serious Eats: Go go go. You will not find a a better sushi experience than at this 10-seat, omakase-only hole in the wall in New York.
4. Kappo Masa
8.6
976 Madison Ave (76th Street), New York, NY
Japanese Restaurant · Upper East Side · 16 tips and reviews
No Leftovers Jackie Gebel: Very expensive, but worth it! Highest quality fish and preparation. Special occasion and healthy
Marc Aafjes: One of the best Japanese restaurants outside of Japan. Ask for any special sushi/sashimi options of the menu -- they may have something very nice. Also the Ohmi beef is amazing (but $) nocheap :))
The Wall Street Journal: With 82 seats, Kappo Masa is a comfortable space that also looks to be making its mark in the field of industrial design. Aside from the decor the food is second to none. Be sure to try the truffles. Read more.
5. Boqueria
9.1
1460 2nd Ave (76th St), New York, NY
Spanish Restaurant · Upper East Side · 98 tips and reviews
Sophie Parks: Bacon wrapped dates, grilled octopus, seafood paella (but it takes 40 minutes!), and churros filled with Nutella! Everything was fabulous!
Tasting Table: Looking to throw a party? The chef's menu ($40 per person) is for parties of 6 or more. It covers all the greatest Spanish tapas, while mixing in seasonal specialties to keep things interesting. Read more.
Jillian W: Sit at the bar. Make friends w/the bartenders, they know the ins & outs. Samantha was a huge help & her recommendations were spot on. Squid -spinach garbanzo bean salad-shrimp-shishito peppers.
6. Sushi of Gari
8.6
402 E 78th St (at 1st Ave), New York, NY
Sushi Restaurant · Upper East Side · 133 tips and reviews
Jason H.: Truly some of the best sushi in New York. Get the omakase and sit back and enjoy. But be warned this is a special occasion meal. If you indulge it may end up costing 4-5 hundred dollars!
Anastasia Bezverkha: Best sushi on UES. No, arguably best sushi in Manhattan. 🍶🍣
New York Habitat: An exquisite raw fish experience with uniquely crafted pieces. Try the tuna with tofu cream, flounder with lotus chip, and the foie gras sushi.
7. Bemelmans Bar
9.0
35 E 76th St (at Madison Ave), New York, NY
Hotel Bar · Upper East Side · 130 tips and reviews
Mary-Stokes Koller: Wonderful vibe with live music! Great people watching too!
Tiffany & Co: This is the real thing. A place for Gotham insiders. Gold leaf ceilings and enchanting murals by Madeline author and illustrator Ludwig Bemelmans. Arrive by 8pm and take a small table near the piano.
Travel Channel: At the only place where Bemelman’s art work is publicly displayed, Tony has a martini saying “a room like this calls for a classic.” As seen on Travel Channel’s The Layover with Anthony Bourdain.
9. Yefsi Estiatorio
8.5
1481 York Ave (at E 78th St), New York, NY
Greek Restaurant · Upper East Side · 32 tips and reviews
Leah Wasserstrum: Love Love Love Their Meze Platter : )
Cappy Popp: Grilled octopus. JUST DO IT. All day, every day. And the dip plate. And shrimp saganaki. And lemon potatoes. Seriously, this place is utterly amazing. Just don't take my bar seat - pointing at you.
Chris Heuer: Local gem. Must try when on upper east side.
15. Orsay
8.2
1057 Lexington Ave (at E 75th St), New York, NY
French Restaurant · Upper East Side · 46 tips and reviews
Lorraine S: Lovely French bistro! Have brunch on the patio! You get a delicious basket of pastries. Great cappucinos & the eggs Benny was delish. Make sure you get the homefries!
heather pink: This is the most underated restarant in the city. The steak tartare is probably the best in the country. I've never had a bad meal here. Also, I've never had an issue with the servers being rude.
Gansevoort Hotel Group: The BEST Steak Tartare in town!