2016 top independent restaurants in NYC
2016 top independent restaurants in NYC
By Restaurant Business Staff on Oct. 04, 2016Despite some smaller cities growing their presence, New York City dominates the Top 100 Independents. Here are the 30 highest-grossing independent restaurants in the Big Apple.
Tao Downtown
Top 100 Rank: 3
Annual Sales: $33,822,962
Average Check: $77
The Buzz: Biggest 2015 menu addition: Singapore Mei Fun (thin rice noodles with a traditional Indian curry, vegetables, shrimp and pork).
Carmine’s (Times Square)
Top 100 Rank: 4
Annual Sales: $32,015,788
Average Check: $32
The Buzz: The Times Square location is the nation’s highest-grossing Italian restaurant. Again.
Lavo New York
Top 100 Rank: 6
Annual Sales: $27,508,162
Average Check: $75
The Buzz: Hosts a Champagne Party Brunch every Saturday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Smith & Wollensky
Top 100 Rank: 7
Annual Sales: $25,584,000
Average Check: $101
The Buzz: Its Wine Week event is a key customer engagement initiative.
Tao Uptown
Top 100 Rank: 11
Annual Sales: $23,357,631
Average Check: $79
The Buzz: Originally a stable for the Vanderbilt family, transformed by Tao Group into an Asian temple-like space.
Junior’s (Times Square)
Top 100 Rank: 15
Annual Sales: $21,501,008
Average Check: $23
The Buzz: A Junior’s store in Boca Raton, Fla., opened in October 2016.
Buddakan
Top 100 Rank: 16
Annual Sales: $20,960,758
Average Check: $84
The Buzz: New hand-crafted cocktails have been a popular addition.
Bryant Park Grill & Cafe
Top 100 Rank: 19
Annual Sales: $20,000,000
Average Check: $50*
The Buzz: The grill is a gorgeous pavilion with a bird mural stretching along one side and banquettes wrapped in a leaf-print pattern.
*RB estimate
Sparks Steak House
Top 100 Rank: 24
Annual Sales: $18,600,000*
Average Check: $92*
The Buzz: The main Hudson dining room holds 250; another nine rooms can hold up to 335 more.
*RB estimate
Blue Fin
Top 100 Rank: 27
Annual Sales: $18,400,000*
Average Check: $70*
The Buzz: Breakfast, lunch and upscale seafood dinners in Times Square.
*RB estimate
The Smith (Lincoln Square)
Top 100 Rank: 28
Annual Sales: $18,250,000
Average Check: $43
The Buzz: Across the street from Lincoln Center, it's a popular spot for pre- and post-theater dining.
Del Posto
Top 100 Rank: 30
Annual Sales: $17,900,000*
Average Check: $160*
The Buzz: Prix-fixe lunch is $49; lowest prix-fixe dinner is $149 plus $95 for wine.
*RB estimate
Quality Meats
Top 100 Rank: 35
Annual Sales: $17,263,000
Average Check: $98
The Buzz: Wine Week means 10 wines for $20 with lunch all week.
‘21’ Club
Top 100 Rank: 38
Annual Sales: $17,167,544
Average Check: $175
The Buzz: Triple Crown winner American Pharaoh got its jockey colors immortalized at ‘21’ Club in 2015.
Guy’s American Kitchen & Bar
Top 100 Rank: 39
Annual Sales: $17,000,000*
Average Check: $42*
The Buzz: The bad press at opening is behind it; people still line up for a trip to Flavortown.
*RB estimate
Tavern on the Green
Top 100 Rank: 40
Annual Sales: $17,000,000*
Average Check: $60*
The Buzz: Donald Trump was among the bidders seeking to restore and run this Central Park icon.
*RB estimate
Beauty & Essex
Top 100 Rank: 42
Annual Sales: $16,880,985
Average Check: $117
The Buzz: Tao Group’s restaurant, lounge and pawn shop will open a third location in Los Angeles.
Grand Central Oyster Bar
Top 100 Rank: 46
Annual Sales: $16,650,000*
Average Check: $53*
The Buzz: Going into its second century, the Grand Central Terminal institution still sells more than 2 million oysters annually.
*RB estimate
Spice Market
Top 100 Rank: 48
Annual Sales: $16,150,000*
Average Check: $70*
The Buzz: Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s take on Southeast Asian street foods, but at New York City prices.
*RB estimate
Blue Water Grill
Top 100 Rank: 49
Annual Sales: $16,150,000
Average Check: $74
The Buzz: Housed in the former Metropolitan Bank, overlooking Union Square Park.
Keens Steakhouse
Top 100 Rank: 55
Annual Sales: $15,900,000*
Average Check: $87*
The Buzz: The 2013 recipient of James Beard America’s Classics Award.
*RB estimate
Quality Italian
Top 100 Rank: 58
Annual Sales: $15,622,000
Average Check: $88
The Buzz: A brunch favorite is a mashup of eggplant Parmesan and eggs Benedict.
Balthazar
Top 100 Rank: 59
Annual Sales: $15,600,000*
Average Check: $68*
The Buzz: Its high red-leather banquettes are appropriate for a SoHo site that once was a tannery.
*RB estimate
The Smith (Midtown)
Top 100 Rank: 62
Annual Sales: $15,210,000
Average Check: $44
The Buzz: Self-described as a “go-to spot for after-work drinks, quick and comforting dinners, group celebrations, and where to hit a first date out of the park.”
Coffee Shop
Top 100 Rank: 71
Annual Sales: $14,700,000*
Average Check: $28*
The Buzz: Open 23 hours a day, with an hour left to clean up the mess you made.
*RB estimate
The Four Seasons
Top 100 Rank: 77
Annual Sales: $14,200,000*
Average Check: $152*
The Buzz: The Four Seasons closed its doors in the Seagram Building on July 16, but the owners vow to reopen elsewhere in a year.
*RB estimate
Junior’s (Brooklyn)
Top 100 Rank: 80
Annual Sales: $14,073,830
Average Check: $23
The Buzz: Beyond cheesecake, Junior’s serves three meals a day and offers full bar service.
Virgil’s Real Barbecue
Top 100 Rank: 85
Annual Sales: $13,681,113
Average Check: $26
The Buzz: Smokers at this Southern-style barbecue restaurant from the people who own Carmine’s can hold 1,400 pounds of meat.
Cafe Fiorello
Top 100 Rank: 97
Annual Sales: $12,900,000*
Average Check: $57*
The Buzz: Across from the Lincoln Center; after-theater dining is popular.
*RB estimate
Daniel
Top 100 Rank: 98
Annual Sales: $12,800,000*
Average Check: $170*
The Buzz: One of the few to earn a two-star Michelin rating.
*RB estimate