Chef Jonathan Benno Names His 5 Favorite Meals in NYC

From the fanciest pasta and crudo around to an old-school beer-and-a-shot bar

Chef Jonathan Benno Names His 5 Favorite Meals in NYC
Chef Jonathan Benno on a full day of NYC eating
Evan Sung

Give us a day, we’re going to eat around five times: breakfast, lunch, snacks, cocktails, dinner.

OK, one of those isn’t technically food, but still: five meals, five plates (or cups) to fill. Why not make each superlative?

Helping you do just that: Chef Jonathan Benno, previously of the famed Lincoln and Per Se, and the mastermind behind the Evelyn Hotel’s three recently transformed culinary crusades: Benno, Leonelli Taberna and Leonelli Focacceria.

Below, he picks out his five favorite meals in New York. Well, four meals and a cocktail. As you do.

Murray's Bagels
(Murray’s Bagels)

Breakfast: Murray’s Bagels 

“Everything bagel with smoked salmon, scallion cream cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and capers … every time. My favorite bagel in NYC.”

Grammercy Tavern
(Instagram/@Grammercytavern)

Lunch: Gramercy Tavern

“I love to grab a seat at the bar in the Tavern and enjoy Michael Anthony’s cooking and Miro Uskokovic’s desserts. One of the most beautiful dining rooms in New York for 25 years.” 

Ivan Ramen
(Ivan Ramen)

Snack: Ivan Ramen

“Although it is really difficult not to jump right into a bowl of Ivan’s incredible ramen, the Starter section of the menu is filled with delicious bites and the beer program they have curated there is remarkable.” 

Marea
(Instagram/@mareanyc)

Dinner: Marea

“Crudo and pasta from Michael White and his team are hands down the best in NYC.” 

Per Se
(Instagram/@perseny)

Libation: That’s tough, but … 

“A glass of champagne in the salon at Per Se overlooking Central Park on the high end or a solid Budweiser and Jameson on the rocks at Peter McManus for keepin’ it easy.” 

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