The MicheLit Guide 2025 - New York City

By Litquidity

Good Morning,

Forget Michelin stars and Beli charts. On Wall Street, the art of the client dinner extends beyond refined cuisine. It’s about pairing standout food with the right energy to create an atmosphere where trust and deals can flourish. They are about getting the right table, knowing what to order, and creating the perfect setting for clients to feel impressed but comfortable. 

At Litquidity, we are cutting through the noise to give you the real dining playbook. In this edition, we will focus on the go-to restaurants in New York City to swipe that corporate card and celebrate the closing of the billion dollar M&A deal in style. 

Here are the spots that matter and the insider tips that will make you look like you’ve been doing this for years. If you believe we missed some “must haves” on this list, feel free to submit responses here. 

Let’s dive in.

1. 4 Charles

📍 4 Charles St, New York, NY 10014

A jewel box steakhouse tucked into the West Village that feels more like a private club than a restaurant. The lighting is low, the banquettes plush, and the steaks arrive with old-school precision. Known equally for its impossible reservations as for its decadent menu. This would be the go-to choice for Patrick Bateman if he was an Mergers & Acquisitions VP in 2025.

Insider Tip: Forget the ribeye and order the off-menu double cheeseburger with foie gras. It is world class and hits the spot. The true flex, however, is securing the table in the first place.

🔗 Website

2. Le Bernardin

📍 155 W 51st St, New York, NY 10019

Eric Ripert’s three-Michelin-star temple of seafood is still one of the most polished dining experiences in New York. The service is flawless, the room is hushed, and everything about it communicates discretion and importance. Deals have been whispered here for decades. Lit himself revealed his story to the Financial Times over lunch back in 2023 (and had no shame in running up the tab). Le Bernardin is an excellent choice to expense a meal on the corporate card because dinners will run you several hundred bucks per head.

Insider Tip: Go for the Chef’s Tasting and let the sommelier pair wines. Clients will notice you know how to do business at the highest level. If you want to do it like Lit, spring for the Dover Sole supplement.

🔗 Website

3. The Lobster Club

📍 98 E 53rd St, New York, NY 10022

Loud, colorful, and filled with Basquiat and Warhol prints, this Midtown Japanese brasserie by Major Food Group mixes sushi with spectacle. It is less buttoned-up than Le Bernardin, but the room buzzes with deal flow chatter throughout the night given its location on Park Ave nestled between banks, private equity / credit firms, and hedge funds.  

The Move: Order the wagyu truffle sando, a couple of hand rolls, and the wagyu fried rice for the table. It shows you’re generous without trying too hard. 

🔗 Website

4. The Grill

📍 Seagram Building, 99 E 52nd St, New York, NY 10022

Housed in the historic Seagram Building, The Grill is the definition of a New York power room. With mid-century glamour, soaring ceilings, and tableside presentations, it is where finance veterans go to remind clients of their stature. You will likely overhear “EBITDA” or “stable recurring cash flows” from multiple directions throughout the course of your dinner so you’ll feel right at home. 

Insider Tip: Always start with the prime rib trolley. Mention that this was once the legendary Four Seasons Grill Room to prove you know the lineage. Tip for the gents: You might find a couple of “pros” looking for a husband at the bar – something to avoid if you’re trying to remain professional and secure more business. 

🔗 Website

5. Keens Steakhouse

📍 72 W 36th St., New York, NY 10018

A Midtown institution since 1885, Keens is known for its cavernous rooms, ceilings lined with thousands of clay pipes, and a menu steeped in tradition. It is the kind of steakhouse where history speaks louder than design.

Insider Tip: Skip the filet and order the mutton chop, paired with a Scotch from their unrivaled list. 

🔗 Website

6. The Corner Store

📍 475 W Broadway, New York, NY 10012

A downtown newcomer by the Catch Hospitality Group with chic interiors and a vibe that blends neighborhood bistro with polished dining. It strikes the balance between casual and elevated, making it ideal for dinners where you want an atmosphere without theatrics or suffocating old money stuffiness

The Move: Order a range of small plates to share (the Lobster & Caviar rolls are a hit) and a couple of espresso martinis to set the tone. It keeps the dinner social and collaborative while you steer the conversation. Unless you know the owners, you’ll probably need to hit up Dorsia to snag a reservation, as it’s nearly impossible to get one these days.

🔗 Website

7. Monkey Bar

📍 475 W Broadway, New York, NY 10012

An iconic Midtown haunt with a mural of 20th-century cultural legends, Monkey Bar oozes old-school New York swagger. It is equal parts finance and publishing crowd, with a lively bar scene and red banquettes perfect for people-watching.

Insider Tip: Martinis first, burgers second. Reserve a corner booth so your clients feel tucked away but still part of the action.

🔗 Website

8. COTE Korean Steakhouse

📍 475 W Broadway, New York, NY 10012

A Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse that merges the polish of fine dining with the energy of an interactive experience. The built-in grills and attentive service keep things lively without sacrificing sophistication.

Insider Tip: The Butcher’s Feast is the move. It takes the guesswork out of what to order so there’s more time to soak in the atmosphere and engage in good conversation.

🔗 Website

9. Torrisi

📍 275 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10012

Torrisi is Major Food Group’s upscale Italian homage located in Nolita, blending New York nostalgia with theatrical flair. The dining room hums with energy and the plates are both refined and indulgent. A buzzy spot that signals you know what is current.

Insider Tip: Do not leave without ordering the dry-aged duck or the prosciutto and zeppole. 

🔗 Website

10. Cucina Alba

📍 511 W 18th St, New York, NY 10011

A sleek Flatiron Italian restaurant with a focus on seasonal, chef-driven pastas and polished design. More understated than Torrisi but with a clientele that skews equally discerning.

Litquidity’s Move: The black truffle Agnolotti is by far the best pasta, and dare I say dish, on the menu. Get a couple pastas for the table but position the Agnolotti closer to your client if you really want to win them over. 

🔗 Website

11. Four Twenty Five

📍 425 Park Ave, New York, NY 10022

Jean Georges’ glass-walled power dining room at 425 Park Avenue is as modern Midtown as it gets. With minimalist design and views of Park Avenue, it is the kind of place clients expect when you want to project scale.

Insider Tip: Secure a corner table and order the tuna ribbons. If you know, you know.

🔗 Website

12. Estiatorio Milos

📍 125 W 55th St, New York, NY 10019

The high-end Greek seafood palace that redefined what a fish display could mean in a dining room. Bright, white, and buzzing with dealmakers, it is both impressive and approachable.

Insider Tip: Walk your clients to the seafood display and choose dinner together. It turns dinner into theater.

🔗 Website

13. Avra Madison

📍 14 E 60th St, New York, NY 10022

The Upper East Side sibling to Milos, Avra draws the Park Avenue set and delivers a similarly lavish Greek seafood experience. Large, opulent dining rooms make it ideal for big groups or celebratory closings.

Insider Tip: Order a whole fish to be filleted tableside. Bonus points if you casually reference summers in Mykonos.

🔗 Website

14. Nobu Downtown

📍 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007

The sleek Japanese standard bearer that still carries global cachet. Its dim lighting and bold architecture make it as much a scene as a restaurant. Everyone knows Nobu, and sometimes that is exactly the point.

Insider Tip: Stick to classics like black cod miso and yellowtail jalapeño. It shows you understand Nobu’s legacy.

🔗 Website

15. Harry’s NYC

📍 1 Hanover Square, New York, NY 10004

The definitive FiDi steakhouse and a true Wall Street landmark. Since the 1970s, Harry’s has been hosting traders, bankers, and lawyers who treat it like a second office.

Insider Tip: Order the porterhouse and make a toast to tradition. Few rooms feel more Wall Street than this one.

🔗 Website

16. Don Angie’s

📍 103 Greenwich Ave, New York, NY 10014

A Michelin-starred Italian-American spot in the West Village that is small, stylish, and endlessly hyped. The food is playful but serious, and the energy is young and buzzy.

Insider Tip: The lasagna for two is non-negotiable. It is both a conversation piece and genuinely one of the best dishes in New York.

🔗 Website

17. Wolfgang’s

📍 4 Park Ave, New York, NY 10016

A Peter Luger spin-off that successfully brought the Brooklyn legend’s steak swagger into Midtown. The wood-paneled rooms are classic and the porterhouse delivers every time.

Insider Tip: Start with the sizzling Canadian bacon. Then go porterhouse for the table.

🔗 Website

17. Smith & Wollensky

📍 797 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10022

An unapologetically loud and brash steakhouse that has been a Midtown staple since the 1970s. The green-and-white striped awning is instantly recognizable.

Insider Tip: Bone-in ribeye, extra-dirty martinis, and some bottles of wine is the move. Order the coconut cake for dessert to end on a strong note.

🔗 Website

19. Strip House

📍 11 East 12th Street in New York City's Greenwich Village

A sultry steakhouse wrapped in red velvet and vintage photography, Strip House is equal parts steak and spectacle. The vibe is dark, dramatic, and slightly playful.

Insider Tip: Pair the ribeye with the 24-layer chocolate cake. It is excessive in the best possible way.

🔗 Website

20. Hawksmoor

📍 109 E 22nd St, New York, NY 10010

The London import that raised the bar for dry-aged beef in New York. The dining room is stylish, the cocktails serious, and the chateaubriand is its crown jewel.

Insider Tip: Kick things off with the martini cart. Then order the chateaubriand and enjoy the tableside presentation.

🔗 Website

21. Bondst

📍 6 Bond St, New York, NY 10012

A NoHo sushi institution that blends stylish design with a hip loungey vibe. It is lively without being chaotic and always delivers. Given its location, you’ll probably find this more accessible to startup employees, founders, or VCs who tend to congregate around SoHo.

Insider Tip: The crispy rice with spicy tuna is a must. It is the initiation dish.

🔗 Website

22. Le Pavillon

📍 One Vanderbilt Ave, New York, NY 10017

Daniel Boulud’s Midtown garden-inspired dining room attached to Grand Central Terminal. Bright, airy, and refined, it is a sharp contrast to the dark steakhouses that dominate the list. Ideal for your investors or colleagues who need to catch the train back to Greenwich or Stamford after one too many espresso martinis. 

Insider Tip: The seafood tasting menu is the play. Mention Boulud’s “return to Midtown” to show you know your chefs.

🔗 Website

23. Quality Italian

📍 57 W 57th St, New York, NY 100197

The steakhouse-Italian hybrid that is famous for one thing: the chicken parm pizza. Loud, fun, and reliably packed with finance types.

Insider Tip: Always order the chicken parm pizza to share. It breaks the ice instantly.

🔗 Website

24. Jack & Charlie’s

📍 118 Greenwich Ave, New York, NY 10011

A West Village brasserie that feels classic but polished, with an emphasis on elevated American fare. The room has just enough glamour to impress without feeling forced.

Insider Tip: Start with oysters. Understated but perfect.

🔗 Website

25. Beefbar

📍 105 Hudson St, New York, NY 10013

The Monaco-born brand serving a “world tour of beef” in a luxe, clubby setting. Sleek interiors and global flair make it a magnet for those who want a little more flash.

Insider Tip: Order the Kobe beef sliders for the table. It is the bite-sized flex.

🔗 Website

Wall Street has always had its own dining circuit and these rooms are where reputations, mandates, and client relationships are cemented. Michelin might hand out stars and Beli might chase trends, but the real flex is knowing which table to book, what to order, and how to make it look effortless. 

Stay tuned as we curate the go-to spots in other major cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami, London, Hong Kong, and more. 

If you’d like us to feature a restaurant, we are taking submissions here.

Until next time!

– The Litquidity Team

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*DISCLAIMER: Investment advice provided by Autopilot Advisers, LLC ("Autopilot"), an SEC-registered investment adviser. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investing carries risks, including loss of principal. As always, be smart out there. Litquidity is compensated to promote AutoPilot. Compensation details available upon request.