Restaurants open and close these days faster than quarterback Lamar Jackson’s touchdown runs (which are really fast). But there are many that stay open long enough to attract the attention of writers who have enough time and resources on their hands to be able to eat, critique, and debate food in the comments section of a social media platform. So come December, writers like us need some SEO friendly articles to help bolster our case for a bonus and/or validation, which is where the best of list comes in.

Below is our list of restaurants or places that happen to serve original food as opposed to pre-packaged food like Doritos that joined the NYC dining scene this year. We hope they never leave. Most of them are neighborhood spots because while going out to a fancy restaurant once a year will always be special, it’s the places we can visit every week we think are worth mentioning. They’re a mix of places, mostly in Manhattan and Brooklyn. because we just haven’t been able to find the time to eat in the Bronx, Queens, or Staten Island. That’s our bad, and we own up to the fact we need to do better in 2020. The below is is in alphabetical order and they are all equally important to us, so read them all with the same love and care before making your decision on where to dine next.

Bumu

We’ve raved about this place since day one because it’s one of the few spots that appreciates solo diners. With a wrap around bar surrounding a kitchen in the middle of the dining room, everyone gets a great view if they want to see Joaquin Baca at work. The izakaya spot finds a way to seamlessly mesh southern bred ingredients like Benton’s bacon in Japanese dishes, and the sake list combined with original cocktails is plenty to hold you over as you flip through the menu.

Hometown BBQ Industry City

You thought we might have gone with Red Hook Tavern, but while we love the old New York revival taking place, we’re giving the nod to this outpost of Billy Durney’s beloved barbecue spot. There’s no burger here, but what you will find is a delicious and monstrous pastrami sandwich as well as a taco filled with brisket and perhaps the city’s finest queso. Plus all the meats. The fact this tiny counter service spot resides in Industry City and is surrounded by a sake brewery, ginger liqueur factory, and so much more makes it the ultimate pre or post game stop on any food crawl.

Llama San

The rise of chef Erik Ramirez is well documented, and the third time is indeed the charm as Llama San has become the crown jewel of the chef’s Peruvian powerhouse. We’d love to categorize this menu as Nikkei cuisine but Ramirez’s approach is his own. Duck nigiri, an out of this world tofu, and inventive ceviches make this sexy cantina worth waiting months for. New York might not be a destination for high end Peruvian food just yet, but Ramirez is making those around the world take notice the inspiration for his cuisine should be respected for its thoughtfulness and quality.

Red Paper Clip (RPC)

A tasting menu in the realm of $100 per person (without alcohol pairings of course) by New York standards is a steal. Consider the fact you’re dining in a place where most of the staff worked at Blue Hill, and it suddenly dawns on you that you might be committing highway robbery when dining here. From a lobster prepared three ways (butter poached, tempura, and lobster fried rice) along with agnolotti soup dumplings, RPC’s menu leads diners on a journey that’s worth revisiting every two weeks. It’s a great deal and caters to people who like neighborhood restaurants, so you don’t have to deal with the bullshit that comes with most tasting menu restaurants.

Win Son Bakery

Milk buns are better than regular buns. Add on bacon, egg, and cheese, and you’ve got NYC’s best new breakfast sandwich. But since it’s in Bushwick and restaurants need to pay rent by offering everything from coffee to laundry to arcade games all under one roof, it’s open late and there’s an entire dinner menu featuring sandwiches and variations at chicken you don’t have to fight in line at Popeye’s for. Oh and they also have soft serve, cocktails.