12 New York Restaurants Tourists Love (But Locals Won’t Go Near)
New York City is packed with restaurants that seem to pop up on every must-visit travel guide, drawing crowds of eager tourists with bright lights and big promises.
But while visitors are lining up for selfies and overhyped bites, locals are quietly rolling their eyes and heading elsewhere.
The divide between what’s seen as iconic and what’s actually worth eating is huge, and some spots are better left to out-of-towners chasing the postcard version of the city.
1. Ellen’s Stardust Diner
Singing waitstaff belting Broadway tunes might sound fun until you taste the food. The novelty wears thin after 15 minutes, but tourists queue for hours just to experience this 50s-themed spectacle.
Meanwhile, locals know the burgers are bland, milkshakes underwhelming, and prices astronomical for what you get.
The singing servers deserve Broadway roles, but the kitchen deserves a complete overhaul.
2. Serendipity 3
Famous for its $1,000 Golden Opulence Sundae and appearances in rom-coms, this Upper East Side institution has transformed from charming café to tourist conveyor belt.
The frozen hot chocolate that made it famous now costs $19 for what amounts to chocolate milk with ice.
Long waits, cramped seating, and food that’s merely Instagram-worthy rather than palate-pleasing keep savvy New Yorkers away.
3. Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. (Times Square)
Nothing screams “I’m visiting New York!” louder than dining at a chain restaurant based on a 1994 movie.
Locals would rather take the Staten Island Ferry than pay $30 for mediocre popcorn shrimp amid Forrest Gump memorabilia.
The location couldn’t be more convenient for tourists disoriented by Times Square’s sensory overload. Sadly, the convenience factor doesn’t make up for the uninspired seafood and inflated prices.
4. Carmine’s Italian Restaurant (Times Square)
Massive portions don’t equal quality, but tourists flock to Carmine’s for family-style Italian that’s about as authentic as the Statue of Liberty mini-replicas sold nearby.
The restaurant banks on the “bigger is better” philosophy Americans love. Native New Yorkers know the real Italian gems hide in neighborhoods like Arthur Avenue in the Bronx or the quiet corners of Greenwich Village.
Carmine’s pasta drowns in sauce while the ambiance drowns in noise.
5. Junior’s Restaurant & Bakery (Times Square)
The original Junior’s in Brooklyn has legitimate cheesecake cred. The Times Square outpost? Pure tourist bait.
Locals wince at out-of-towners who proudly announce they’ve tried “authentic New York cheesecake” here.
The Times Square location serves the same signature dessert but at inflated prices in a setting that feels like a theme park version of a New York deli.
Smart locals either trek to the Brooklyn original or find neighborhood bakeries with equally delicious cheesecake.
6. Hard Rock Cafe New York (Times Square)
Rock memorabilia doesn’t improve mediocre burgers, yet tourists can’t resist the allure of eating beneath Eric Clapton’s guitar.
The Hard Rock perfectly exemplifies the Times Square dining paradox: internationally famous yet locally ignored.
New Yorkers scratch their heads wondering why anyone would travel to the world’s greatest food city to eat at a chain they probably have back home.
The gift shop gets more attention than the kitchen, which tells you everything about their priorities.
7. TAO Downtown
Nightclub ambiance with side orders of mediocre Asian fusion attracts celebrities and their admirers.
The 16-foot Buddha statue impresses first-timers, but locals know the food doesn’t live up to the dramatic presentation or hefty price tags.
TAO exemplifies style over substance in restaurant form. New Yorkers seeking authentic Asian cuisine head to Chinatown, Flushing, or Sunset Park instead of paying triple for dishes whose main seasoning is atmosphere. The cocktails, however, almost justify the splurge.
8. Sugar Factory (Times Square)
$40 for a goblet of sugary alcohol topped with candy? Tourists say “yes please” while locals say “hard pass.”
The Sugar Factory has mastered the art of turning basic cocktails and desserts into Instagram props through smoke effects and neon accessories.
The food quality ranks somewhere between airport terminal and mall food court.
Yet the place stays packed with visitors eager to snap photos of smoking cocktails and rainbow sliders. Actual flavor seems to be an afterthought in the recipe development.
9. Virgil’s Real Barbecue (Times Square)
Claiming to serve “real” barbecue in Times Square is like claiming to sell authentic New York bagels in a Texas mall.
Tourists unfamiliar with proper smoked meats might be impressed, but locals know better options exist throughout the city. The meat lacks the smoky depth that defines great barbecue.
Native New Yorkers seeking serious BBQ head to Hometown in Red Hook or Fette Sau in Williamsburg instead of settling for Virgil’s tourist-friendly interpretation that sacrifices authenticity for location.
10. Tony’s Di Napoli (Times Square)
Another family-style Italian restaurant banking on quantity over quality. Tony’s massive platters feed tourists seeking the perceived value of enormous portions, regardless of taste.
The marinara sauce comes from jars, not Italian grandmothers. Real New Yorkers know the city offers incredible Italian cuisine in nearly every neighborhood.
Why settle for mediocre pasta in Times Square when Little Italy, Arthur Avenue, and countless neighborhood gems offer authentic experiences?
The answer: convenience trumps quality for exhausted sightseers.
11. Tavern on the Green
Once a legitimate New York institution, this Central Park landmark now survives on its storied history and prime location rather than culinary merit.
Following bankruptcy and reopening, it transformed into a tourist magnet serving forgettable food at memorable prices.
The picturesque setting still impresses, but locals know the $38 burger doesn’t taste any better than ones half the price elsewhere.
New Yorkers visit only when entertaining out-of-town guests who insist on experiencing this famous name from movies.
12. Katz’s Delicatessen
Controversial inclusion alert! While Katz’s serves legitimately good pastrami, locals rarely brave the chaos of tourists reenacting the famous “When Harry Met Sally” scene.
The $25+ sandwiches taste of nostalgia but also exploitation of their cinematic fame. Native New Yorkers know numerous delis serving comparable sandwiches without the theme park atmosphere.
The ticket system confuses first-timers, creating bottlenecks as tourists fumble with the ordering process while regulars sigh impatiently behind them.