There are almost 27,000 restaurants in New York, and according to research done by Open Table, you could eat at a different place every night for 22.7 years and visit the same place twice.
Many of the New York restaurants are classic institutions that draw in a big tourist crowd, like Katz’s Delicatessen and Lombardi’s. But if you want to go Off Metro and sample some truly unique eats, there are some wonderful quirky restaurants that will challenge your taste buds and delight your palate. You can sample some delicious food and learn so much about what makes New York such an incredible city.
There are some wonderful quirky restaurants that will challenge your taste buds and delight your palate. Photo by Laura Peruchi on Unsplash.comFraunces Tavern
New York is often perceived as being shiny and new, with bright lights – a city embracing technology and innovation, but New York is very old indeed. If you fancy visiting the most historical restaurants in The Big Apple, you won’t get older than Fraunces Tavern (54 Pearl St, New York, NY 10004).
The restaurant was established in 1762 and is the oldest restaurant in the city. In 1785 the Fraunces Tavern was the venue of a special banquet honoring George Washington. In fact, you can see one of Washington’s teeth which is kept on display in the restaurant. These days it is a great place for you to try some craft beers and traditional American fare.
Burp Castle
Burp Castle (41 E 7th St, New York, NY 10003) really is a peculiar place – it was once a monastery, and customers are expected to keep quiet whilst they enjoy their food and drinks. It’s the perfect place to visit if you don’t want to keep up any kind of conversation during dinner, but maybe not one for first dates. Just take along a good book or a newspaper and enjoy some exotic beers and a bite to eat in peace and quiet. Amen.
Please Don’t Tell
Please Don’t Tell (113 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10009) is a speakeasy-style restaurant and bar that is a very big secret! You’ll need a reservation to get a table, but even that is difficult in itself.
When you phone, they will often say “wrong number,” but if you keep persisting, you should eventually get a table on the same day – this is all part of the game. To get to the restaurant, you will have to make your way through a secret phone booth in the East Village. The menu isn’t publicized, but regular treats include a bacon-wrapped hotdog with momofuku kimchi.
Watch this to discover Please Don’t Tell…
La Caverna
La Caverna (122 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002) is underground in a completely different way from Please Don’t Tell – you are literally dining in a cave with stalactites hanging down from the ceiling.
On the menu at La Caverna is authentic Mexican Cuisine that is seasonally inspired including Quesadillas and Enchiladas. The restaurant is particularly popular on Taco Tuesdays.
Max Brenner
Once you have eaten your way around all the quirky restaurants, head to Max Brenner (841 Broadway, New York, NY10003) – New York’s favorite chocolate restaurant. They are particularly well known for the irresistible chocolate fondues where you can dip fresh fruit into the dark, melty goodness.
It’s a great place for brunch too, and you can stop in for savory paninis with hot chocolate on the side.
Watch this to get a glimpse into Max Brenner in New York City:
New York is a wonderful city if you are a foodie wanting to try lots of new places. Trying the quirky and unusual places is great fun and you can sample some truly delicious cuisine.
Alex is a computer geek, programmer, who loves traveling. Not the usual mix, but Alex is always with his laptop – no matter how high the mountain he’s hiking on. On every peak he reaches, he writes a story that captures it all.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram