Diners' Choice: Good for special occasions restaurants in New York City

OpenTable

Updated 05 December 2024

Looking for the best special occasion restaurants in New York City? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Neta Shari

5.0

5 (131)

$50 and over

Sushi

Bensonhurst

About the restaurant

Omakase Sushi Restaurant located in the hearts of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.

https://www.netashari.nyc/menu

Top review

Ellenge

Dined on 1 Dec 2024

The customer service alone is worth the experience! I look forward to returning!

Kawachiya NYC

5.0

5 (14)

$50 and over

Kaiseki

Murray Hill

About the restaurant

The Kawachiya room by Kawabun NYC is a premium dining experience featuring seasonal menus offered in a lunch format and a full tasting menu for dinner at our Chef's counter. We feature techniques and recipes spanning four hundred years with an eye towards innovating for New York. Located near Bryant Park and the Chrysler building in Murray Hill, Kawachiya is a hidden gem conveniently located close to Grand Central Terminal.

Chef Ito Yoshitaka has been practicing his craft at the legendary Kawabun Ryotei in Nagoya, Japan since his youth. Hailing from a family of Washoku chefs, he applies his dedication and skills to bring a highly selective seasonal offering to New York to launch the first expansion of Kawabun since its founding in the early 1600s.

For A La Carte service in Kawabun NYC, please visit: www.opentable.com/r/kawabun-nyc-new-york

Top review

Michael

Dined on 8 Dec 2024

What a wonderful place. My spouse and I had the omakase experience and it was a feast for all the senses. From the moment we walked in, the service was impeccable. The preparation and plating in front of us was truly a one of a kind event. Every plate was excellent and unique.

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Experience

Dinner Omakase

Experience

Lunch Counter Omakase

Caviar Russe

4.9

4.9 (892)

$50 and over

Contemporary French

Midtown East

About the restaurant

Located in the heart of Midtown, Caviar Russe offers two distinct dining experiences, The Bar & Lounge and The Dining Room. In the Bar & Lounge enjoy all the best of Caviar Russe in a relaxed and refined setting featuring caviar, raw bar and fun bites all paired with fantastic wines, champagnes and cocktails. The Dining room presents a Michelin Starred fine dining experience paired with an extensive selection of Caviar Russe's exclusive caviar, enjoy a 3 or 6 course tasting menu with all items available to order à la carte.

Top review

DorindaVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Fabulous evening with champagne, a caviar flight and other small bites. Perfect way to end our New York City stay!

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Experience

The Grand Tasting Menu - A Tour of Caviar Russe

Experience

New Year's Eve - Early Seating

Experience

New Year's Eve - Late Seating

Sushi of Gari 46

4.9

4.9 (1854)

$50 and over

Japanese

Theater District

About the restaurant

Beginning in December 2024, we will be open 6 days a week. We look forward to welcoming you with extended hours and more opportunities to dine with us! Please check our updated hours.

For a decade founder Gari Sugio has run a sushi restaurant that is innovative in the way it serves sushi with both cold and warm ingredients, offering more than 130 varieties. Sushi of Gari 46 focuses primarily on serving Gari’s “Signature Omakase” Sushi dinner which shows off his expertise with marinated and spiced raw and slightly cooked ingredients, in addition to a menu of traditional Japanese dishes. The sake selection, by Gari Sugio, is one of the best in town along with a limited wine selection of fine wines.

Please note: Sushi Bar reservation is not available online. Please contact the restaurant directly.

Top review

TanyaVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Fabulous place and Sushi and Sashimi were amazing !

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MoCA Asian Bistro - Queens

4.9

4.9 (276)

$30 and under

Asian

Forest Hills

About the restaurant

Founded in 2006, MoCA formed a philosophy of dining and cuisine guided by the dynamic balance between the cherished traditions of Asian cultures, with thousands of years of history, and the universally human spirit of innovation that is nourished best by these great traditions.

The name “MoCA” comes from “Modern Concept of Culinary Arts.” The MoCA team approaches cooking as an artistic endeavor, devoted to presenting modern, healthy dishes with artistic principles of color, fragrance, balance, and overall presentation.

Top review

LennyVIP

Dined on 8 Dec 2024

Everything was delicious and the service was excellent

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Experience

Tuesday Live Music Nights

Sushi on Me - Williamsburg

4.9

4.9 (116)

$50 and over

Sushi

Williamsburg

About the restaurant

Sushi On Me is a secret hideout where customers can enjoy premium omakase in a speakeasy vibe. Our chefs and staffs are committed to delivering not only the best omakase sushi but also the best omakase experience to all the guests!

Guests can enjoy the premium 15-course omakase and the relaxing, speakeasy vibe in the 1-hour seating for the price of $99/person (Not including tax and Gratuity). For parties of 5+guest there is a 20% service charge. Please mention any food allergies or Food restrictions when making the reservation. [No vegetarian and celiac options, Can’t accommodate pregnant guests]

We have 4 dine-in slots as follows:
5.00pm - 6.00pm
6.30pm - 7.30pm
8.00pm - 9.00pm
9.30pm - 10.30pm

Private party and at-home omakase are also available, all inquiries can be made via sushionmenyc@gmail.com For parties of 6+ guest 50% deposit is required as booking confirmation. Please contact the restaurant regarding the deposit and more details.

Top review

Sam

Dined on 14 Dec 2024

Fun, fast, friendly, with a nice bit of creativity!

Sushi Noz

4.9

4.9 (9)

$50 and over

Sushi

Upper East Side

About the restaurant

Craftsmanship at its finest is displayed at Sushi Noz, where guests experience our seasonal omakase menu curated nightly by Chef Nozomu Abe. Known as "Noz" to his friends, Abe-san is part of a movement from Japan advancing Edomae-style sushi, incorporating aging and preparation techniques that date back to Japan's Edo period. Upon entering the restaurant, guests are transported by the Sukiya-style wooden interior, which was assembled using more than a dozen types of cedar. The centerpiece of our first dining room is our 8-seat, 200-year-old hinoki wood sushi bar and traditional ice chest, where Chef Noz refrigerates the evening's neta selections. Our second dining room features a sushi bar made from tamo ash wood, which accommodates an additional 6 guests. We welcome our guests in true Japanese hospitality, offering two nightly seatings at each counter.

Top review

Kenneth

Dined on 10 Dec 2024

Exceptional experience in every way. A must visit in NYC.

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Experience

Christmas Eve & New Year's Eve

Experience

Omakase ($550/Person)

Marc 179

4.9

4.9 (71)

$50 and over

Bistro

TriBeCa

About the restaurant

Renowned New York City Chef and TV Celebrity Marc Murphy revives his classic neighborhood bistro in Tribeca, offering a unique dining model with a $75 prix fixe four-course menu. Open only three days a month; guests can savor an exceptional experience with Chef Marc Murphy overseeing every dish and engaging with patrons. True to Marc's iconic style, the menu features accessible, well-rounded French and Italian bistro fare, presented in a delightful four-course prix fixe format that changes monthly. Expect delicious, comforting dishes paired with an exceptional wine selection, all with an untraditional markup. Join us as we indulge in the joy of dining and revel in true Marc Murphy fashion.

Upcoming dates available:
January 16th-18th
February 13th -15th - Featuring Chef Amanda Freitag!
March 13th - 15th

Top review

Davita

Dined on 14 Dec 2024

As always, everything and everyone was amazing bi can’t wait to go back next time

Ernesto’s

4.8

4.8 (9)

$31 to $50

Basque

Lower East Side

About the restaurant

Ernesto’s is the acclaimed Basque-inspired restaurant from veteran chef Ryan Bartlow, who has worked at world-renowned restaurants, including Akelarre in Spain, Alinea in Chicago, and Frenchette in New York City. At Ernesto’s — which has been named one of The New York Times ‘best new restaurants’ of the year, among other accolades — Bartlow offers a menu inspired by his years spent cooking and living in the Basque region of Spain, mixing signature traditional dishes with seasonal riffs on classic flavors.

Ernesto's is open for dinner Monday from 5:30-9:30pm and Tuesday-Thursday from 5pm-9:30pm with the kitchen closing at 9:45pm, and Fri-Sat 5pm-10pm with the kitchen closing at 10:30pm. We accept reservations and walk-ins. We take reservations up to two weeks in advance with our books opening at midnight.

**Our outdoor tables are WALK-IN ONLY. Please call on the day of your reservation to check for availability.

Top review

Robert

Dined on 15 Nov 2024

Ernesto’s is a wonderful spot. Authentically both Basque and Lower East Side, it was truly soulful and differentiated in a too often homogenized world. Delicious and interesting food, an incredibly deep and educational Spanish wine list, and friendly, knowledgeable service to guide diners along the way. Very grateful to have dined here.

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Experience

New Years Eve

LILLI RESTAURANT

4.8

4.8 (27)

$30 and under

Thai

East Flatbush

About the restaurant

Coming Soon!

Top review

Chanequa

Dined 1 day ago

This restaurant was so nice, I literally have no notes. Food and drinks were amazing, service was amazing, the DJ was on point, and surprisingly the music wasn’t overly loud. I will definitely be back to try more dishes.

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