In its newly released Top 100 U.S. Restaurants 2026 ranking, Yelp crowned Ci Siamo the best place to eat in America–and honestly? We get it.
Located at 440 W. 33rd Street inside Manhattan West, the Michelin Guide-recognized Italian hotspot from acclaimed restaurateur Danny Meyer and Union Square Hospitality Group has been one of NYC’s buzziest reservations since day one. Now it has the national bragging rights to match.
The No. 1 Restaurant in the U.S. Is Right Here in NYC
Helmed by four-time James Beard-nominated Executive Chef Hillary Sterling, Ci Siamo translates to “here we are”–and that feels especially fitting right now. Because, well, here we are: on top.
Yelp’s annual list–now in its 13th year–ranks the highest-reviewed restaurants across the country based on ratings, review volume, and community buzz. That means fine dining temples, casual counters, diners, food halls, and neighborhood gems all compete on the same playing field.
And this year, New York took the crown.
According to Yelp users, Ci Siamo delivers the kind of meal that feels like a Roman holiday without the $900 flight. Think: live-fire cooking, blistered focaccia, wood-kissed vegetables, and pasta so good you’ll briefly believe in love again.
The Rigatoni That Won America’s Heart
If there’s a single dish responsible for the hype, it’s the Rigatoni Alla Gricia–a Roman classic made with guanciale and black pepper that’s somehow both simple and life altering. Yelp says the restaurant plates roughly 120 of them per day.
That’s 120 bowls of peppery, porky perfection disappearing into the mouths of hungry New Yorkers nightly.
Sterling is famously precise about the details–down to the specific blend of peppercorns from a specific purveyor and the exact mill she uses. “I sound like bananas here,” she jokes, about her attention to every detail. As for us? We’re obsessed.
Other menu standouts include:
- Cavatelli Allo Scoglio with crab, chili, and vermouth (the restaurant’s second bestseller)
- Stracci with braised rabbit and wine (based on a dish Sterling savored in a trattoria in Verduno)
- The craveable Pizza Bianca with anchovy, salsa verde, and aioli (also inspired by the trip to Verduno)
- A caramelized onion torta layered with pecorino and baked in the wood-burning oven
The vibe? Warm but polished. Think grandma core (“nonna-stalgia,” if you’re up to date on your culinary cooking trends) meets Hudson Yards glam.
Why Ci Siamo Fits 2026’s Biggest Food Trends
Yelp says this year’s hottest dining trends include:
- Cozy, slow-cooked “grandma-core” comfort food often served on charmingly mismatched dinnerware
- Japanese cuisine domination–think: sushi spots, handroll bars, and Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian) fusion restaurants
- “Dress-up” dinner destinations
- Sandwiches stealing the dinner spotlight
- Breakfast-for-dinner energy
Ci Siamo checks at least two of those boxes: nostalgic Italian comfort and a stunning dining room that absolutely justifies putting on real pants.
A Win for NYC Dining
Ci Siamo wasn’t the only New York restaurant to land on Yelp’s Top 100, but claiming the No. 1 spot feels symbolic. In a city where restaurants open and close faster than a subway door at rush hour, it’s refreshing to see meditative, ingredient-driven cooking take the top prize.
At a time when dining trends swing wildly between $5 slices and $500 tasting menus, Ci Siamo sits comfortably in the middle: refined but generous, elegant but unfussy, celebratory but grounded in tradition. It’s the kind of place you book for a birthday, a promotion, or just because it’s Tuesday and you survived.
And now that it’s officially the best restaurant in America, good luck getting that 7:30 pm reservation.
Other NYC Spots that Made the List
- L’industrie Pizzeria, Brooklyn (No. 27)
- Charoen Krung Thai, New York (No. 35)
- Gurumé, New York (No. 38)
- Da Andrea, New York (No. 45)