NOLITA, MANHATTAN
Estela
Ignacio Mattos's upstairs room on Houston Street — endive salad, arroz negro, and a decade of setting the downtown standard.
See current Google rating & reviews ↗
Above Houston Street, Ignacio Mattos's restaurant is tight, loud enough to name the song, and full of people talking about the food. It has been one of the city's defining restaurants for more than a decade, and it still feels like it could only exist in New York.
Order the endive salad — walnuts, cheese and anchovy dressing hidden under the leaves — and the beef tartare, two dishes that rarely leave the menu. Add the ricotta dumplings with mushrooms and the ink-dark arroz negro with squid, then whatever is new and seasonal. The wine list rewards curiosity.
Editor’s tip
Go with three or four people so you can order across the menu, and always get the endive salad.
Make an evening of it — beautiful stops nearby
Also in the neighborhood
NOLITA, MANHATTAN
Thai Diner
Uncle Boons' all-day successor in Nolita — Thai tea babka French toast, khao soi and a coconut sundae.
Thai · Brunch · $$
IllustrationNOLITA, MANHATTAN
Rubirosa
Nolita's thin-crust parlor — the Tie Dye pie, vodka sauce, and a room that hums all night.
Pizza · Date Night · $$
Editorial draft — core details last reviewed October 14, 2026. Confirm practical details with the official site before you go.