This slick pizza parlor nods to New York classics like Patsy’s, such as one topped with stracciatella, tomato, arugula, and coarsely ground black pepper. Beebe’s also has floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing impressive views of the skyline, and there is courtyard seating for the warmer months.

Pitmaster Josh Bowen has been paying homage to the barbecue culture of his hometown of Kansas City since setting up shop in 2011. Although plenty of competition has crowded into New York since then, John Brown Smokehouse remains king when it comes to burnt ends. Regulars customers know to show up early before the kitchen runs out of these hunks of brisket covered in sticky-sweet, blackened bark.

Among the lineup of notables names at this Queens food hall, Eater critic Ryan Sutton cited Ghaya Oliveria’s pastries — the ham-and-cheese mille-feuille, in particular — from her all-day cafe as one of his best dishes last year. Other must visit spots include Lotus and Cleaver, a Cantonese barbecue bowl spot from the team behind Wayla and Kimika, as well as Einat Admony’s Taïm.

Chef Ezequiel Valencia — who worked as a private chef at the Mission of Peru at the UN in New York, as well as the Peruvian embassy in Nicaragua — is behind the Inkan, known for its Peruvian rotisserie chicken and sides. In addition to chicken, rice, and beans, there’s a selection of tangy and fresh ceviches and appetizers. Notably, the flaky, gooey Peruvian-style empanada is worth ordering. There’s an additional location in Garden City Park on Long Island.

In operation since 1946, Court Square Diner stands out among the flashier restaurants and bars that have crowded into Long Island City in recent years. Not much has changed since brothers Steve and Nick Kanellos started running the joint in 1991 — the diner still serves oversized heroes and grilled cheese sandwiches 24/7.

The patty melt at Bellwether comes topped with a housemade riff on Velveeta — equally gooey, far more flavorful — and pretty much sums up the menu of new American fare. Most dishes here are not exactly revolutionary, but they are executed with care and locally sourced ingredients. The cozy 60-seater opened in 2018 with a wall of live moss.

Jackey Sun, owner of Flushing restaurant Hunan House, opened Chairman Sun on one of the neighborhood’s busiest streets in summer 2019. Even with the many competing restaurants in the vicinity, this dining room, which features a fake cherry tree and a water feature, easily fills up at dinner time. It’s not hard to see why: The menu offers crowd-pleasing Chinese cuisine from multiple regions, primarily Sichuan, with a special menu for the fiery, customizable dry pot. A highlight is the xiao long bao, which checks off all the boxes: flavorful soup, thin skin, and tender, melt-in-the-mouth meat.

Casa Enrique is one of Long Island City’s true destination restaurants, reliably packed since 2012 with customers willing to wait for knockout tacos al pastor. Chef and co-owner Cosme Aguilar’s cooking stands up to its many accolades, such as its Michelin star. It’s hard to go wrong, but one standout is the mole de Piaxtla, an alchemical marvel from Puebla made of seven different chiles, plantains, raisins, chocolate, and other ingredients simmered for four hours. A tequila- and mezcal-focused cocktail list rounds out the menu.

This contemporary izakaya is the sort of place where ramen rests on the same table as guacamole, and it all somehow works. Bar Goto alum chef Kiyo Shinoki opened Takumen in 2017 with more interest in having fun than adhering to any particular culinary dogma. Sachiko Kamiya, his wife, designed the interior, which incorporates rotating works by local artists. Handmade bowls and plates by a Brooklyn ceramicist are the perfect foil for the eclectic menu.

Pascal Escriout opened this unpretentious wine bar with Robert Gonçalves after his success with nearby Tournesol. An extensive selection of meats and cheeses, dim lighting, and regular live jazz make Domaine bar a vins popular both with couples on date night and other chefs looking for an after-work drink. The French expat bartenders are always happy to recommend something from the wide selection of wines by the glass.

Owner Andrew Karistinos, who opened Jackson’s Eatery and Bar in 2016, emphasizes local ingredients wherever possible in American comfort food staples such as bourbon-marinated ribs and bacon-studded mac and cheese. The dependable neighborhood spot has modified its hours during the pandemic and is closed Mondays through Wednesdays. With its low-key, dark-wood interior and hangover cures like buttermilk fried chicken with sweet corn waffles, it’s also a solid choice for weekend brunch.