New York City is known just as much for its diversity of people as its diversity of food. No matter what your culinary desire, there is no doubt you will find it within the great city of New York. For those special nights when you want to try some crazy unique food or experience a one-of-a-kind dining atmosphere, check out this list of unusual NYC restaurants.
1. Camaje Bistro
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Three to four times a week, Camaje Bistro offers their famous “Dinners in The Dark,” in which customers are blindfolded for the duration of the meal. Without the ability to see, customers’ sense of smell, texture, and sound truly come alive. In addition, customers aren’t told what is on the menu, so they must guess the contents of each dish presented to them.
2. Degustation
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At Degustation, you will be exposed to an alluring menu of Iberian, French, and American-influenced cuisine. As the word “degust” signifies tasting something carefully, this is a very intimate dining experience in which the chefs cook directly in front of you at an open kitchen. In addition, adventurous parties can try the seven-course chef’s tasting menu.
3. Brooklyn Grange
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According to their website, Brooklyn Grange is “the best of the best when it comes to rooftop farming and intensive green roofing in the US.”
If you’re looking for some excellent, fresh, farm-to-table produce, want to dine on the top of a NYC skyscraper, or simply want to view a lush farm atop a building, consider having your next dinner party or picnic at this ultra-hip location.
4. Jekyll and Hyde Club
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Get ready to have way more than boos at this awesome place. This spooky restaurant features eccentric explorers and mad scientists that run about while you enjoy one of the weirdest dining experiences you will probably ever have.
In addition, The Jekyll and Hyde Club presents bizarre live performances, such as a reenactment of the birth of Frankenstein. Be prepared for a night of insanity, as their website explains, “Anything can happen at Jekyll and Hyde.”
5. Opaque Dark Dining
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This restaurant is very similar to Camaje Bistro — the only difference is that instead of being blindfolded, customers at Opaque Dark Dining enjoy their meal in an entirely pitch-black room. The wait staff are also serving food in the dark space, but have mastered the area and know their way around perfectly.
6. Ellen’s Stardust Diner
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At Ellen’s Stardust Diner, every single waiter and waitress is an incredible singer who will sing famous songs and Broadway tunes while serving your meal. They even jump up on the tables and chairs. Many of the staff have either been on Broadway before or are looking to land a gig, so get ready to meet some stars. In addition, Ellen’s is famous for their milkshakes, so come thirsty.
7. Ninja New York
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This unique NYC restaurant is meant to depict a ninja village of the feudal days. As you chow down on traditional Japanese food at Ninja New York, prepare to be bombarded with ninja-turned waiters who will spontaneously perform ninja moves like karate chops as you eat. Make sure you make it to dessert, for only then can you witness the infamous ninja magician…
8. Dominique Ansel Kitchen
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This bakery is famous for its mouth-watering desserts. The most unique part of Dominique Ansel Kitchen is their ultra-exclusive dessert-tasting experience called Unlimited Possibilities, or UP for short.
UP offers only eight seats a night that must be reserved months in advance, but its lavish 8-course meal, paired with wines and cocktails, makes it well worth the wait. In addition, the restaurant hosts a new and exciting theme every six months upon which all desserts are based; right now the theme is “American Dreams.”
9. Clothing Optional Dinner
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Yes, you read that right. While there isn’t one particular place famous for this phenomenon at the moment, a multitude of NYC restaurants are now offering clothing-optional meals, where diners eat in the nude. Nudist John J. Ordover of New York has become well-known for arranging such dining experiences featuring a multitude of buns and thighs.
10. Shopsin’s
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This restaurant offers a menu of over 900 items concocted by “the foul-mouthed, middle-aged chef and owner,” Kenny Shopsin. Shopsin’s enforces a ton of bizarre rules, such as not seating parties greater than four people, or not permitting two people of the same party to order the same dish. Our advice is to brush up on Kenny’s dinner rules and extensive menu before heading over.