The Best Eateries In Washington Heights And Inwood: Patch Survey

UPPER MANHATTAN, NY — Patch put out the call, and Upper Manhattan readers responded. The results are in for the best restaurants in Washington Heights and Inwood as decided by locals.

Upper Manhattan has hundreds of eateries that range from authentic Dominican, Puerto Rican and Mexican cuisines, to Thai, Indian and Irish pub fare.

Despite this, restaurants in Washington Heights and Inwood rarely get included on any ranking of the best eateries in New York City.

Most recently, there wasn't a single restaurant in Washington Heights or Inwood included in the initial 570-plus eateries that took part in the first week of Restaurant Week To Go at the end of January.

The omission inspired Patch to make its own list as decided by readers and residents.

Now without further ado — the best restaurant in Upper Manhattan — Tubby Hook Tavern in Inwood.

The American food restaurant at 4946 Broadway is known for its burgers, hand-cut fries, brunch menu, all-around fantastic service, and its homey environment.

"It's huge to hear," said Niall Henry, the owner of Tubby Hook Tavern when asked about what it meant to get named as the top spot. "We're not Midtown, everybody's not a number, we know our customers' drinks, we know what they want to eat, we know their family's names and, it sounds super simple, but when you go out to eat — it means something."

Here are the top five restaurants in Upper Manhattan, according to Patch readers.

1. Tubby Hook Tavern: 4946 Broadway
2. Kismat Indian Restaurant: 603 Fort Washington Avenue
3. Fort Washington Public House: 3938 Broadway
4. Refried Beans: 591 Fort Washington Avenue
5. The Pandering Pig: 209 Pinehurst Avenue

Other Upper Manhattan restaurants that received multiple No. 1 votes were Serrano Salsa, Guadalupe Restaurant, Saggio, and MamaSushi in Inwood.

The survey also asked readers to provide their second favorite restaurant in Upper Manhattan, which was dominated by three eateries.

1. Tryon Public House: 4740 Broadway
2. Malecon: 4141 Broadway
3. The Uptown Garrison: 821 West 181st Street

In terms of which cuisine respondents thought Upper Manhattan does the best, Dominican food topped the list, but the answers ranged.

"There are lots that we do best! For Latinx food, Dominican of course, and Mexican," one survey taker wrote. "It is amazing in this area, and I think it's a big secret kept from the rest of Manhattan and the boroughs that we have this incredible, non-tex mex, authentic regional Mexican food on offer in so many places — you can't go wrong."

Another respondent kept it simple but still provided an excellent explanation.

"Is cheap beer an acceptable answer here? I love the ubiquity of the $3.00 - $3.50 bottles of beer that many of the small restaurants in the neighborhood have. Cheap Coronas and Heinekens like we have in the Heights are harder to come by downtown."