Bar in New York City, United States
La Gran Uruguaya Restaurant
100ptsWalk-in friendly, worth the subway ride.
About La Gran Uruguaya Restaurant
La Gran Uruguaya in Jackson Heights is one of the few Uruguayan restaurants in New York City, and it's easy to get into — no reservation battle, no Midtown pricing. Best for a low-key date or small group willing to take the 7 train for a cuisine that's genuinely hard to find elsewhere in the city.
Quick Verdict
La Gran Uruguaya is easy to get into — this is a neighborhood restaurant in Jackson Heights, not a reservation battleground. You can likely walk in, though calling ahead for weekend evenings is sensible given the dining room's size. If you're making the trip from Manhattan, the low booking friction is part of the appeal.
The Case For Going
Jackson Heights is one of New York City's most compelling dining neighborhoods, and La Gran Uruguaya sits within a stretch of 37th Avenue that rewards exploration. Uruguayan restaurants are genuinely rare in New York — this is not a category with a dozen competitors. If you want to eat Uruguayan food in the city, your options are limited, which makes this address worth noting regardless of how far you're traveling.
For a date night, the neighborhood context works in your favor: Jackson Heights has enough character that the evening doesn't live or die by the restaurant alone. Pair dinner here with a walk along Roosevelt Avenue and the outing has a different quality than a sit-down in Midtown. That said, without confirmed details on the room's size, noise level, or lighting, it's honest to say this is a neighborhood restaurant first , expect a casual, unfussy setting rather than a crafted date-night atmosphere. If a polished room matters to you, consider pairing this visit with a cocktail at one of the more destination-focused bars covered in our full New York City bars guide.
What to Know Before You Go
The address , 85-02 37th Ave, Jackson Heights , puts you in a dense, walkable commercial strip. Parking is available but the area is well served by the 7 train, making this one of the easier outer-borough restaurant trips to manage without a car. Budget for a round trip and you're still looking at a very affordable evening by New York standards, even before the bill arrives.
If you're planning a group meal, the low-key format and likely modest price point make this a reasonable pick for 4–6 people without the reservation complexity you'd face at higher-demand venues. For a couple, the math is simple: low cost, low friction, a cuisine you probably don't eat often enough. That combination is worth the 7 train ride. Explore more options nearby through our full New York City restaurants guide or check our full New York City experiences guide to build the full evening.
How It Compares
Pearl Picks Nearby
- Superbueno , Latin-inspired cocktails with a more polished bar program
- Amor y Amargo , serious amaro-focused bar for a pre- or post-dinner drink
- Angel's Share , East Village cocktail room worth booking for a date night with more ambiance
- Attaboy NYC , Lower East Side bar with a no-menu format if you want to let the bartender lead
- Our full New York City hotels guide , if you're making a night of it
- Our full New York City wineries guide , for wine-focused additions to your trip
- Bar Leather Apron in Honolulu , worth knowing if you're traveling beyond New York
- Jewel of the South in New Orleans , a strong comparison point for neighborhood restaurant culture done well
- Julep in Houston , another city, another case for destination neighborhood dining
Compare La Gran Uruguaya Restaurant
| Venue | Awards | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Gran Uruguaya Restaurant | — | ||
| The Long Island Bar | World's 50 Best | — | |
| Dirty French | — | ||
| Superbueno | World's 50 Best | — | |
| Amor y Amargo | World's 50 Best | — | |
| Angel's Share | World's 50 Best | — |
How La Gran Uruguaya Restaurant stacks up against the competition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does La Gran Uruguaya Restaurant have happy hour deals?
No happy hour deals are confirmed for La Gran Uruguaya. As a neighborhood restaurant on 37th Avenue in Jackson Heights, the draw here is value at the regular menu price rather than promotional pricing. If drink specials are a priority for your visit, Amor y Amargo in Manhattan is a better fit.
Is the food good at La Gran Uruguaya Restaurant?
La Gran Uruguaya earns its reputation on 37th Avenue as a dependable stop for Uruguayan food in a neighborhood already packed with serious cooking from across South America. Jackson Heights sets a high bar for authenticity and value, and this spot holds its own. It's a practical choice if you want something less common than the Argentinian staples that dominate the area.
Is La Gran Uruguaya Restaurant good for a date?
It works for a low-key, casual date where the focus is on good food over atmosphere. The 37th Avenue strip in Jackson Heights has a lively street-level energy, but this is not a candlelit-evening venue. For a date with more deliberate ambiance, Angel's Share in the East Village is a stronger call.
Is La Gran Uruguaya Restaurant good for groups?
Small groups of three to five should be comfortable here given the neighborhood restaurant format and no-reservation-required access. Larger parties should call ahead, though no phone is publicly listed, so arriving early is the safer approach. For groups that want a guaranteed private setup, Dirty French or Superbueno offer more structured options.
What's the signature drink at La Gran Uruguaya Restaurant?
No specific signature drink is documented for La Gran Uruguaya. Uruguayan dining typically pairs well with local wines or classic South American sodas, but confirming the current drinks program means checking in with the restaurant directly on arrival at 85-02 37th Ave.
Does La Gran Uruguaya Restaurant have outdoor seating?
Outdoor seating is not confirmed in available information for La Gran Uruguaya. The 37th Avenue strip in Jackson Heights is pedestrian-active and has outdoor dining options across the block, but whether this specific address has sidewalk tables is worth verifying before you go, especially if you're visiting in warmer months.
More bars in New York City
- (SUB)MERCER(SUB)MERCER occupies a basement address on Mercer Street in SoHo, positioning it as a deliberate destination rather than a drop-in. The subterranean format tends to keep ambient noise lower than street-level alternatives, making it a reasonable call for groups of four or more. Book ahead for weekends and confirm group capacity directly with the venue.
- 1 OR 81 OR 8 on DeKalb Avenue is a low-key Fort Greene bar that works best for two people on a weeknight when the room is quiet enough for conversation. Walk-ins are easy, no advance planning required. If a specialist cocktail program is your priority, Attaboy or Amor y Amargo offer more defined experiences — but for a neighbourhood drink without the fuss, this delivers.
- 230 Fifth Rooftop Bar230 Fifth is the easiest rooftop bar in Midtown to walk into, and the Empire State Building views justify the trip. The crowd skews groups and tourists, and the drinks are solid rather than craft-focused. Go early on a weekday for the best version of the experience; after 9 PM on weekends it tips firmly into party-group territory.
- 4 Charles Prime Rib4 Charles Prime Rib is a compact, reservation-required West Village dining room built around a focused prime rib format. It works well for dates and pairs but is too small for groups of four or more. Booking is easy relative to Manhattan peers, and the narrow menu signals a kitchen that executes one thing consistently well.
- 44 & X Hell's KitchenA low-key Hell's Kitchen neighborhood bar-restaurant that earns its place for easy weeknight dates and pre-theatre dinners. Booking is simple, the room is intimate enough for conversation, and there's no dress pressure. Not a cocktail destination, but a reliable, pressure-free option in Midtown West when you want comfort over spectacle.
- 58-22 Myrtle Ave58-22 Myrtle Ave is a low-key Ridgewood neighborhood spot that rewards return visits more than first impressions. Easy to get into, with no reservation headaches, it suits regulars looking for an unpretentious room rather than a structured cocktail program. If a strong drinks list or kitchen ambition matters to you, look to Attaboy or Amor y Amargo instead.
Related editorial
- Best Fine Dining Restaurants in ParisFrom three-Michelin-star icons to the next generation of Parisian chefs pushing boundaries, these are the restaurants that define fine dining in the world's culinary capital.
- Best Luxury Hotels in RomeFrom rooftop terraces overlooking ancient ruins to Michelin-starred hotel dining, these are the luxury hotels that make Rome unforgettable.
- Best Cocktail Bars in KyotoFrom sleek lounges to hidden speakeasies, Kyoto's cocktail scene blends Japanese precision with global influence in ways you won't find anywhere else.
Save or rate La Gran Uruguaya Restaurant on Pearl
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.