Bufón
Lower East Side, New York City
Restaurant in New York City, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Business Casual
Why go
Bufón is worth considering for a Lower East Side dinner when the group wants steak, seafood, and raw bar without committing to a formal tasting-menu format. For a more food-led New American meal, cross-shop Wildair; for drinks first, Bar Contra is the cleaner call.
About Bufón
In New York City, Bufón is a dinner option when the brief is steak, seafood, and raw bar in one place. With its cuisine, hours, and a business-casual dress code, it's a flexible dinner built around those categories, rather than a highly documented destination meal.
Steak, seafood, and raw bar make this a flexible New York City choice
The appeal is the cuisine: steak, seafood, and raw bar. That mix can work for a group because different diners can approach the meal differently, from seafood to a more substantial steak order. Specific dishes, menu format, takeout, delivery, and service details are not available, so first-timers should check directly with the restaurant for current offerings.
Bufón is a New York City dinner choice with a business-casual dress code and evening hours throughout the week. It is open 5–10 PM on Monday and Sunday, and 5–11 PM Tuesday through Saturday. Awards, chef details, prices, or signature dishes are not available. The case for booking rests on convenience, category fit, and the steak, seafood, and raw bar focus.
Who should choose it, and who should cross-shop
Choose Bufón if the group wants a direct dinner option with steak, seafood, and raw bar represented, and does not need a named chef, fixed menu, or signature order to justify the night. Skip it if the decision hinges on published critical recognition, precise pricing, or a fully documented menu, because those details are not available.
For cross-shopping, Wildair, Bar Contra, Russ & Daughters Cafe, 'inoteca, and Le Jardin Bistro are other named options to compare depending on the kind of meal your group wants. For broader planning, use Our full New York City restaurants guide, Our full New York City bars guide, or Our full New York City hotels guide if dinner is part of a longer city stay.
Planning details
- Location
- 78 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- bufonnyc.com
- Phone
- (201) 839-6701
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Bufón presents a focused, contemporary take on two long-standing New York traditions, bringing dry-aged beef and a Northeast raw bar into the same service rhythm. The writing emphasizes craftsmanship — serious dry-aging programs and careful seasonal sourcing for shellfish — so the room feels curated around material quality rather than gimmick. The restaurant leans on the lineage of classic steak houses while making space for the bright, seasonal immediacy of littleneck clams and oysters, producing an atmosphere that reads as refined and intentional, prioritizing product-driven dining over trend-chasing flourishes.
Best For
This is primarily a dinner destination for diners seeking a premium experience that moves easily between steaks and shellfish. The menu’s dual focus makes Bufón a good pick for date nights and special-occasion meals when parties want range across a single sitting rather than a narrowly focused menu. Because the restaurant foregrounds dry-aged beef and seasonal Northeast shellfish, it suits diners who care about provenance and timing — groups or couples who want an elevated, ingredient-forward evening on the Lower East Side.
Ordering Tips
Order with the seasons in mind: the raw-bar selections (oysters and littleneck clams) are presented as products of the Northeast Atlantic’s cycles, so ask the staff what’s at peak. On the beef side, the dry-aged ribeye is a signature example of the house’s ageing program — inquire about aging lengths or recommended cuts if you’re curious. Given the restaurant’s deliberate sourcing, a balanced approach that samples both a raw-bar item and a dry-aged steak conveys the venue’s point: the two traditions coexist and are meant to be enjoyed together in a single, complementary meal.
Venue details
Ambiance
Warm, cozy with warm lighting, blending steakhouse energy and downtown cool, intimate yet buzzy on weekends.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Accessibility
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Business Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Intimate
Signature Dishes
- dry-aged ribeye
- radicchio salad
- littleneck clams
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 78 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Where to go if Bufón is not the right fit
If the group wants a more food-focused New American meal, book Wildair. If the night is centered on cocktails rather than dinner, choose Bar Contra. For a lower-risk daytime or appetizing-led option with clearer pricing, use Russ & Daughters Cafe.
Restaurant context
How Bufón compares in New York City
Bufón is the more direct dinner choice if the table wants steak, seafood, and raw bar in one stop. Wildair is a better fit for a New American meal where the food is the main reason to go, while Bar Contra should be the pick when cocktails matter more than a full dinner format.
For value clarity, Russ & Daughters Cafe has the advantage because its $$ positioning gives diners a clearer expectation before committing. Bufón is harder to price-position from available details, so it works better for diners comfortable choosing by category and neighborhood rather than a published price signal.
Le Jardin Bistro and 'inoteca are better cross-shops when the group wants a more bistro or wine-bar style night. Pick Bufón for meat-and-seafood flexibility; pick those peers when ambiance and pacing matter more than raw bar range.
Explore New York City
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Bufón guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Bufón
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Price | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bufón | New York City | Steak / seafood / raw bar | , | No published awards |
| Wildair | New York City | New American | , | 2026 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #712025 Robb Report 100 Greatest American Restaurants of the 21st Century · #792025 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #942024 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #632023 OAD Gourmet Casual Dining in North America Ranked · #182023 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #51Pearl Recommended Restaurants |
| Bar Contra | New York City | Cocktail Bar | , | 2026 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #1362025 North America's 50 Best Bars · #98Top 500 Bars 2025 · #4472025 James Beard Award Semifinalists2025 OAD Casual in North America2023 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #144 |
| Le Jardin Bistro | New York City | , | , | No published awards |
| 'inoteca | New York City | , | , | No published awards |
| Russ & Daughters Cafe | New York City | Jewish Appetizing, American | $$ | 2025 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #702025 Michelin Bib Gourmand2024 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #752024 Michelin Bib Gourmand2023 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #68Pearl Recommended Restaurants |
How Bufón NYC compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I eat at the bar at Bufón?
Bar seating is not available. Bufón is a New York City dinner option focused on steak, seafood, and raw bar, with hours from 5–10 PM on Monday and Sunday and 5–11 PM Tuesday through Saturday.
What should a first-timer know about Bufón?
Start here if your group wants one place that can cover steak, seafood, and raw bar without relying on a fixed menu or signature order. Bufón runs daily in New York City, with slightly later hours Tuesday through Saturday, so it works best as an evening dinner plan.
What should I order at Bufón?
Specific dishes are not available. Expect a steak, seafood, and raw bar focus, then check the current menu directly before you go if particular items matter to your group.
What are alternatives to Bufón in New York City?
Other named options to compare include Wildair, Bar Contra, Russ & Daughters Cafe, 'inoteca, and Le Jardin Bistro. Choose based on the current menu, availability, and the kind of dinner your group wants.
What should I wear to Bufón?
Bufón lists a business-casual dress code. A neat dinner outfit is the safest choice.
