51 Grove Street, West Village
212 352 0460
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Today is a taste. A hint. A look forward. A reminder that the weather is finally breaking, and a few short weeks from now, birds will be chirping, skin will be peeking from behind sundresses and the long, cold, nightmarish hibernation will be over. At which point, you'll remember that you like going out. On dates. With people. And you'll quietly wonder if there are any sexy new date spots to add to your stable. To which we'll respond, "Yes, yes there are." Introducing Betel, a sleek little upscale Thai street-food joint, just now opened in time for your spring awakening in the West Village.
282 Bowery, Soho
212 226 1966
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At the end of the day, you crave the simple things in life. A room, bathed in dim light and buzzing with energy. A place where you can sit back and gorge on antipasti, prosciutto and pizza. Especially when that room comes from the man behind Balthazar, Pastis and Minetta Tavern. But you don't need hype. You need facts, stats and solid, impregnable data. Welcome to Pulino's Bar and Pizzeria, Keith McNally's ode to Italy's greatest export, now taking reservations for breakfast and lunch.
25 E 77th Street, Upper East Side
212 744 4300
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The French countryside is a pastoral wonderland of uncomplicated, mouthwatering delights. A place where speaking French seems only mildly pretentious. A place where quiche lorraine runs wild and crepes sun themselves on grassy hillsides. And so when Jean-Georges Vongerichten rides back into New York, claiming newfound inspiration from the countryside of his youth, we're listening... Introducing the Mark Restaurant, J.G.'s new Upper East Side bistro, now open for your uptown, celebrity-chef-guided, dinner-dating pleasure.
406 Broome Street, NoLita
212 680 5600
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New rule: if it ain't broke, fix it. Case study: Bar Martignetti. The strategically located Soho watering hole was a thriving epicenter of downtown martini swilling prep-dom. And then almost overnight, it was ripped from the bosom of the downtown scene. But today we bring news that all that magic is back in the form of a dimly lit, handsome gastropub (that will no doubt continue on as an epicenter of downtown martini-swilling prep-dom). Welcome to the brand-new Brinkley's, just opened in the old Bar Martignetti space last night for your next stout-drinking and sausage-eating excursion.
75 Wall Street, at Andaz Wall Street
212 590 1234
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We're here today to discuss the benefits of being close to the action. Think of the zoomed-in, high-def pleasures of ringside seats, backstage passes and those too-few occasions where you, yes, make it rain. Also, the kitchen. Introducing Wall & Water, open now for power breakfasting, lunching and (soon) dining, and founded on the idea that the closer you are to the action–both in the kitchen and on the Street–the better. Think of it as a place where mergers, acquisitions and eggs Florentine are all made in the same room. To enter the restaurant, you'll walk up a few asymmetrical marble stairs and immediately realize: you're in the kitchen.
Morgans, 237 Madison Avenue, Murray Hill
212 726 7755
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Things don't get any more NYC posh than Asian-Cuban food served in a Starck setting.
Royalton, 44 West 44 Street, Midtown
212 869 4400
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The once and future champion of boutique-hotel restaurants. Classic chic. In the lobby, linger on the sette over a drink and fried calamari. In the dining area, reserve a table for a more formal (but never dull) nouveau-continental meal.
308-310 Bleecker Street, West Village
212 675 2009
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The realities of a long, cold, harsh winter are setting in. It's in these most trying of times that we turn toward warmth and comfort. Also, we start trying to endear ourselves to anyone with access to boatloads of fresh blue crab. And guys with pier and harbor connections. So allow us to present Choptank, a refined seafood joint in the West Village and your new Chesapeake Bay hookup now taking reservations.
149 Mulberry Street, Little Italy
646 448 4536
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We've got nothing against the modern-day speakeasy. We're more than happy to go along with waistcoats, mustaches and intricate cocktails spiked with blackened mint bark bitters and absinthe foam. But sometimes we just want to steal away to a hidden, dark, basement bar, listen to a little Sinatra and drink Barolo until the sun comes up. Welcome to My Little Secret, an Italian speakeasy quietly opening its doors in the heart of Little Italy for your late-night snacking and drinking comedown.
230 East 51st Street, Midtown
212 355 9442
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Little Italy. It used to be a place where your red sauce came with a healthy side of vice, Peronis, tough guys, bookies, cannolis, guys named Joey the Whale and women like Carla Three Times. As you read this, you should know…it's back. And it's in midtown. Welcome to the East Side Social Club, an old-school dining room, cocktail lounge and dimly lit hangout, now open where you need it
most, Midtown.
11 West 17th Street, Chelsea
212 255 7260
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Tonight, we're planning an escape to somewhere exotic. Its name: Pittsburgh. Actually, scratch that: we're taking you to the Flatiron District—where a rustic, elegant Penn-bred tavern is taking root. And it brought corn dogs and foie gras... Welcome to Rye House, your new home for after-work Pennsylvanian revelry and intense cocktailoring, open right this minute. Think of it as the sweet little farmhouse where you unwind after hours, only it's in lower Manhattan and serves better cocktails. (Credit the mixologists behind the bar, who have also slung drinks at Freemans and Woodson and Ford.)
90 W. Houston St, (at W. Broadway), New York, NY 10012, West Village
646 448 4559
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You occasionally judge a book by its cover. Not a problem when it comes to dubious seafood and certain Nic Cage films. But every now and again, your instincts are off the mark. Take the neon martini sign glowing on a stretch of West Houston Street: what would usually mark the sign of a cheesy dive bar or a late '80s Tom Cruise vehicle is actually the charming new subterranean date spot where you'll now be doing your wooing. Introducing Bar Henry, a cozy new bistro, wine haven and destination for casual romance, now open in the Village.
637 Hudson Street, West Village
212 242 3093
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Dating Rule #481: Unholy buzz, a famous chef or a Pat LaFrieda burger does not a date spot make. But it is a well-known unpublished rule that a brand-new tiny Italian spot with a great pedigree that feels like it's been cranking out homemade pastas for years is what we like to call "golden." And this is why we're bringing Corsino to the forefront of your day, a rustic Italian eatery, and the latest spot to quietly carry on the Italian powerhouse 'ino name, just opened in the West Village.
156 Ninth Avenue, Chelsea
212 620 4545
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Think back five months. It was May. The Derby was on. Mint juleps seemed to appear like magical cups of happiness out of thin air. Times were good. And they can be good again. Here to help cast off the shackles of May-only julep consumption is Tipsy Parson, a new Southern-living room dedicated to year-round seasonal fruit juleps, comfort food and the art of the biscuit, open now in Chelsea. If you've been craving a dollop of Southern gentility, but not a full-on up-close-and-in-person dose of the South, you'll want to drop by the two-room Parson with that Southern belle you met at the Billy Reid store and a raging thirst for bourbon.
16 West 29th Street, Flatiron
212 679 2222
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You might want to sit down for this one. Actually, you're probably already sitting down, so we'll just tell you: The Spotted Pig has a new little brother, and it's full up of meat, martinis and the kind of grand,
vintage decor that makes you want to consume spirits and savory treats with reckless abandon. And we're certainly not going to stop you… Welcome to the world of The Breslin.
150-152 West 10th Street, West Village
brian@highlands-nyc.com
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Nations of the world, we have an announcement: we're a little bored with a lot of you. It's not like we don't like what some of you have to offer. For example, we love what you're doing with rubdowns over there in Sweden. But right now we have eyes for one nation and one nation only: Scotland. And all because of one little bar… Meet Highlands, your brand-new Scottish drinking nook and dining room, opening its cozy doors for private parties this weekend in the West Village. If you're expecting haggis, old tartans and William Wallace, you're barking up the wrong kilt.
231 East 9th Street, East Village
212 979 9674
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Labor Day has come and gone, a fading memory at this point. Fall is here, the air is getting crisp, and the great American barbecue season is over. Not to worry: the great Japanese barbecue season is officially upon us. Introducing Robataya, a brand-new Japanese robatayaki grill and pagoda of goodness, brought to you by the Sakagura folks, open now in the East Village. If you're not familiar with Broadway-meets-Iron Chef theatrics of a robatayaki, you'll be in for a boisterous awakening when you step through the unassuming dark wood door—we're talking samurais tending grill, shouting about Wagyu beef and serving you flaming hot delicacies on wooden paddles.
54 Prince Street, SOHO
212 226 8877
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We've got nothing against sitting. In fact, we're doing it right now. But when a late evening of merrymaking and cocktailing turns into a search for food, we prefer something savory, fast and chair-optional. Preferably with an unseemly quantity of melted cheese and noodles involved. Introducing MacBar, a pint-size to-go shrine to the cheesiest of late-night cravings, next to late-night juggernaut Delicatessen. It's everything you're used to in a late-night refueling stop, but served up faster, creamier and...more lobster-y.
409 West 14th Street, West Village
646 289 3930
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Maybe it's not right to be thinking about getting back into party mode the day after a three-day weekend. But it's hard to ignore rumblings about a certain building on West 14th St. If you're thinking the address sounds familiar it's because you used to find yourself in a Nicky Hilton/Lenny Kravitz sandwich on the dance floor here back when it was Lotus. But times have changed. Models and bottles just don't do it for you like they used to. You need models and a juicy burger made from a boutique meat blend.
69 Gansevoort Street, Meat Packing District
212 691 0069
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You've been here before. The clock strikes 4am, you've just narrowly escaped being stampeded by a zealous horde of Jimmy Choo–wearing supermodels, and you're looking for refuge. Somewhere that will coddle you, caress you, hold you and tell you everything is going to be okay. And if some fatty duck bacon is involved… Yes, there is such a place and it's called Gansevoort 69, it's a glossy update of the old, beloved classic you once knew as Florent, and it's about to be the hub for just about all the after-hours action in the MPD.
109 Ludlow Street, Lower East Side
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A taco is pretty easy to find. A taco in a secret underground lair...well, that's pretty easy to find too. But a brand new three-level taco/ceviche mansion with hidden mezcal dens, pink walls and plenty of tequila is something of a rare institution. Actually, there's only one: welcome to Los Feliz, on the LES just in time for your next night of NAFTA-themed revelry.
1 Perry Street, Greenwich Village
212 620 0808
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Taking over the old Matador space is Yerba Buena Perry an offspring of the popular Yerba Buena. Serving latin staples with a creative twist, the menu includes favorites such as ceviches, empanadas and roast suckling pig. In addition to the delightful food this new venue offers stylish decor with white leather baquetttes and Itaian marble, extensive wine list, hand crafted cocktails making it a great stop for lunch, dinner or weekend brunch.
122 West 26th Street, Chelsea
212 741 0646
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Every now and again the grace and majesty of the English language prevent us from fully expressing the magnitude of our discoveries. So we're forced to go outside the bounds of common language and make some s*** up. Like "megagastropub." Prepare yourself for the majesty of the world's first megagastropub: it's called The Ainsworth now open. Imagine, if you will, the harmonious marriage of a gastropub and the sportsbook at Caesars—minus the gambling, smoking and velour jumpsuits—and you start to get an idea of the enormity of the Ainsworth.
81 Ludlow Street, Lower East Side
212 677 9383
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Sanctions are being lifted, Fidel is a shell of his dictatorial self and soon we'll all be sipping mojitos and dancing forbidden dances in the streets of Havana. But until that day, we'll have to settle for doing our Havana on the LES. Introducing Le Cubain, a new Lower East Side Cuban-French mash-up of a restaurant pumping out cheap Cubanos and steak frites to go along with the potential for a healthy dose of a scene. If Schiller's Liquor Bar had a cousin—and that cousin was Latin, named Juan, decorated his place with cheap Catholic souvenirs and liked to dance the merengue—then Le Cubain would be cousin Juan. T
95 First Avenue, East Village
212 533 3315
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Breakfast may be the most important meal of the day, but brunch is the most important meal of the week. Always. So in a city mad for bottomless brunches in a year when brunch went wild, we've got some more late-breaking news for the worshippers of Sir Eggs Benedict: Permanent Brunch, Lesly Bernard's indulgent, brunch-only opus now open in the East Village.
802 Ninth Avenue, Hell's Kitchen
212 262 1299
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It's hot. Mojito hot. And, sure, it'd be nice to jet off to Havana for a vintage cocktail and some moonlit, sea-kissed carousing, but we may have just found an alternative that won't require a passport. (Unless you consider Hell's Kitchen uncharted, international waters...) Hidden on a stretch of 9th Ave usually reserved for beer-swilling taverns is the surprising and sexy majesty of Agua Dulce, a sleek new tribute to vintage beach-club dining, serving up pan-Latin cuisine and tropical drinks till the wee hours, soft-open now in Hell's Kitchen and accepting reservations for next week.
259 Front Street, Financial District
212 608 7873
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Summer can lead you to strange and wondrous places—locals-only beaches, dockside lobster feasts, manic champagne-fueled brunch soirees. And every now again, summer—or perhaps a post-Water Taxi Beach water taxi—leads you to the majesty of South Street Seaport. Luckily, you understand that for every South Street Seaport, there's a place nearby to escape for, say, a margarita in a mason jar and an oyster po' boy… Here to protect your sanity amongst the tourist throngs is the Cowgirl Sea Horse, a brand new seafood/comfort food/Tex-Mex hoedown of a restaurant from the vintage-minded crazies behind West Village standby Cowgirl.
168 Ludlow Street, Lower East Side
646 833 7444
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Happy Canada Day. Yes, we know you're excited. We are too. It's a day to celebrate wondrous delicacies like ice beer, moose burgers and William Shatner. But lately we've been longing for a new Canadian obsession—and we think we've found it. It's called poutine, otherwise know as fries smothered in gravy, and now it's finally getting the glory it deserves. Here to fully satisfy your late night, Quebecois, french-fry jones is T Poutine, the first all-poutine shop in New York, opening next week on the LES.
377 Greenwich Street, Tribeca
212 925 3797
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Sometimes you just need to call on the big guns. Even if you happen to be one yourself… Introducing Locanda Verde, the much-buzzed new Italian tavern rising from the ashes of Ago, brought to you by little-known thespian Robert De Niro and his crack team of vets: Ken Friedman (the Spotted Pig, John Dory), chef Andrew Carmellini (A Voce) and pastry chef Karen DeMasco (Craft), open now in Tribeca.
40 Broad Street, Financial District
212 809 3993
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Sometimes the economy hands you lemons. And sometimes you ignore those lemons and continue to make Zucchini Blossoms filled with Blue Prawns. In an Asian-French haute dining palace. Inside the majesty of the Setai Building. On Wall Street. In 2009.. On Wall Street. In 2009. Welcome to the ignorance-is-bliss splendor that is Sho Shaun Hergatt, now taking reservations.
299 Bowery, Bowery
212 933 5300
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We're in an interesting mood today. We're not here to dazzle you with wondrous tales of culinary masters leaving Michelin stars behind to slum it with sausages and burgers. We're not going to delve into stories of endless craft beers and hidden booths. Sometimes you just need the facts. Facts about sausages, beer and the newest scene to hit the Bowery. Welcome to DBGB, Daniel Boulud's new downtown eatery, now open for walk-ins and taking reservations.
21 West 9th Street, Greenwich Village
646 448 4632
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Things are rarely what they seem. Take for instance, 21 W. 9th Street. By all accounts a quaint-looking apartment building on a quiet block
just off Washington Square. But when you step past its unmarked blue awning and down a few steps, prepare yourself for a little shock and awe. Enter Hotel Griffou, a world of wonders filled with hidden chambers, parlor rooms, Lobster Thermidor Fondue and a few hanging fox hides—opening one week from today to host your wild private parties, covert dinner dates and sultry cocktailing.
41 East 20th Street, Gramercy
212 777 1955
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If you've been thinking about going out for obscure Russian vodka and caviar in a shabby-opulent apartment in St. Petersburg (and we know you have), we've got something for you. We'd like to direct your attention to a storefront on 20th Street where your long-lost Russian grandmother's apartment seems to have sprouted overnight. Make yourself at home at Mari Vanna, open now for private parties in Gramercy.
60 East 54th Street, Midtown
212 308 2950
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Ah, Midtown. If one man can make the lonely stretch of towering steel and glass high-rise monsters on a drab strip of
54th Street a destination, it might just be Graydon Carter. The editor of Vanity Fair-cum-restaurateur's latest venture, the Monkey Bar, is soft-open now and set to open to the public in May 2009. So far, only Graydon's cronies have been allowed in, but since you might need to start making preparations for next week's power dinners, we wanted to bring you your first little glimpse at the inside. Think about it like this: if the Waverly is Gray-Gray's neighborhood bar, the Monkey Bar is his grown-up after-work joint.
248 Court Street, Cobble Hill
718 643 0007
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Serving a seasonal modern American menu, this new spot has a welcoming NYC feel with bookshelves from Astoria, church pews from Harlem, tiles from City Hall. An interesting and healthy menu includes daily ceviche and raw options and standards with a southern taste such as shrimp and havarti grits or chimichurri roasted chicken.
37 Spring Street, Nolita
212 274 0008
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Think Jetsons meets classic rice pudding and you'll get this amazingly hip, chic take out rice pudding depot that serves some of the most decadent yet unusually named desserts in Nolita. Donning vivid artwork on a warm neutral background, this yummy pit stop keeps your eyes busy during the waits to try some odd flavors like "Coconut Coma". Your senses will be delighted from stimulation after your visit!
231 West 40th Street, Theater District
212 354 2195
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Theatrical Japanese Grill in Times Square
Sometimes all you want is a nice romantic spot—a place where you can hide away in a corner booth, whisper sweet nothings. . . that sort of thing. And sometimes you want a team of samurais screaming at you about wagyu beef and threatening your life with a wooden paddle. At those times you want Inakaya, a chaotic, whirling dervish of a robatayaki (Japanese barbecue) at the New York Times building, opening tomorrow. Think of Inakaya as Momofuku Ko meets Medieval Times, just without any jousting—yakikata (grill chefs) serve food on wooden paddles, samurais have Japanese screaming matches involving red snapper, and you're right smack in the middle of the whole dance.
178 Broadway, at Driggs Avenue, Brooklyn
718 387 7400
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Ignore the wait (even with the required reservation), the beer-hall style, and the waiters’ trademark rudeness. The justly famous steak more than makes up for it. No plastic accepted, except for the Peter Luger credit card.
355 West 14 Street, Meatpacking District
212 691 0555
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Good food, full, interesting flavors, and plenty of ambiance. Easy to have intimate conversation but not library quiet.
113 MacDougal Street, Greenwich Village
212 475 3850
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Keith McNally and partners (re)opened Minetta Tavern on March 10th with the old charms preserved, including legendary mural, caricatures, and bar.
2315 Broadway, Upper West Side
212 580 8700
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Who said you can’t eat well on the Upper West Side? Ouest’s inventive take on French cuisine makes for a sophisticated menu and plenty of buzz.
402 East 78th Street, Upper East Side
212 517 5340
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Almost well-kept sushi secret. Delish. Quite small. Reservations suggested.
328 Lenox Avenue, Midtown East
212 996 0660
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Arguably the best Southern soul food in Manhattan. A legend in Harlem, which is now enjoying a second renaissance, thanks in no small part to Bill Clinton, a Sylvia’s regular.
32 Spring Street, SoHo
212 941 7994
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A bit of a NYC pizza landmark. Lombardi's has that old Italian pizza shop feel, and not just delicious pizza. All the Italian standards are great here.
178 Lexington Avenue, Murray Hill
212 839 8300
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Cozy place with brick walls and comfortable vibe, great to come with a small group for a relaxing meal. The pizza has a super skinny crust, cooked extra cripy with fresh mozzarella and savory, scrumptious sauce.
29 Union Square West, Union Square
212 243 7969
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This Union Square institution is open 23 hours, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper until 5:30AM. A must do for the fashionable downtown crowd.
71 Clinton Street, Lower East Side
212 228 0994
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Sometimes things just fall into place. Like when the right restaurant opens in the right neighborhood at the right time. And especially when said restaurant serves food till 4 and will happily pour you a stiff Manhattan. Fat Hippo, cheap new American comfort food diner and cocktail living room on a loaded stretch of Clinton Street, has opened.
Opened by three friends down the block from old favorites Frankies Spuntino, Falai and Clinton Street Bakery, Fat Hippo is the kind of drop-by-whenever resto you can always use one more of on the LES. Perfect for the quick 10pm bite-and-a-beer before a night of rabblerousing or for a 3am bite-and-a-beer post-rabblerousing.
210 10th Avenue, Chelsea
212 243 2736
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Feels like a 1940s-style steel dining car fell out of the sky and landed in Chelsea. American diner classics.
1064 Madison Avenue, Upper East Side
212 772 0022
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Eli Zabar gets away with his modern-day robber-baron shtick, charging unbelievably steep prices for delicious soups, sandwiches, and salads. The bread is justly famous.
1291 Third Avenue, Upper East Side
212 744 0585
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Prepster staple. A Cheers spot for WASPs who went to boarding school together. Blue-and-white checkered tablecloths, dark wood tables, and the best damned bloody Marys, cottage fries, and hamburgers.
1250 Broadway, Murray Hill
212 564 6845
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Diy Korean barbecue (each table has its own grill). Open 24 hours a day. Tons of fun, even if it’s a bit smoky.
19 East 69th Street, Upper East Side
212 794 1628
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Brimming with attitude, smoke, junior leaguers-cum-socialites, and pixie-thin French girls, everyone comes hunting for a sugar daddy at this Upper East Side bistro. Factoid: “Le Charlot” is the French nickname for Charlie Chaplin. Le Bilboquet (25 East 63rd Street, between Madison and Park Avenues, 212-751-3036) a few blocks down, attracts a similar crowd.
390 Park Avenue, Midtown
212 888 2700
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The hot new lunch and after-work place of the year. Features a menu built for expense accounts and décor that rivals its chic young patrons.
103 West 77th Street, Upper West Side
212 362 3800
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Don't let the sparse aesthetic of the space fool you, the food here is anything but boring. Brought to you by Chef John Fraser each dish is a work of culinary art. Go out on a limb and try something you wouldn't normally order, you are sure to be rewarded here. Six course tasting menu available daily, two course on Sunday.
314 West 11th Street, West Village
212 620 0393
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Everything from the array of pig paraphernalia displayed in every nook, to the swine-themed shirts worn by the staff shows the attention to detail that has gone into the establishment. The food is tasty, the crowd is fun, and the servers are both engaging and efficient. Go to the third floor for private parties and a chance to spot celebrities.
136 West 55th Street, Midtown
212 265 4000
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So this is how you say Italian in Greek. There’s nothing rustic about this elegant restaurant from the owners of Molyvos.
65 East 55th Street, Midtown
212 307 7311
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Smack into the trendy stretch of Park in the 50s. Announcing itself with elegant restraint and jaw-dropping design as the see-and-see-me hot spot.
2 Park Avenue, Murry Hill
212 725 8585
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Say cheese! NYC’s best fromagerie. Noncheese menu items include classics with contemporary twists.
541 Amsterdam Avenue, Upper West Side
212 724 4707
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Stand in line on Sunday mornings for a seat in the sturgeon king’s sawdust-filled palace—bagels, lox, and borscht galore.
111 East 22nd Street, Gramercy Park
212 995 8500
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The next annex to the Bistro Laurent Tourondel empire (which includes Steak and Fish) is more turf than surf, and remains as elegantly crowd- (and belly-) pleasing as ever.
200 West 70th Street, Upper West Side
212 873 7411
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A post-Lincoln Center must. Lovely French bistro with downtown overtones. Expect celebrity sightings—Broadway players pop in after curtain call.
9 Ninth Avenue, Meatpacking District
212 929 4844
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Keith McNally’s penchant for the perfect French brasserie pays off in the meatpacking district. Just like Paris. Authentic niçoise salad, French onion soup, steak frites, and kir. Always crowded.
18 Cornelia Street, Meatpacking District
212 691 8211
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Tiny. Authentic Maine-type seafood joint with the best po’boy and raw oysters in town. Worth the wait and cramped quarters. Or try Mary’s Fish Camp (64 Charles Street, at West 4th Street, 646-486-2185). Mary was a co-partner of Pearl Oyster bar, and you’ll have to wait there, too.
180 Prince Street, SoHo
212 966 3518
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Classic SoHo. Oh-so-French bistro with a cozy vibe, unpretentious hipsters, a subtle pick-up scene, and killer artichokes.
131 Rivington Street, Lower East Side
212 260 4555
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Keith McNally does the Lower East Side, dropping his usual bistro fare for German- and Cuban-inspired comfort food, and drawing the look-at-me masses.
99 Stanton Street, Lower East Side
212 995 0099
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And so the Lower East Side gets ever more SoHo. Restaurant downstairs, bar upstairs, gorgeous crowd in hyper-mingle mode throughout.
50 Clinton Street, Lower East Side
212 477 2900
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Foodie darling Wylie Dufresne is making even more waves at his flawless new casual-but-cool Lower East Side eatery. The space seats only 70, but his rabid fans are willing to wait.
85 10th Avenue, Chelsea
212 929 4948
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The all-star team behind West Village staple The Spotted Pig just opened their highly-anticipated seafood-centric sequel, The John Dory. Once inside, it’s easy to feel like you've walked into an elegantly warped fish museum.
48 Macdougal Street, SoHo
212 358 1707
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Donatella Arpaia (of David Burke and Donatella fame) features the cuisine of Puglia, like panzerotti (fried calzone), raviolini in capon broth, and capuntini (homemade pasta with fresh tomato sauce, eggplant, and ricotta).
130 West Broadway, TriBeCa
212 608 5829
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David Bouley’s most recent project: part market, part takeout, part restaurant, part school—in sum, the ultimate haven for the gastronomically inclined.
97 Sullivan Street, SoHo
212 274 0404
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Charming neighborhood nook. Killer bread, cheese, salads, and more substantial supper fare. Worth the wait.
17 Prince Street, SoHo
212 625 2001
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Much adored Cuban-Mexican food. Packed with scenesters, but there is a takeout branch around the corner, if you can’t stand the heat.
331 West 4th Street, West Village
212 242 9502
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You’ll recognize it by the line outside the door. Some say it’s the best burger in town. If you’re craving one, come here, and feel free to bring your cigarettes. They're allowed.
900 Broadway, Flatiron
212 995 8500
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Tom Colicchio’s less expensive, casual alternative to his make-your-own-menu venue next door, Craft is nirvana for under-financed foodies.
191 Chrystie Street, Lower East Side
212 420 0012
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Hipster hideaway located at the end of a who-knew-this-was-here Lower East Side alley. The look and the fare are traditional American seasoned with a touch of English countryside.
32 East 10th Street, West Village
212 673 6044
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Classic, old-school Italian. Ask for Frank, the maitre d’, and Willy, the best busboy in town.
239 East 5th Street, East Village
212 979 1012
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A simple, perfect jewel box disguised as a sushi restaurant. Feels like you’re in the home of gourmets who serve sashimi on family heirlooms.
203 Lafayette Street, SoHo
646 613 7100
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Enter the sublevel hideaway and tequila bar by way of the counter-service taqueria on Kenmare. Share the crab tostadas and the Mexican bread pudding, but keep this secret to yourself.
170 Thompson Street, Greenwich Village
212 982 5089
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“Molto” Mario Batali's trattoria serves rustic Italian food for the masses. More gently priced than older sibling Babbo (110 Waverly Place, between Macdougal Street and Sixth Avenue), but not as cheap as Otto Enoteca Pizzeria. Remarkably handsome waiters with remarkably un-Italian accents.
142 Mercer Street, SoHo
212 431 7676
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Chef Josh Capon serves ridiculously fresh fish at this fantastic seafood restaurant, anchored underneath the Prada store.
39 Downing Street, Greenwich Village
212 255 1790
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Chef Galen Zamarra’s impressive solo debut is a charming urban farmhouse serving New American cuisine with a crafty French twist.
96 Second Avenue, East Village
212 674 5870
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The leader in New York’s current seafood shack trend, this East Village spot is New England tinged with a touch of hipster je ne sais quoi.
278 Bleecker Street, West Village
212 243 1680
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Founder John Sasso is said to have learned the pizza trade directly from Gennaro Lombardi, who opened the nation’s first pizzeria in Little Italy. In other words, this is the real deal.
2287-91 First Avenue, East Harlem
212 534 9783
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Home to one of the first coal-fired ovens, Patsy's has been serving "old world" pizza since 1933. It's old fashion in quality and price, and they stick to the style by being cash only; luckily you won’t need a lot to get an excellent meal here!
401 East 57th Street, at First Avenue, Midtown
212 319 9027
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Minimal sauce, crispy crust and plenty of gooey cheese, they've got pizza down to perfection.
41 East 78th Street, Upper East Side
212 452 2222
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New, cozy, Upper East Side sweet spot. Be sure to try the signature cake, the Lady M Mille Crepes, is a dazzling twenty layers of crepes and cream.
108 Greenwich Avenue, West Village
212 807 8329
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Proper afternoon tea with cucumber sandwiches and scones.
511-A West 22nd Street, Chelsea
212 691 2258
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Chelsea oasis for gallery hoppers and sereni-tea seekers.
80 Spring Street, SoHo
212 965 1785
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French bakery with a few surprises. Baguettes. Scones. Chocolate bread. Best sticky buns in the business. Supplies all the baked goods for the equally sublime Balthazar restaurant (212-965-1414) next door.
1114 Avenue of the Americas, Midtown
212 221 1500
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Great variety, more thirty flavors in fact, from red velvet to cookie dough to raspberry swirl, filled with raspberry. Sweet tooths,both big and small, will find satisfaction here.
973 Second Avenue, Midtown East
212 350 4144
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Sinfully good cupcakes. A spin-off of the famous Magnolia Bakery (401 Bleecker Street, at 11th Street, 212-462-2572) in the West Village.
3 West 18th Street, Gramercy Park
212 366 1414
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Impressive fare from breakfast to dinner. Don't miss the famous hot chocolate.
135 Sullivan Street, SoHo
212 387 9330
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The name underscores the area of expertise.
401 Bleecker Street, West Village
212 462 2572
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All the gal's from Sex in the City know about cupcakes. These cupcakes are simply put a little bit of heaven. And they always have fun designs for holidays.
328 East 14th Street, East Village
212 228 2004
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There is almost always a line here. But there is a good reason for that; the artichoke and spinach slice is well worth the wait!
77 Delancey Street, LES
212 334 0913
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If we have a choice between Swede and not Swede, we're going Swede every time. (We're talking bars, of course. What did you think we were referring to?) So we're happy to report that White Slab Palace, a new Scandinavian bar, restaurant and all-around showstopper, opens May 2009 on the LES. Dreamed up by the folks behind Good World, you can think of WSP as its more whimsical, somewhat rustic and totally versatile cousin—but with the same attractive crowd and a bit of the same food (like the Good World burger).
290 Hudson Street, West SoHo
212 989 6410
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Welcome to Harbour, the new seafood palace and bar helmed by a Michelin star chef and modeled after the inside of a well-appointed megayacht, opening May 2009 in West Soho. Feel free to consider the restaurant your own personal Love Boat dining room, minus the after-dinner show and a bartender named Isaac with a giant fro.
235 East 4th Street, East Village
212 254 2900
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We may have been a bit hasty on Friday. We'd love to stand by our on-the-record statement that booze is better than pizza, but at that point we hadn't tried the authentic Neapolitan pies from Tonda. And we're here to report that they're cooking up something special in the East Village. Below, our first look inside the new pizza hotness, opening May 2009 for dinner and take-out and delivery.
304 East 6th Street, East Village
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The tequila you used to know is dead. Forget that tequila. Today, we start fresh with a little inspiration from some guys who know a thing or two about booze—a couple blocks down from their home base, on a curry-heavy block of the East Village, the cocktail pioneer-magicians of Death & Co. have a new baby, and inside it's all tequila, all the time. (OK, there's mezcal too.) Behold Mayahuel a brand-new cocktail bar taking dead aim at Mexico's national spirit—and set to be the next big downtown cocktail enclave.
77 Warren Street, Tribeca
212 227 8994
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It's rare that a sports bar can sneak up on you. But when the TVs are hidden behind chalkboards, a Diane Arbus photo hangs on the wall and the gents from Smith & Mills are curating a vintage-industrial-locker-room vibe, we may be entering a bold new era in sports bars… Welcome to Warren 77, a brand-new local pub and vintage sports bar, brought to you by Matt and Chris (of Beatrice Inn and Smith & Mills pedigree) and partner Sean Avery of the New York Rangers, opening May 2009 in Tribeca. Think of Warren as a simple, elegant little bar that pays homage to everything cool about New York sports history.