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Db Bistro Moderne
A sophisticated standout in neon-filled Times Sq, sleek and modern DB Moderne saves its flashiness for the food - chilled fennel velouté, bacon-veiled salmon, snail fricassee, coq au vin and of course, the DB Burger, stuffed with truffles, foie gras and braised short ribs.
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Doyers Vietnamese Restaurant
A huge part of the appeal at Doyers is the fascinating street it's on - it used to be known as the 'Bloody Triangle' during the area's gang days. The menu's as long as your arm and has veggie and meat dishes, served in the below-ground dining room.
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Dumont
Eating beet salads, big burgers, crab cakes, 'Dumac 'n' cheese,' and more serious entrees like skate and roasted olives, grilled half-chicken, and steak bordelaise in the garden bar or treehouse is great summer fun.
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Eatery
Come and hang at the bar even if you don't feel like eating - you'll have a hard time not ordering something once the plates of edamame, ginger calamari, black mussels in curry broth and big juicy burgers start going by. Maybe if you fix your attention on the DJ spinning cool tunes in the corner, you can resist - but why try?
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Eleven Madison Park
An art deco wonder often overlooked in this star-studded town, Eleven Madison Park is welcoming enough to bring children into fine dining, and delicious enough to please even the most discerning diner. Dishes include muscovy duck with honey sauce, wild salmon with horseradish crust and fennel risotto, halibut mi-cuit with carrots, and seasonal surprises.
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Elmo
An epicenter for Chelsea boys, Elmo is a sexy scene with high ceilings, low lighting, cushy banquettes and a garage door-like facade that's opened to the street come spring and summer. The simple, comfort-food favorites - meatloaf, fried chicken, baked mac 'n' cheese (with added fontina and Gruyère), mussels (steamed in tequila) and big fresh salads - are consistently delicious. And so are the lovely looking waitstaff and clientele.
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Empire Diner
Housed in a restored silver Pullman car, Empire Diner has a lot of wacky charm, mostly thanks to the occasional odd character who sits at the counter eating pie. Can't really blame 'em - the pie, burgers, salads and heaping, fat omelettes are delicious, and all types swing by for a bite.
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Financier Patisserie
A little Left Bank in the Financial District! Early-morning patrons flock here for the fresh-from-the oven croissants, almond and apricot tarts and deep, dark coffee. The same crowd is back to sample creamy quiche tartlets for lunch, served with a side of pungent salad, and hearty lentil soup and sandwiches.
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Fleur de Sel
With the sea-scented aura of Brittany, where chef Cyril Renaud was born and raised, Fleur de Sel is a sensuous delight. Extensive wine choices and daily, seasonal dishes add depth and originality to the menu. Expect braised rabbit leg, sautéed fluke, almond-crusted halibut and a gorgeous ganache for dessert.
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Frankie's 457 Sputino
There's no end to the inventive sides Frankie's dishes up - roasted cauliflower, artichokes, beets, sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts and mushrooms - to go along with your choice of salty cured meats, or deep-dish sandwiches with tasty meatballs or crunchy veggies.
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Fraunces Tavern
Can you really pass up a chance to eat where George Washington (it's been documented) supped in 1762? Expect heaping portions of tavern stew, clam chowder, beef Wellington and your choice of cobbler, butterscotch bread pudding, spiked fig and apple tart or strawberry shortcake for dessert. The bar, filled with friendly locals, is great for a snack and a drink.
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Freeman's
Tucked off the beaten path at the end of a small alley, Freeman's no-reservation policy can translate into long waits, but only because it's become so popular. The delicious, meat-centric dishes (mostly wild game like deer, pheasant and once even ostrich) are matched with an expensive wine list and airy desserts.
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Ginger
A welcome addition to a neighborhood where eating Chinese usually means putting your life on the line, Ginger's is committed to healthy fare that still satisfies your cravings. The pretty brick exterior gives way to a deep purple interior with an open kitchen so you can watch your baby-back ribs, shrimp fried rice or chicken and broccoli come together.
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Grimaldi's
Legendary pizza with perfect crust and spicy sauces, topped with bubbling cheeses of all types. If the 'no reservations' policy creates long lines, everybody stops complaining once the pizza's dished up.
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Heart
Daring eaters and those who like wild game should definitely go for the tasting menu; Hearth doesn't offer a ton of choices, but does its regular dishes - leg of lamb, garlic chicken, tender veal - exceptionally well, and it rotates the sides according to what's in season.
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honmura an
Soba and udon noodles are served hot or cold and topped with everything from giant prawn tempura to fish cakes and wild Japanese greens. Fresh sashimi and 'soba gnocchi' are always available, and Honmura An also does small plates of everything for those who can't make up their minds.
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il bagatto
A bustling yet romantic little nook, this spot has thoroughly delicious Italian creations, plus an excellent wine list and a dedicated sommelier who will let you taste before you decide. Even with a reservation you'll have to wait a few minutes to get seated - it's homey that way. Definitely order dessert - it's fabulous.
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Jaya
Thirty types of noodles, topped with tofu, vegetables, shrimp, spicy chilies, pork, beef and chicken are the main staple at Jaya, although its also got house specials like coconut fried rice, basil stir-fried beef and fish soup.
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Jo Jo
No matter how far down the fusion highway Jean-Georges Vongerichten chooses to stray, his first, and best hotspot, retains its iconic status. The townhouse decor is dark and sultry and the dishes equally so: venison cubes tossed with pomegranate seeds, roast chicken with green olives. The not-to-be missed signature dish is a dessert - decadent Valrhona cake that oozes chocolate.
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Josie's Restaurant
Organic fare (with its provenance listed on the menu) that satisfies vegans, vegetarians and meat eaters alike has kept Josie's around for more than a decade. It's clean, simple ambiance is reflected in the food -steak, salads, gorgeous veggie dishes, but nothing too processed or tortured.
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Katz's Deli
With sandwiches the size of your arm, it's best to come to Katz's teeming deli when you're ready to seriously eat. There's a lightning quick takeout line if you don't want to stay, but the slower table service means more time for people-watching as you tackle that pastrami and rye.
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kittichai
Celebrated for its striking decor - bright red silk curtains against dark, carved walls - and creative menu, Kittichai does tapas (limestone tartlet with minced chicken, marinated monkfish in pandan leaves, and more) and mains (roasted red curry with vegetables, braised short ribs in green curry or a rich seared aged sirloin with fermented black bean and whiskey sauce).
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L'atelier De Joel Robuchon
If you've eaten at any of Robuchon's celebrated restaurants in Paris, Tokyo, London or Las Vegas, you know what to expect - a smorgasbord of flavors in tiny bites. Taking small plates and omakase to a whole new level, L'Atelier's frog legs croquettes, hangar steak, caramelized free-range quail stuffed with foie gras, served with potato puree, and lychee desserts are divine. Sit at the counter, if you can.
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La Esquina
If you glimpse this place out of the corner of your eye as your cab speeds by, it looks like a frat-boy's late-night drunken diner. It is, in the wee hours, but it serves great Mexican fare, perfect for settling the stomach. Make a reservation and you can get into the inner sanctum; a cool sit-down lounge and eatery in La Esquina's lower level.
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La Taza De Oro
Keeping it real for more than three decades, La Taza de Oro has a long, functional countertop with barstools and plain tables that won't win any design awards. But the decor goes with the stomach-filling cheap eats like rice-and-beans, lechón asado, flan and more. Unpretentious, and very satisfying.
