Note: Edited and updated, November 2008.
My colleagues from Europe and Australia – as well as local friends – are always asking me for my favorite restaurants in New York City, as most people know that I’m a bit of a foodie. I figure it’s time that I post this so I don’t have to keep digging for it in old emails next time someone asks. These restaurants are my regular haunts – there are better options if you’re looking for a special occasion-type place or the under $10 cheap eats (I need to do a writeup on that one day). I would recommend Le Bernadin, for example, to anyone, but it’s not the type of place you are going to go to for a regular Thursday night out.
Lower East Side Area (all within 10 minute walk of each other)
Frank (2nd ave at 5th St.) – small (very), busy, homemade “interesting” Italian. Quite busy during the weekend, no reservations, cash only. Put your name in, give them your mobile number and have a drink at one of the million bars right next to it. You might have to wait 1+ hour for a table, but it’s worth it. Be prepared to be stuffed into a tiny space, or to share your wine and stories at a large communal table behind the bar. There are tons of great restaurants on 2nd Ave between 4th street and 15th street if the wait is too long, but my suggestion is to suck it up and experience it. The open kitchen is literally 4 feet wide by 10 feet deep and you can sit at a bar which is essentially right “in” the kitchen…sounds cute, but it get hot as hell.
La Paella (East 9th St between 2nd and Third Ave) – Spanish food, some of the best paella in the city. Awesome Sangria. I prefer their Basque variety of the paella (and no, not just because I’m Basque). You’ll need to put your name and and take a walk…there’s not really any place to hang around inside and the crowds can be big.
Inoteca (Corner of Ludlow Street and Rivington) – small plate, unusual “italian tapas” with awesome wines. If you’re not Italian or don’t speak the language, the menu and wine list may initially scare you, but everyone who works there is an expert on the food and there’s always a wine guru around – there’s absolutely zero attitude from the staff here. Also quite busy on the weekends. In the summer, the glass “walls” open up and people spill out onto the street, eating dinner, drinking Peroni and chatting it up with panini in their hands. There are about 30 bars on Ludlow street, all quite interesting. some say it’s the “street with the greatest bars in the world” (for a such a small street, it is interesting how so many of these bars appear in the Worlds Best Bars guide)…not a bad place to get a drink while waiting for a table or after dinner
Bar Veloce (2nd Avenue between 11th and 12th) – wine bar and small snacks, great before or after dinner. Fantastic selection of wines by the glass and amazing dessert wines. The staff always consists of exactly one barkeep plus one panini maker/busboy.
Supper Restaurant (152 E. 2nd St.) – My first experience at Supper was not a common night out – I had called them to see if they could accommodate a group of 20 for a party that I was throwing. I had it setup after two phone calls and everything came together quickly and hassle free. Most restaurants I spoke to about this evening acted as if they were doing me a huge favor by taking the $2K or so out of my wallet…Supper, on the other hand, couldn’t have been more flexible or accommodating. I might have been taking a bit of a chance hosting the party at some place that I had never eaten before, I but I probably have had 50 or more meals at their sister restaurant, Frank, from the time they opened 10 or so years back. After the first course, it was clear that Supper carries on the tradition of well-priced food and excellent service that Frank has demonstrated over the years. Supper’s menu encourages sharing – and since I was eating with 19 of my friends, I certainly got more than a small sample of what they had to offer. Some of the carry-overs that have been hits at Frank for years make a noble appearance on their menu, most notably the fresh pastas and the superb Bolognese sauce. Fresh pasta with a fresh herb and tomato sauce was bold and tasty. Wide noodles with asparagus, peas and pecorino romano was excellent. The homemade tomato gnocci with a tomato creme sauce was out of this world. Although many enjoyed the sliced flank steak, some said it was a bit overcooked, albeit very tasty. The seafood specials are excellent and also build on Frank’s tradition for excellent fresh seafood specials (try the Cod with aged balsamic if it’s on the menu). The starters are very good. The polenta specials border on ethereal. Anything with sweetbreads can be a disaster if cooked improperly, but a classic Caesar topped with sauteed sweetbreads was excellent. Mini veal meatballs (polpettes) were very good. When it comes to wine, Supper is exactly the type of restaurant I like – their list is massive, but the staff does everything they can to make sure you are not intimidated. Not only are they helpful, but their picks tend to be right on. Unless there is a specific bottle on the menu that you desire, I recommend leaving the choice to the bartender. (Note that they are one of the only restaurants that will open ANY bottle and serve it by the glass, regardless of price.) I wish I could tell you what we had for dessert (we had a few mixed platters that we all devoured in the middle of the table), but everything was good. Excellent food. Friendly service. Tremendous variety. Good for groups, as the menu appeals to almost every taste. Life just became a bit more difficult because I now have to choose between Supper and Frank when I’m craving good Italian down in the East Village… (From my Yelp review).
Schillers Liquor Bar (131 Rivington St.) – This place has grown on me. Ask me a year ago and I would have barely given a solid three stars, but it has proved itself to be the type of place that I actually like hanging out at and is now one of my favorite LES spots. First and foremost is the cocktails. The bartenders know how to mix and they are not shy about whipping out the best of their skills for old school cocktails. ”Mike” (I use quotes, because I think that’s his name) makes one hell of a good Sidecar. The infamous “Cheap, Decent and Good” wine list is usually good to please as well. Second is the atmosphere – always jumping, but there always seems to be someplace to cram yourself at or just behind the bar. People love to throw the “hipster” term around with this place, but just because there are a few hipsters there doesn’t mean it’s a hipster crowd. It is most certainly a solid mix of everything, although the crowd skews to younger. As for the food, it’s not going to win any James Beard awards, but it is solid enough for me to return to. You can probably just do with some well-mixed cocktails and selection of appetizers at the bar. The calamari is solid. The “Nachos”, which is a plate of chips accompanied with an addictive sludgy mix of sloppy, chorizo, salsa, and a few other goodies, is fantastic. The garlic shrimp will make you go through an entire loaf of bread and have you offending people all night. Burger: Good. Steak Frites – not what you would get at Les Halles, but the meat is tasty, cooked as ordered and the frites get an 8 out of 10.”
Village and Downtown
Alta (64 West 10th St. at 9th Avenue) – Three dinners later and I can say that this place is consistently excellent. I am a big tapas fan and must admit that I was getting a bit tired of the traditional offerings in NYC, so this provides a superb alternative to the traditional Spanish variety. This has now become one of the places I dream too much about just before I go or just after I leave. Regarding the atmosphere, it should be noted that there are two very distinct areas in the restaurant. The main dining room downstairs can get crowded, loud and vibrant, particularly as the adjacent bar fills up. Alternatively, you might be brought upstairs to the “front room”, which requires a journey through the immaculate kitchen, and leads to an atmosphere which is much more subdued and intimate. I don’t know where to start with the menu – it is massive and incredibly varied, composed of just a few old standbys (by tapas standards) and a mass of exciting, inventive dishes. Anything with fresh seafood has been consistently fresh and bursting with flavor (try the Fluke Civiche and the Tuna Tartare). I am not a huge foie gras fan, but the small little “pinxtos” of foie gras with cranberry and apple is amazing. Danish pork ribs are crusty, sweet, tangy, smokey and delicious. The signature, crispy Brussels sprouts are unlike any other Brussels sprout you have ever tasted and the generously-large bowl will disappear quickly (Brussels sprouts, fuji apples, creme fraiche, pistachios). One order of the pulled pork empanadas is never enough. I could go on and on about the various things I have tasted there, but my vote for the most interesting thing on the menu: Everything. And what do I mean by that? Well, should you be be daring enough (and hungry enough), you can order “The Whole Shebang”, which is the entire menu of 50+ dishes for $350. The sangria is good, although they do not sell it by the pitcher. The wine selection is excellent and the staff knows the menu inside out. A shallow bathtub of ice built into the bar also shows off some of the great, chilled wines by the glass that are being offered that night. Nestled on a quiet block, but not far from the busy action in the West Village, this is a great place to start your night out for an early or late dinner. (From my Yelp! Review)
Meatpacking District
Pastis (9th Ave and Little West 12th St.) – French/Medditerranean, very lively, good, reliable food. Some people say that it’s played out, overpriced and underserviced, particularly since it’s so close to the trendy Meatpacking crowd. Alternatively, the sister restaurant, Balthazar, is a bit more downtown on Crosby St. and has the same menu. I think the atmosphere at Pastis is better, though…I used to go to Balthazar all the time until the former CEO of our company got me hooked on Pastis. It’s namesake spirit, pastis, makes me sick, however. A good recommendation for late night dining…
Spice Market (403 W 13th St.) – When I’m dragged to the Meatpacking District for dinner, I often throw up a little bit in my mouth. I’ve become tired of the crowds and the attitude and the pretentiousness (save a few fine establishments, such as the Old Homestead). Spice Market sets itself up to meet all of those stereotypes and, to some extent, it does. However, it’s overall execution, as a whole, is very, very good. The attitude by day is very different from the bustling weekend dinner crowd, so if you’re looking to get a taste for the first time, you may wish to stroll over on a sunny weekend afternoon, take a table near the opened walls and peer down on the passers-by. Yes, service can be a bit haphazard and tad bit pretentious, but what did you expect on this block? But the food, regardless of time of day, is excellent. The halibut was superb. Cod with a chili paste was perfect. The coconut milk rice wrapped in a banana leaf is like candy. The side dishes are unique and flavorful. My tomato/watermelon gazpacho was, perhaps, the best gazpacho I’ve ever had. Try the something-lime-Chili soda. Yes, it’s good. Overall not so bad and I could definitely become a regular. (From my Yelp review)
One Little West 12th (ummm, yes, the address is 1 Little West 12th Street) – It’s more Meatpacking District trendy, but the menu is interesting and they know how to make a cocktail (assuming you can get to the bar and are pretty enough for them to pay attention to you). Food is fairly good, but I only metion it because it’s a great place for drinks & appetizers before/after Pastis.
Midtown
Del Posto (80 10th Avenue) – I had originally decided not to include Del Posto, as it used to be a bit inaccessable for many – both in price and in the fact that it was very difficult to score a table in prime time. But, getting a table here is not as difficult anymore and the addition of their Enoteca seating allows you to get out for a fixed $35, even though you’re eating the same food as the folks in the main dining room – that’s a steal for ANY place in New York these days, much less Del Posto. This is superb high-end Italian and the space is marvalous. Intimate it is not – you are often confused as to whether you are eating dinner or waiting for the next train to Yonkers to pull in. The food and the service, however, is excellent. I won’t get into the separate dishes themselves, as they probably won’t be there when you go anyway (the menu is always changing). But on a night where the kitchen is really on, you can be sure that your dishes will be nothing short of excellent. The pastas are perfectly prepared with amazing texture and flavor. The meats are expertly roasted and flavorful. The seafood is incredibly fresh and perfectly moist. The desserts make you want to cry. Aside from what you order, the little amuse-bouches throughout the meal are fun and tasty. The wine list is (as would be expected) overwhelming. Fortunately, the sommeliers are (as would be expected) incredibly knowledgeable. If I had to pick one of my “last meals in New York”, Del Posto would be a contender.
Les Halles (Park Ave at around 19th) – French, specializing in steaks and meat. The best steak frites in NYC. Good for lunch, dinner or brunch. Extensive, but reasonable wine list. This place became overrun with people once Anthony Bourdain became a celeb chef/travel host on Food Network and Travel Channel, but, thankfully, they expanded in 2005 and they can now accommodate the crowds. Consistently good food and wine. Service seemed to get better after the expansion.
Churascarea Plataforma (49th Street at 8th or 9th…I forget) – All you can eat, high-end Brazilian steakhouse/BBQ. Massive in size and VERY loud. The meat is fantastic, the “salad” bar has enough variety of food to keep you interested for a year. Make sure you’re hungry and skip lunch. The meal is fixed-price, but drinks are not included. Be cautious of the man tending the mobile caipirinha bar cart – the fresh made drinks add to your tab quickly and three of them put to you sleep for the evening.
Rare Grill (Lexington Ave around 47th-ish) – Bar/Restaurant – Still consistently excellent hamburgers. Gets busy around 7:30 and they don’t take reservations. They recently opened a downtown location with a roof deck, but I have not been there. Note, the last 5 years has been a sort of burger renaissance for New York City and there are plenty of other “high end” burger places that have opened since Rare came along – I can’t complain too much about any of them, but Rare just happens to be my old standby.
La Bonne Soupe (48 West 55th St) – It sits next to the La Cote Basque, one of the best restaurants in NYC (save that for a special occasion). The great fondu joint, La Fondu, use to be across the street, so this street has a great French pedigree. As the name advertises, the soups are great…classic french country soups, simple salads, bold table wine. The fondu is quite good as well. I forget how much the lunch special is ($14, I think?) – it includes their giant “meal” soup, salad, fresh bread, wine and dessert…one of the best lunch deals in NYC. Be prepared to rub elbows with the diners at the table next to you (cramped is an understatement).
Esca (402 W. 43rd St.) - Rule #1: Stick to what they are good at. Go ahead, cry about the constancy of the risotto, but it’s your own damn fault 
These guys are good at fish and all their energy goes to fresh fish, so stay with what’s fresh for the day and you won’t be disappointed. The formula that I have found best is going with a first course for each person and then splitting a fresh fish with a side of veggies for every two people. This is usually more than enough and gets you at taste of everything. The signature Spaghetti with Lobster, Chili and Mint is a great first course to start with. The pasta is almost always cooked super-al dente, but compliments the fresh, chunky tomato sauce and lobster just fine. In regards to the fish, split a whole fish and have them debone it – ask for them to remove the skin if that’s what you like. The simpler the fish, the better, in my experience, although they do try to keep the whole fish pretty simple. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Be aware that this has a prime pre-theater crowd so, during the week, it may be packed at 6:30, but tends to clear out if you put your name in and hang around an hour or so. Unfortunately, the bar is too small to really enjoy a drink and is usually filled with those pre-theater goers who didn’t think ahead enough to reserve a table. If you go with my 2 first course + 1 fish formula, you can usually get out for $125 with a couple of beers and tip and feel full. Worth it every week? – No. But certainly worth the walk to its kinda-a-bit-too-west-side location when you need a Mediterranean seafood fix… Update: I went back and had the Spaghetti with Lobster and, as you would expect from my sloppy self, I splashed some sauce on my shirt. The maitre d’ saw me scrubbing my shirt with my napkin from across the room and quickly came to the rescue with a “Shout” stain remover wipe. Now THAT is what I call service…
Norma’s (Le Parker Meridien Hotel, 118 West 57th St – NOTE: Breakfast/Brunch only) – Some say overrated. Some say overpriced. Some say both. But, regardless, Norma’s breakfast is one of a kind. The selection is unique and the portions are huge. It is one of the only restaurants located in a hotel that I would actually frequent. Be prepared to wait, though, as the lines can be long.
Not too Far From Manhattan
Peter Luger (Brooklyn) – You can get there 25 mins by cab or by subway from midtown and it’s worth the trip. This is the legendary, best, old-school steakhouse in NYC and I consider it the consistently best porterhouse out of all the places I’ve been to throughout the country. It’s an old-fashioned, no-frills place where most of the waiters have held their jobs for 20+ years. You don’t mull over which of the fancy cuts you want to eat because there really isn’t a selection – the Peter Luger porterhouse is king here. Furthermore, you don’t get to be greedy and have your own cut because you order for however many people are chowing down at your table that night (steak for two, steak for three, etc.). And if that isn’t enough, the steak arrives already-cut on your behalf. You have to pay by using either Cash or the Peter Luger charge card, no exceptions.
Spirito (Elizabeth, NJ) – About 20 miles outside of midtown Manhattan, this it the definition of what an old-style family-run Italian restaurant is. My grandmother ate there when there when she was young and I remember the decor looking the same back when I was in pre-school. Everthing is 100% homemade and nothing has ever changed on the menu – ever. Beer is served in a bottle accompanied by a tiny glass. Most people consider the raviolis to be the best they’ve ever tasted. The wait staff is, and always has been, 100% female and they never write your order down – regardless of whether there are two or twenty of you (and the food is always delivered just how you ordered it). You have to go through the kitchen to use the restroom. When you pass through to use the loo, the guy you see making the ravioli is the same guy I used to see when I was 6. I could eat here every night of my life. Cash only – the 70 year old cash register has no clue what a credit card is. (Be sure to bring cash – there are NO ATMs near by)
Trattoria Zero Otto Nove (Arthur Avenue, The Bronx) – I have wanted to go to this place for a while, as I’ve heard it many, many times mentioned as an answer to that somewhat-rhetorical question of, “Who makes the best pizza in New York?”. This, I’m sorry to disappoint you, is not a question that I dare to tackle in this review, as for every opinion of a place which deserves this honor, there are a thousand people who will disagree. Let’s put this to rest for a moment because, believe it or not: It’s not all about the pizza! (although the pizza is certainly damn good!). Nestled on Arthur Avnue, Zero Otto Nevo could easily get lost among the rest of the trattorias, pizzarias, “clam houses” and everything else that tries to lure you in with their garlicky aroma. What you have here, however, is an exceptional, truly-authentic Italian dining experience that you’re going to find in few and far places between here and Italy. The owner is a true Italian, the staff are true Italians and the food makes you want to set fire to every Olive Garden and Macaroni Grill that exist this side of Tuscany. A group of us made the trek over with one mission: Taste as much as we could in a single evening. And that, we most certainly did… We started, of course, with the aforementioned pizza. Expertly-crafted and finished in their wood-fired oven, the end result meets ethereal levels. The crust is that absolutely perfect combination of crispy, chewy, slightly salty and tasty. The toppings are perfectly proportioned, delicious and in many cases, pretty unique. The Capreicciosa with ham, mushrooms, tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, olives was superb. The Patate Salsiccia e Provolo with sliced potatoes, sausage, smoked mozzarella made me want to order another. Is it the best pizza in New York City? I’ll let you decide. But I have tried all the contenders and this certainly ranks up there, without a doubt. Moving on, a simple salad of arugula, fresh lemon and giant shaved chunks parmigiano reggiano was a great way to clean the palate (and good enough for two). The sauteed sausage with butternut squash and gorgonzola is similar to something that my grandmother used to make and was simply delicious. As with most of the menu, the antipasti choices range from the classic to the inventive. For the mains, a simple Pasta al Forno with meatballs was cooked perfectly while the Pollo Capricciosa (a huge piece of breaded, thick, chicken cutlet with fresh mozzarella marinated tomato, pesto) looked like it would be incredibly heavy and over-fried, but was probably the lightest piece of sauteed chicken breast I have ever tasted. Note: These dishes are clearly made for sharing. For dessert, a medley was required. The filling for their classic cannolis was perfect and their fresh, homemade shells melted in your mouth. Tiramisu was surprisingly light and flavorful and their signature Nutella Pizza was whisked from the wood oven to our table – it was truly unique and delicious. The espressos, as you might imagine, are perfectly crafted. The atmosphere here is great and is perfect for groups. The service was incredibly attentive and well-orchestrated. You could see that dishes moved from kitchen or pizza over to your table within seconds. The wine list is varied, with all price ranges, and there is a full bar up front if you do have to wait (our wait was 20 minutes at 8:30 on a Saturday). I believe the closest subway stop is about a mile or so away, so be prepared to hitch a ride or get some sort of bus out there…or just walk. Or swim up the Harlem River. Because it’s definitely worth the effort. (From my Yelp! Review)
