New York

Current Recommendations

There are just so many places that I have attempted to group them into categories:

My Absolute Favorites:

	Marea: angling to be my new favorite place in NYC; reminds me of the early days at Babbo...but seafood! ($$$$)
	North End Grill: the place to go if you are way downtown; cool space; the food rocks, especially the things with eggs ($$$)
	Maialino: best breakfast I've had in NYC: from the coffee to the bacon (and everything in between); suckling pig at dinner! ($$$)
	The Breslin: I will convince them to rename this place The Schrohe; gotta love your pork; insane! ($$$) (more details)
	Babbo: one of the best Italian in the city, try to walk-in ($$$$)
	L'Artusi: from Dell'anima folks; fun spot with really solid execution; roasted mushrooms the best; ($$$)
	Sushi Yasuda: the best sushi in NYC...for sushi, not rolls; sit at bar ($$$$)
	Fatty Crab: LOVE this place; great take on pork bun ($$)
	Gramercy Tavern: the mother of all American restaurants ($$$$)
	Momofuko: really enjoyed the Noodle spot as well as the Saam bar ($$)
	Blue Smoke: easily the best BBQ in NYC; love the salt and pepper beef ribs! ($$$)
	Peter Lugers: the best steak in the world, bar none...try the bacon too! ($$$$)
	Craft: the coolest menu concept, incredible food, great space; pricey ($$$$)
	The Tavern at Gramercy Tavern: the perfect Sunday dinner ($$$)
	Crif Dogs/PDT: Insanely awesome hot dogs and tater tots; and a bacon-infused bourbon cocktail! ($$)

Fun, Cool, and Great Food:

	Dell'Anima: LOVE this W Village Italian; everything is great, especially the Brussels sprouts ($$$)
	Ai Fiore: super sleek (and pricey) spot at the Setai on Fifth Ave; the food rocks, but presentation is even better; burger! ($$$$)
	Hundred Acres: great (fun) for dinner, but also a mellow solid lunch spot; high quality food/ingredients ($$$)
	Toloache: my new favorite taco in NYC; great salsa; impressive tequila selection ($$)
	Morimoto: not since the early days of Nobu has NYC has such refreshing Japanese ($$$$)
	Spotted Pig: loud, cramped, raging; get the gnudi & the burger ($$$)
	The National: fun place; great cocktails; get the Berkshire pork chop with grits ($$$)
	Mercadito: another killer taco joint ($$$)
	5 Ninth: too trendy = bad service, but the food is awesome ($$$)
	Hearth: simple, wonderful American menu; very strong appetizers; great original cocktails ($$$$)
	Prune: fantastic, fresh bistro with a southern flair; try the succotash ($$$)
	Delicatessen: the neighbors might not like it, but I did! Reuben fritters, cheeseburger spring rolls, fish mini-tacos...all awesome! ($$$)
	Pastis: great bistro, reasonable prices, "cheesesteak" for lunch ($$$)

The Upscale Classics:

	Four Seasons: Julian, Charlie & Giuseppe deliver every time ($$$$)
	Eleven Madison Park: foie gras lover's paradise ($$$$)
	Per Se: Near perfection; but over-priced ($$$$$$$)
	Nobu: go all out on the tasting menu and skip the sushi (have it for dessert) ($$$$)
	Del Posto: Batali for special occasions; and worth it! ($$$$)
	Scallini Fedeli: consistent preparation in a great room; great risotto ($$$$)
	Le Bernadin: the seafood king of NYC ($$$$)
	Il Mulino: one of the best classic Italians in the city; have the lobster ($$$$)
	Il Giglio: horrific atmosphere, but great place for Italian Mega Lunch ($$$$)

Other "Classics":

	Smith and Wollensky: the best cheesesteak ever is called the Horseshoe; roast beef hash also amazing! ($$$)
	Tutto al Giorno: the best Italian in the Hamptons (Sag Harbor)...ever! ($$$)
	Maloney & Porcelli: 2 reasons to go: Cracklin Pork Shank & wine list...and the bar pizza ($$$)
	BLT Steak: excellent popovers, ribeye & side dishes; too civilized ($$$$)
	Bistro DB Moderne: Boulud's theater district; one word: dependable ($$$$)
	Rao's: who cares about the food, I actually got to eat there!! (??)
	Cesca: was the only place to eat on the upper west side ($$$)
	Balthazar: trendy, but still one of the better French bistros ($$$)
	Barney Greengrass: A classic; the best smoked fish in NYC ($$)
	Esca: the best pre-theater meal you can find ($$$$)

Burgers:

	Shake shack: best burger in NYC; also try the Chicago style dog! ($)
	BLT Burger: Forget the kobe; get BLT Burger with fried egg ($$)
	Corner Bistro: at one time, it was the best burger in the world, the Bistroburger ($)
	Five Guys: great spot for burgers with all the fixins ($)
	Bill's Bar & Burger: kinda cheesy, but the coffee shake was unreal and the burger was solid ($$)
	Lucky Burger: my favorite turkey burger in Manhattan ($)
	POP Burger: if you need a late-night snack in the meat-packing area ($$)
	Del Frisco's: Go only for the burger ($$$)

Asian:

	Lychee House: Modern Chinese? No. Amazing Chinese? Yes! (Scallion pancakes are insane!) ($$$)
	Wu Liang Ye: Very solid, down and dirty Chinese ($$$)
	Tokyo Bay: amazing sushi joint in Tribeca with variety of fresh exotic selections ($$$)
	Joe's Shanghai: great Chinese, and perfect soup dumplings ($$)
	Hop Sing: serious, dim sum dive, dirt cheap, next to Chinatown OTB ($)
	Ping's Seafood: very solid dim sum ($$)
	20 Mott Street: great NYC-style dim sum ($$)

Meat:

	R.U.B.: Just go for the burnt ends..which they always have at lunch ($$)
	Quality Meats: go for the steak sauce alone ($$$$)
	Raoul's: the best steak au poivre and a great artichoke; sit in front room ($$$)

Inexpensive:

	Tom Tov: 3rd floor diamond district Kosher kebab house; great! ($$
	WichCraft: so many awesome sandwiches, it's impossible to order! ($)
	Otto: Mario again...amazing pizza (try the clam), meats and fritto; go for breakfast! ($$)
	Potbelly: this place makes an addictive sandwich! ($)
	Katz's: the best deli, great food and atmosphere ($$)
	Joe Jr.: the finest little greasy diner in NYC; Big Greg owns the atmosphere ($)

Some Other Mexican Joints:

	Pampano Take-Out: weird lobby location; amazing tacos for NYC ($)
	Los Dos Molinos: spicy authentic Mexicano from Arizona ($$)
	Mexican Radio: cheap good burritos in a bigger space ($$)

Dependable Midtown:

	BLT Market: great fresh ingredients; solid execution($$$$)
	Insieme: Marco nails it again; rustic and contemporary Italian ($$$$)
	Remi: Midtown lunch; try spaghetti bolognese (not on menu) ($$$)
	Piano Due: cool bar; solid midtown Italian; prosciutto rocks! ($$$$)
	Nougatine: Jean George's "cafe" with quality food and snappy service ($$$)

Some Old Favorites (I haven't been to in a while):

	Blue Hill Stone Barns: absolutely worth the drive up the Hudson ($$$$)
	Schiller's Liquor Bar: can't go wrong with the Balthazar gang ($$$)

	City Hall: one of my favorite raw bars; the rest of the food is decent ($$$)
	Tocqueville: you'll inhale the 60 Second Steak in under a minute ($$$$)
	Tamarind: Wonderful authentic Indian in a modern environment ($$$)
	El Quijote: only if you are in the mood for good, affordable lobster (in a horrific scene) ($$$)
	The Harrison: very tasty and very cool; fried clams, mushroom risotto, steak ($$$)
	Il Bagato: inexpensive and very authentic Italian ($$)
	Blue Ribbon: great food and open very late ($$$)
	Sarge's: awsome coffee shop in Murray Hill ($$)

A Special Tribute to My Favorite Place No Longer Around:

Alva: We will all miss Alva! (Where is Fernando now???)

Over-rated:

	Matsuri: the crowd ruins the decent food ($$$)
	Peasant: Insanely rude service and a miserable owner, despite decent food ($$$)
	Yama Sushi: good, but not worth the wait ($$$)
	Aqua Grill: used to be a recommendation, but slipping ($$$)
	Patroon: clubby, but way over-priced ($$$$$$$$$$$$$)
	Karuma Zushi: the BEST sushi, but prices are ridiculous ($$$$$$$$$$$$)
	Da Umberto: great, but also over-priced
	Beacon: so-so service and mediocre food all served up in a tough space ($$$)
	Town: The food was good, but the scene was brutal ($$$$)
	Novita: the atmosphere is just too weird but the Italian food is pretty good ($$$)