New York City

New York has too many awesome places.  I’ve tried to break them into categories to make things a little more manageable:

Kings of New York:

FigureEight: Amazing West Village neighborhood spot (on a great food block) serving up fare that’s a bit Southern, a bit Mid-Atlantic, and just a wee bit Chinese; the hush puppy waffle with honey chili crisp butter made it to the Ultimate List ($$$)

Koloman: So fitting that my new favorite spot is in the space of my old favorite spot (The Breslin); I felt like I was eating in a town outside Vienna where they speak French; salmon en croute, short rib terrine, gougeres, and the kartoffel & kaviar ($$$$)

The Polo Bar: Not the easiest of reservations, but well worth the effort! A++ experience, including the atmosphere, service, food, and cocktails; from the garlic potato chips at the bar to the burger as an appetizer, everything was extraordinary! ($$$$)

Ci Siamo: Another huge winner for the Danny Meyer team; pastas are insane and the wood-fired entrees are not to be missed!  Try the potato topini pasta!  ($$$)

Le Rock: The team at Frenchette delivers an exceptional French culinary experience in midtown; everything on the menu is terrific; cancel your afternoon meetings and stay for a while! ($$$$)

Noreetuh: An amazing little East Village spot with tremendously delicious Hawaiian-inspired cuisine; great vibe, service, and execution from a highly talented team ($$$)

Rezdora: The pastas are the rulers at this Emilia Romagna cuisine spot in the Flatiron, but don’t forget the bistecca which is also insane; they definitely deserve their Michelin star ($$$)

Portale: One of NYC’s great chefs has his own place with amazing meatballs, an incredible selection of pastas, and you must try either the duck or pork chops; cool vibe too!  ($$$)

Falansai: Quick, get to East Williamsburg ASAP for one of the great new spots in NYC; Vietnamese American from talented team; cool vibe, incredible food, tremendous service, and items on Ultimate List ($$$)

Stretch Pizza: A collaboration between a chef and baker delivers some of the best pizza around; but try other stuff too, like the shrimp toast and garlic bread ($$$)

See No Evil Pizza: The Jiro of NYC (for pizza, not sushi), this subway station joint turns out top tier pies with delicious, creative topping combos; don’t miss their dive bar next door! ($$$)

Fifty Three: Stunning space just next to MoMA for over-the-top Chinese; the Eel Club is required ($$$$)

Iris: Lively Mediterranean spot with delicious, innovative takes on the classics; great service and fun vibe ($$$$)

Au Cheval:  Yes, it’s from Chicago, but ignore that; everyone goes for the bacon cheeseburger with fried egg (which is great), but the king is the fried bologna sandwich (a must!) ($$$)

Fasano: delicious, comfortable, formal Italian in a beautiful space; perfect for a business lunch or a special dinner in midtown ($$$$)

Marea:  one of my old favorite spots in NYC; they nail it every time; from the crudos to the pastas and everything else; best service team anywhere ($$$$)

Sushi Nakazawa: Sublime, perfect sushi; really, the best; and, for the first time with unreal sushi, I can also include value in the description;  A+ ($$$$)

Frenchette:  The Brouillade is how they serve eggs in heaven; everything else on this classic bistro menu is tremendous too; awesome space/bar ($$$$)

Carbone: If you can get in, everything on the menu is top notch; despite losing a star, this place hasn’t lost a beat ($$$$)

Ippudo: The only chain in this section of my list; most insane ramen ever; perfection in a bowl ($$)

Marc Forgione: Best neighborhood joint since Alva; my favorite meal of the year; sauces!; spicy lobster with Texas toast ($$$$)

Cosme:  Wow! La Comida Mas Fina! Believe the hype.  Duck carnitas a must; same for uni tostada ($$$$)

4 Charles Prime Rib: the prime rib is sick, but the burger and French Dip are even better ($$$$)

The NoMad:  everything is terrific, but the chicken for 2 (stuffed with foie gras, truffles, and breadcrumbs) is insane! ($$$$)

Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria: finest cured meats in the city + finest bread = finest sandwich; short rib and porchetta sandwiches are insane ($$)

Dopo La Spiaggia: East Hampton and Sag Harbor; dining outside in Sag Harbor makes a crazy Hamptons weekend actually feel like a vacation ($$$)

Empellon: tequila and tacos, enough said.  Well, amazing tequila and insane tacos ($$$)

Mission Chinese: I’m still dreaming about cod fried rice and thrice-cooked bacon; easier to go at lunch ($$$)

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 ($$$$)

Sushiann: Sit at the bar with Hiroji for great sushi at a fair price ($$$)

Locanda Verde: rare to find a place with a fun scene and food that kills it; porchetta sandwich at lunch is a must ($$$)

Gramercy Tavern: the mother of all American restaurants ($$$$)

Momofuku: 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! ($$$$)

The Tavern at Gramercy Tavern: the perfect Sunday dinner ($$$)

When Cool is a Jewel:

Hakata TonTon: Every dish is unique, cool, and delicious, especially the bbq washu beef wrapped in a scallion pancake with lettuce, pickled veggies and mayo ($$$)

Little Spain:  It’s the Eataly for Spain, but feels like more of a food court than a market ($$)

Daily Provisions: great coffee, avocado toast, BEC and of course the CRULLERS ($)

MaLa Project: Chinese dry pot concept with crazy-ass ingredients and numbing spice…what’s not to love?  ($$$)

Sen Sakana: Peruvian Japanese; incredible fresh fish (sushi) with bold flavor accents; stunning space ($$$)

Momosan: insane ramen choices; pair with Zuke Don and Kukuni Bao…and delicious sake ($$)

Koi: it’s been around forever yet still super cool; delicious food; amazing service; get anything and everything with crispy rice ($$$)

Dell’Anima: LOVE this W Village Italian; everything is great, especially the Brussels sprouts ($$$)

Parm: you cannot go wrong at this incredible lunch counter; try the Saratoga Club ($$)

Mile End Deli: can’t wait to keep going here and try every sandwich on the menu ($$)

Aria Wine Bar: the food and the drinks are better than the wine, which is saying a lot; cool spot ($$$)

Ai Fiori: super sleek (and pricey) spot at the Setai on Fifth Ave; the food rocks, but presentation is even better; burger! ($$$$)

The Dutch: All is good here, but the two things that I care about are the Fried Oyster Sliders and the Fried Chicken ($$$)

Xi’an Famous Foods: the noodles are good but not worth a Shake Shack-like wait; the lamb burger is though! ($)

Mercadito: another killer taco joint ($$$)

Hearth: simple, wonderful American menu; very strong appetizers; great original cocktails ($$$$)

Prune: fantastic, fresh bistro with a southern flair; try the succotash ($$$)

Old School Making You Drool:

Sistina: Classis UES Italian with perfect food, service, wine list, and beautiful bar

Il Giglio: the king to Tribeca Italian has returned ($$$$)

Per Se:  Near perfection; but over-priced ($$$$$$$)

Le Bernadin: the seafood king of NYC ($$$$)

Il Mulino: one of the best classic Italians in the city; have the lobster ($$$$)

Some Other Classics:

Smith and Wollensky: the best cheesesteak ever is called the Horseshoe; roast beef hash also amazing! ($$$)

BLT Steak: excellent popovers, ribeye & side dishes; too civilized ($$$$)

Rao’s: who cares about the food, I actually got to eat there!!  (??)

Balthazar: trendy, but still one of the better French bistros ($$$)

Barney Greengrass: A classic; the best smoked fish in NYC ($$)

Burger Joints:

Shake Shack: best burger in NYC; also try the Chicago style dog! ($)

Le Rivage: the best French Onion in NYC is at a touristy Theater District hole-in-the-wall ($$)

Bobby Van’s Park Ave:  Get the burger at the bar; ask for fries AND rings ($$$)

Hard Times Sundaes (Find the truck): Smashed, satisfying burgers ($)

Corner Bistro: at one time, it was the best burger in the world, the Bistroburger ($)

 

Chopsticks Required:

Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao: make the trip to Flushing for this immersive noodle/dumpling experience ($$)

Sushi Seki: Worth every penny; sit at the bar and let the creativity pull you from tradition ($$$$)

Hatsuhana: Such a dependable midtown lunch spot for sushi ($$$)

Wu Liang Ye: Very solid, down and dirty Chinese ($$$)

Koi: The crispy rice appetizer is the chalupa of Japan; some great rolls and other fun stuff too ($$$)

Lychee House: Modern Chinese?  No.  Amazing Chinese?  Yes! (Scallion pancakes are insane!) ($$$)

Joe’s Shanghai: great Chinese, and perfect soup dumplings ($$)

Ping’s Seafood:  very solid dim sum ($$)

20 Mott Street: great NYC-style dim sum ($$)

Get Your Meat On:

The Benjamin:  avoid a trip to Williamsburg!  Great drinks; great service; and amazing steak ($$$$)

Bowery Meat Co:  Broiled oysters + duck lasagna + tomahawk ribeye for 2; best downtown steakhouse by far! ($$$$)

Wolfgang’s: If you’re too lazy to go to Luger’s ($$$$)

Quality Meats: go for the steak sauce alone ($$$$)

Raoul’s: the best steak au poivre and a great artichoke; sit in front room ($$$)

Cheap:

All’Antico Vanaio: Simply the finest Italian cold cuts combined with fresh ingredients, excellent cheese, delicious spreads served on fresh focaccia ($$)

Alidoro: They actually do NOT have sandwiches this good anywhere in Italy ($$)

Park Italian: What? An amazing (realistic) Italian deli (dive) in midtown? It rocks…($)

Tom Tov: 3rd floor diamond district Kosher kebab house; great! ($$)

Katz’s:  the best deli, great food and atmosphere ($$)

Joe Jr.: the finest little greasy diner in NYC; Big Greg owns the atmosphere ($)

Not Sure How to Classify:

Tocqueville: It just seems to get better and better (and bigger and bigger) ($$$)

Hoping they return sometime:

Maialino: best breakfast I’ve had in NYC: from the coffee to the bacon (and everything in between); suckling pig at dinner! ($$$)

Marta: I can’t get enough of this place; wood-fired grill and one of the best pizzas I’ve had in NYC ; thumbs up on everything! ($$$) [CLOSED]

Sushi Ginzo Onodera:  a purist’s heaven!  Blue fin toro dry aged for 10 days?  Dinner is too expensive; lunch is the value ($$$$$) [CLOSED]

The Breslin: One of the greatest meat palaces every in NYC; a sad victim of Covid; rumors that there may be a Brooklyn resurrection

The TAK Room:  Back to the Future with flawless execution of Classic American Fare with a killer view; short rib beef wellington is unreal; so worth the effort to get there ($$$$)

Manhatta: go for lunch; the view is insane on a sunny day; excellent food (Scotch Snails) and a very cool bar ($$$$)

La Central: very cool SoHuYa spot in the Hotel Americano; inspired Latin fare (savory churros) and passionate staff ($$$)

O Ya: this place is money…and bring a lot of it with you; somehow they innovate sushi but still allow the fish to reign supreme ($$$$$)

Vitae: The best food near GCT!  Try the burger or the ramen at lunch; or the schnitzel; or anything ($$$)

Le Coq Rico: Whiskey Sour (or Sazerac) + beautiful space + talented gracious chef = poultry/fowl perfection ($$$$)

Lamb’s Club:  Brisket sandwich and iced coffee with iced coffee ice cubes…nothing finer ($$$)

Booker and Dax: Near perfect cocktails with Momofuku snacks; the pre-bottled Manhattan could be the best ($$)

Hakkasan: loved it in London; great here too; expensive but worth it; food is amazing, but the drinks even better! ($$$$)

DBGB: burgers, sausages, beers and a million other things worth trying here ($$$)

Saxon and Parole: All the ingredients: great menu/food, classic cocktails, fun scene, and a great hamburger ($$$)

Maloney & Porcelli:  2 reasons to go: Cracklin Pork Shank & wine list…and the bar pizza ($$$)

Bistro DB Moderne: Boulud’s theater district; one word: dependable ($$$$)