My Best New York NY

RESTAURANTS:

The absolute coolest time to have dinner in a New York restaurant is when you are hungry. Since the American Revolution, savvy New York restaurateurs have recognized this, and have organized their service around the times people are usually hungry. In order to clarify this phenomenon further, they have broken down such service into four general categories
to coincide with general times of hunger. New York restaurateurs have thus given the clever and oh-so-hip names to such times as, "Breakfast", "Brunch", "Lunch" and "Dinner".

CHEAP / REASONABLY PRICED:			Cheap Indian:

SIP SAK Turkish Food 928 Second Avenue btwn 49th & 50th Streets New York, NY 10017 Phone: 212-583-1900	MOMOFUKU NOODLE BAR 171 First Ave btwn 10th & 11th Streets New York NY 10003 Phone: no phone	CHICKPEA "Always baked, never fried" 210 E 14th St btwn 3rd & 2nd Avenues New York, NY 10003 Phone: (212) 228-3445 info@getchickpea.com 3 locations: Chelsea, LES & Union Square	PANNA II Garden restaurant 93 First Ave, btwn 5th & 6th Sts New York, NY 10003 MILON 93 First Ave, btwn 5th & 6th Sts New York, NY, 10003 (212) 228-4896 Two "wonderfully" tacky Indian restaurants "with garden-like views". Cheap chow. Some people love them ... and others really don't.

CHILI THAI 712 9th Avenue (btwn 48th & 49th St) New York NY 10019 Phone: (917) 472-9838 See reviews on City Search Tasty, cozy and friendly. Cute little place. And you can bring your own beer, too.. List of Thai restaurants	OYAMA Sushi Bar 188 1st Ave, New York 10009 (btwn 11th & 12th St) Phone: (212) 777-1989 Not really cozy and the service is not very good, but it offers great bang for the buck! Some favorites: Spider roll, Rainbow roll, Una Don ( Eel over rice). Food has been fresh on all our visits. reviews	SMÖRGÅS CHEF (four locations) Wall Street area: 53 Stone Street, (btwn Hanover Sq & Broad St) New York, NY 10004 Phone: (212) 422-3500 Delicious Scandinavian: Good food for good prices. Very fresh. We love the fish dishes, but also like their other dishes. Go for lunch or any time of the day. Friendly service. We enjoy the Stone Street location, especially during the warm seasons, when the a whole block of Stone Street is one big cozy patio. All locations: Wall Street Area, West Village, Midtown & Scandinavia House	DANKU 47 West 57th Street close to 6th Ave New York, NY 10019 Phone: (212) 888-3777 "Delicious fast food made with wholesome, natural ingredients." While running some errands on 57th Street, I needed a quick bite. Danku was right there, and looked excactly like what I needed at that moment: a fast but realitively light bite, including a salad. It turned out to be the right choice: The salad was fresh (except for a few wilted lettuce leaves) and the chicken satay was actually quite good. Fast, friendly, no hassle. Pleasant enough.

MEXICAN & SOUTHWESTERN:

EL PARADOR CAFÉ 325 East 34th Street, btwn 1st/2nd Aves Murray Hill, New York, NY 10016 Phone: (212) 679-6812 alex@elparadorcafe.com A landmark of Murray Hill for 40+ years, El Parador Café has also recieved a Bib Gourmand mention in the Michelin Guide. ZARELA 953 Second Avenue, btwn 50th/51st St Midtown East, New York, NY 10022 Phone: (212) 644-6740 Multifaceted Mexican cuisine: "Proof that Mexican food at its best can be judged by the same exacting standards as any other great cuisine".	MAYA 1191 First Ave, btwn 64th/65th St New York, NY 10021 Phone: (212) 585-1818 Gourmet Mexican; delicious Margaritas. "Contemporary, earthy & authentic cuisine and atmosphere, rooted in the land and ancient culture of Mexico". CREMA 111 West 17th Street, btwn 6th/7th Aves Chelsea, New York, NY 10011 Phone: (212) 691-4477 info@cremarestaurante.com Traditional Mexican cuisine fused with a formal French Presentation.	PAMPANO 209 East 49th Street, btwn 2nd/3rd Aves New York, NY 10017 Phone: (212) 751-4545 "Tropical, sophisticated restaurant, offering modern, dynamic seafood from Mexico's coasts." MEXICANA MAMA 525 Hudson Steet, btwn Charles/10th Str New York, NY 10014 Phone: (212) 924-4119 NY Magazine review	ROSA MEXICANO Original location: Rosa Mexicano First Avenue 1063 First Avenue (at 58th St.) New York, NY 10022 Phone: (212) 753-740 One of our old time favorites. Good food, great table side Guacamole and some of the best Margaritas in NYC. Other locations: Rosa Mexicano at Union Square 9 East 18th St, at 5th Avenue New York, NY 10003 Phone: (212) 533-3350 Rosa Mexicano at Lincoln Center 61 Columbus Avenue (62/Columbus) New York, NY 10023 Phone: (212) 977-7700

SUEÑOS 311 West 17th Street (btwn 8th/ 9th Avenues) New York, NY 10011 Phone: (212) 243-1333 info@suenosnyc.com NY Magazine review	HELL'S KITCHEN "Progressive Mexican Cuisine" 679 Ninth Avenue, btwn 46th/47th St New York, NY 10036 Phone: (212) 977-1588		AGAVE 7th Avenue South, btwn Charles/West 10th Street

Trying to find a great Mexican restaurant - in Brooklyn? Check out Mexican Restaurant FONDA in Park Slope.

OTHER FLAVORS:

SPICE MARKET
403 W. 13th Street at 9th Ave
Phone: (212) 675-2322

"Inspired by street food in
Vietnam, Thailand and China.
Regional fish, sauces, curries
and spices...
Beautiful, large space, friendly
service & good food. You can
compile a meal out of many small
dishes, which is especially great if
you are in a group and want to
share and taste many dishes.
So far, we have liked Spice Market.

SOCARRAT Paella Bar
259 W. 19th Street
nr. Seventh Avenue
Phone: (212)-462-1000

"Authentic dishes from different
regions of Spain. Specialty:
traditional tapas, paella and
fideua"

YERBA BUENA
23 Avenue A, near 2nd Street
Lower East Side, New York, NY 10009
Phone: (212) 529-2919

"Innovative take on Latin cuisine".
Flavors from Argentina, Chile, Cuba, Mexico and Peru.

ITALIAN:

SALUMERIA ROSI
283 Amsterdam Avenue
(btwn 73rd/74th Streets)
Upper West Side, New York NY 10023
Phone: (212) 877-4800

Small neighborhood salumi shop and
restaurant

COOL & GOOD:
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EMPLOYEES ONLY 510 Hudson Street btwn Christopher & West 10th St. New York NY 10014 Phone: 212.242.3021 A super happening bar/restaurant in a speakeasy setting, where lots of people come for drinks and are totally surprised over how delicious the food is. We go here for the food, too, not just the great drinks.	MACAO TRADING Co. 311 Church St btwn Walker & Lispenard Streets New York, NY 10013 Phone: (212) 431-8750 Hot. Happening, Different. Fabulous, creative design, great food & attentive staff. Executive Chef:David Waltuck. Daily 5pm-4am. Brunch 11:30am-3pm Macao's Menu We had a fun and delicious dinner (and super good drnks after) here in the end of May. (more to come...) NY Magazine review of Macao. UrbanDaddy review

EAST SIDE SOCIAL CLUB 230 East 51st Street btwn 2nd & 3rd Avenues Midtown East New York, NY 10022 Phone: (212) 355-9442 Open daily from 6:45am to 4am, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, a late-night menu, and cocktails. UrbanDaddy review Zagat Buzz



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EXPENSIVE:			URBAN WINERIES:

GRAMERCY TAVERN 42 East 20th St btwn Park Avenue South & Broadway Very Good. Gramercy Tavern has a more reasonably priced Tavern Room & Bar, which serve very good food. Very popular. We like it. We enjoy the "new chef" very much.	BRAEBURN 117 Perry St New York, NY 10014 Phone: (212) 255-0696	BEACON Restaurant & Bar 25 West 56th Street, btwn 5th & 6th Ave Midtown, New York, NY 10019 Phone: (212) 332-0500	CITY WINERY 143 Varick St New York, NY 10013 Phone: 212-608-0555

MORE EXPENSIVE:

BOULEY 163 Duane Street (corner of Hudson, by Duane Park). New York, NY 10013 Phone: (212) 964-2525 The "old" Bouley is back, and seems stronger than ever. We had one of the best meals of our lives at the original restaurant and feel that the "new" Bouley could very well top that experience. The food is delicious & flavorful without being too heavy. Bouley has moved, to a beautiful new space, closer to the original location of the restaurant. The service is truly professional without taking itself too seariously. (more to come...)	ELEVEN MADISON PARK 11 Madison Avenue at 24th Street New York, NY 10010 Phone: (212) 889-0918 True joy. Excellent food, excellent, friendly service, great wine list & a magnificent room. We cannot get enough of this restaurant. Lunch is just as delightful.	CORTON 239 West Broadway btwn Walker & White Streets New York, NY 10013 Phone: (212) 219-2777 Email: info@cortonnyc.com CRU 24 5th Avenue, corner of 9th St. Greenwich Village, New York, NY 10011 Phone: (212) 529 1700 Insanely good wine list. Chef Todd Macdonald	VERITAS 43 East 20th Street btwn Park Ave South & Broadway New York, NY 10003 Phone: (212) 353-3700 Truly impressive wine list. "Delicious food, elegant but understated ambience, top notch but unpretentious service..."

BLUE HILL in New York City 75 Washington Place, nr 6th Avenue New York, NY 10011 Phone: (212) 539-1776 "Seasonal American celebrating the bounty of the Hudson Valley"	JEAN GEORGES 1 Central Park West btwn 60th / 61st St New York, NY 10023 Phone: (212) 299-3900	DANIEL 60 East 65th St. New York, NY 10065 Phone: (212) 288-0033	LE BERNARDIN 155 West 51st Street, btwn 6th & 7th Avenues New York, NY 10019 Phone: (212) 554-1515 Perennial top rated seafood restaurant.

CHANTERELLE 2 Harrison Street, corner of Hudson Street Tribeca, New York, NY 10013 Phone: (212) 966-6960	THE MODERN (The Museum of Modern Art) 9 West 53rd Street, btwn 5th & 6th Avenues Midtown West , New York, NY 10019	MOMOFUKU KO 163 First Avenue btwn 10th & 11th Street, New York, NY 10003 Phone: no phone.	JOHN DORY 85 10th Avenue, btwn 15th and 16th Streets, New York, NY 10011 Phone: (212) 929-4948

DEL POSTO 85 10th Avenue at 16th Street, Meatpacking District , New York, NY 10011 Phone: (212) 497-8090	TOCQUEVILLE 1 Eest 15th Street New York, NY 10003 Phone: (212) 647-1515 tocqueville15@aol.com NY Times review	SHO SHAUN HERGATT The Setai, New York 40 Broad Street, Second Level New York, NY 10004 Phone: (212) 809-3993 Asian-accented French cuisine. 2010 Guide Michelin: 1 star.	PICHOLINE 35 West 64th Street, New York, NY 10023 PhONE:(212) 724-8585 Email: info@picholinenyc.com Modern Medietrranean. A popular restaurant. There is also a no reservation wine & cheese bar. Very close to the Lincoln center.

	VERY EXPENSIVE:
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	PER SE 10 Columbus Circle at 60th St In the Time Warner Center, 4th Floor New York NY‎ Phone: (212) 823-9335‎ Trancendent. Impeccable. We have never experienced service this good, consistently. But after paying the bill, we had to walk home.				Odd sight in the rear view mirror. Brooklyn Bridge reflection, New York, NY.

SUSHI:

SUSHI YASUDA 204 East 43rd St at Third Ave New York NY 10017 Phone: (212) 972-1001 Blissful. You never want your dinner or lunch to end! Sit by the sushi bar counter if you can.	HATSUHANA 17 East 48th St btwn 5th & Madison‎ 237 Park Ave at 46th Street New York NY Phone: (212) 661-3400 We have loved Hatsuhana for a loong time. We prefer to sit by the bar counter.	MASA 10 Columbus Circle, 4th Floor New York, NY 10019 Phone: (212) 823-9800 The fixed pirce omakase menu; $400 to $600 per person. No a la carte menu.	KANOYAMA 175 2nd Avenue, btwn 11th/12th Sts New York, NY 10003 Phone: (212) 777-5266

SUSHI of GARI 402 East 78th Street, by First Avenue New York, NY 10021 Phone: (212) 517-5340	SUSHI SEKI 1143 First Avenue, btwn 62nd/63rd Sts New York, NY 10021 Phone: (212) 371-0238 Savory Cities NY link	KURUMA ZUSHI 7 East 47th Street, 2nd floor, (near Fifth Avenue) New York, NY 10017 Phone: (212) 317-2802 NY Magazine review	15 EAST 15 East 15th Street, (btwn Union Sq. West/5th Avenue) New York, NY 10003 Phone: (212) 647-0015

STEAK HOUSE:

DELMONICO'S
56 Beaver St at William Street
New York, NY 10004
Phone: (212) 509-1144


We are not really that into steak houses, but when one of our all time favorite chefs, the super talented Chef Rick Laakkonen (River Cafe, ILO, etc.) was cooking at this historic establishment, we paid a visit. Rick Laakkonen is one of the few chefs that has, throughout the years, made us giddy with joy (or has brought tears of joy into our eyes) while eating his food. The menu consists of mostly traditional Delmonico's steak house cuisine, but with Rick Laakkonen at the helm, even the traditional dishes were excellent. We had a fantastic dinner here in early May 2009. The food was delicious. Rick Laakkonen has (always had) a gift for bringing out / balancing the flavors; exact, full, crisp. Among others, we had the best Lobster Bisque we have ever tasted, and the dreamily tender, beautiful beef tenderloin carpaccio (a "Laakkonen creation") with its perfect "garnishes" (or should I say: delightful, perfecly placed little bites of ...) See full description of the dishes on the My Best New York NY Delmonico's / Chef Rick Laakkonen review.		Click images to enlarge: Corner of Beaver & William Streets; Delmonico's Restaurant.		The Delmonico building in moonlight,