Top 10 New York City Restaurants

Description:

When it opened in 2004 in the Time Warner Center complex at Columbus Circle, Per Se was one of the most hotly anticipated restaurants in the world. The restaurant's chef/owner is Thomas Keller of the famed French Laundry (recipient of three Michelin stars), Bouchon and Bouchon Bakery (located in Yountville, California). Per Se, the "urban interpretation of French Laundry" (according to the restaurant's website), channels the earthy yet elegant qualities of that famed restaurant in a big-city setting. The dining room offers dramatic views of nearby Central Park and Columbus Circle, and the enormous, well-informed waitstaff is ready to cater to the visitor's every need.

At the center of this unique, spare-no-expense dining experience is--of course--the food. The menu of small, inventive tasting dishes centered around superior individual ingredients changes daily, according to the season. Two recent options included "Oysters and Pearls" (pearl tapioca with Island Creek oysters and Sterling White Sturgeon caviar), Sacramento Delta Green Asparagus finished with black truffle puree, and a bacon-wrapped rib-eye of veal with mustard seed marmalade, cippolini onions and new crop potatoes. read more

Description:

Owners Maguy and Gilbert LeCoze came to New York from Paris in 1986 to establish this elegant restaurant for the sole purpose of cooking and preparing fish dishes. At the time, few could have predicted their incredible success; but every year since, the restaurant has received the highest ratings by food critics. Even when Gilbert died and was succeeded by Chef Eric Ripert, the love and dedication with which each dish was prepared continued unabated. Although exceedingly expensive, there is nothing else quite like this modern French restaurant.

Description:

Jean-Georges Vongerichten's impeccable French Contemporary restaurant, located on the Southwest corner of Central Park in the Trump International Hotel, offers modern French food with Pan-Asian and other modern influences. The gleaming, modern space complements phenomenal dishes like herb-crusted rack of lamb, and crispy sautéed frog legs. Black-clad waiters provide unsurpassed service. Another option is Nougatine, the slightly less formal and less expensive front room.

Description:

Masa is a dining experience truly (truly, truly) like none other. There are no windows. There is no menu. You sit down at one of 10 seats at the sushi bar (if you're lucky), or at one of only 16 other seats in the whole rest of the restaurant. You order a specialty cocktail made with top-shelf ingredients (including house-infused vodkas). Then Chef Masa Takayama, just inches away, goes to work on a three-hour multicourse meal of the most mouthwateringly, heart-meltingly amazing sushi most human beings will ever consume. Meals are fixed-price in nature, and the price is generally staggering, so each and every diner is very much at the mercy of Chef Masa. But the fact that Masa is one of a microscopic few non-French establishments to be awarded The New York Times' coveted 4-star honors is evidence that being at the chef's mercy might not be so bad. A step into Bar Masa next door is also worthwhile.

Description:

This French restaurant owned by Chef Daniel Boulud is considered by some to offer the best dining experience in the city. Both the preparation and presentation of the food is outstanding, and the Italian Renaissance decor, wine list and experienced staff are all noteworthy. The fixed menu, which includes am appetizer, entrée and dessert may be too costly for many, but lunch is more reasonable and a fairly informal atmosphere is maintained.

Description:

An ingenious mix of American Nouveau, Japanese, and Korean cuisine is what you'll find at Momofuku Ko, the newest East Village offering from David Chang (of Momofuku and Momofuku Ssam Bar). The 10-course tasting menu is $85, while the ever-changing fixed price menu contains specialties such as kimchee purée, deep-fried short ribs, and cereal-milk panna cotta.

Description:

This chic and popular dining spot is well known among the Manhattan elite for excellent service, superb food, plush surroundings and an extensive wine list. Gramercy Tavern has two rooms: The elegant main dining room is for those with more polished palates, serving such specials as venison and rabbit; reservations are a must. The dressed-down Tavern Room is perfect for the casual diner, and you are likely to get a table without a reservation, albeit with a wait!

Our Local Expert Says:

The flagship of Mario Batali's collection of Italian restaurants, Babbo turns out generous portions of delicious, inventive food. Some of the more daring choices include beef-cheek ravioli, pig-foot "Milanese" and a salad of warm lamb's tongue.

Description:

Celebrity chef Mario Batali and restaurateur Joe Bastianich have come together to create the ultimate Italian dining experience in New York City. A giant stairway dominates the main dining room, set off by pale wood paneling and an abundance of fresh flowers. The Italian fare is often reinvented classics; for example, before Babbo opened you would not normally find beef cheek raviolis on a menu. Bastianich and Batali are also co-owners in the highly successful Italian restaurants Esca and Lupa.

Our Local Expert Says:

Give your name to the hostess and take a seat at the restaurant's wine bar around the corner to wait…or just eat there, as they serve the full menu.

Description:

A vibrant ambience, colorful interior, and spacious feel are what this trattoria is all about. Al di Là serves up authentic North Italian cooking in an atmosphere that molds itself to your needs-if you're with a date, it can pass off as very romantic, and if you're with the family, as cheery and warm. The menu boasts of such dishes as creamy salt cod, braised rabbit, and tagliatelli with meat sauce, and the Italian wine list provides select accompaniments. Prices are reasonable, but no reservations are accepted, so make sure you come early-it can take up to two hours to get a table on weekends!

Description:

A tin and gold painted ceiling and a full view of the open kitchen is what greets you at The Little Owl. The cuisine is a mix of classical American and Mediterranean. The contemporary menu comprises of dishes made by seasonal ingredients of the freshest quality, which is always a good sign. Saying that The Little Owl pays attention to detail is an understatement. First timers and regulars will agree, the restaurant goes to lengths to accommodate its patrons, whether it means customizing a dish which is not on the menu, remembering someone's favorite dish or even getting a particular bottle of wine from elsewhere. The Pork Chop is a special favorite at The Little Owl, so maybe the crispy soft-shell crab and the duck confit will have to await future visits.