With Jay-Z as one of the owners, it's not a long shot that some celeb might show up. But even if the stars aren't aligned, there's plenty on this Michelin-starred menu to sink your teeth into.
Desserts are a tour de force here, and influenced by the sensibilities of an Alsatian chef. The wine list includes off-the-beaten-path selections.
This classy 1854 carriage house near Gramercy Park oozes with cozy charm, whether you're by the fireplace, the open kitchen or tucked in the upstairs loft.
Pipa, the Spanish-Latin fusion tapas place that's popular with the design set, is fortuitously located near movie theaters on Broadway and Union Square.
Here the pizza dough is first fried, then topped, and finally cooled off in the oven. Choose from 50 kinds, including gluten-free and vegan.
Top chef Floyd Cardoz (formerly of Tabla) heads the kitchen with a focus on seafood and fresh farm meats.
The menu has a focus on "know thy farmer," with select heritage meats and poultry, and produce from the restaurant's own farms.
Continually operated by the same family (its last renovation was in 1948), it's a place to enjoy no-nonsense classics such as chopped egg or liverwurst sandwiches and the stellar ice cream fountain.
Fat Cat boasts the best basement playground in the city. When you're done with pool, you can belly up to the bar, or dominate a Ping-Pong table, or crash on the many thrift-store couches.
The menu here is nearly as exotic as the surroundings. Décor from flea markets around the world, a sexy opium cabinet and a sultry downstairs Oriental lounge set the bar high.
Two things make this a great break-up joint: it's so dark no one will see you cry or throw your drink, and you can take comfort eating gourmet hot dogs at the adjacent Crif Dogs thereafter.
This three-year-old TriBeCa bar provides a low-key refuge for people who want a cool hangout without the pretension of the red velvet rope.
Don't expect Yellowtail or any other lollipops on the wine lists. Instead, you'll find a curated book of often overlooked grapes and regions.
Cheap drinks, a heavy pour and a classic jukebox make this the undisputed best dive in the city. The duct-taped red booths are as well-loved as the $7-pitchers and unlimited free hot dogs.
Uptown Ivies and Fordham students gather in this casual tavern for Jell-O shots, beer pong, drafts of Stella and Sams and big-screen sports.
Elevated bar food such a lobster or crab cake sliders, lamb burgers, and mahi-mahi wraps make it a gal-friendly place for watching sports on the 40-plus flat screens.
A classy stomping ground for the well-heeled professionals who can afford the pricey drinks. Your best tactic: dress up and carry a $20.just enough for one drink. If you don't score after that, leave.
The usual plates of sauerkraut, wursts and spaetzle are washed down with a good selection of unusual German brews. Best experienced with a happy hour crowd over a keg of Oktoberfest bier.
