Fine 1.1: One of the best fish/seafood fine dining restaurants in the world. The sommelier there is also really top notch as well. The chef, Eric Ripert, is French trained. Read more.
Fine 1.2: This restaurant adopts the farm to table approach to food. It's in the West Village has an associated restaurant in Stone Barns in upstate NY which is on a farm. Modern American/French. Read more.
Fine 1.3: This is an Italian restaurant on Central Park South. Their crudo is excellent and when I was there I had their amazing sea urchin pasta dish as well. Read more.
Fine 1.4: High end sushi. Make sure you sit at the sushi counter & order omakase style. For a slightly cheaper option, I always liked Ushiwakamaru (on Houston/6th) - sit in front of Chef Hideo. Read more.
Fine 1.5: Danny Meyer's restaurant got 4 stars from NYT. Modern French. High vaulted roof dining room is also pretty special. They recently did a radical change of their concept and menu. Read more.
Fine 1.6: This is another one of Danny Meyer's restaurants which is also very good. The food is modern American. Read more.
Fine 1.7: Thomas Keller (a la French Laundry fame). It is supposed to be quite old school - pretty sure guys have to wear jackets! Keller is considered the US's most well regarded French trained chef. Read more.
Mid 2.1: Modern American with French/Asian influences. Small plates to shares. Momofuku Milk Bar - Try the compost cookie, amazing banana layer cake with a crunchy hazelnutty praline in the middle. Read more.
Mid 2.2: My favourite neighbourhood restaurant in the West Village. There are only 10 tables in the restaurant. It's on a beautiful tree lined street and the food, which is Mediterranean influenced. Read more.
Mid 2.3: Slightly run down spot, but inside they have a pretty cool bar and the meat they source is very local from the associated butcher called Marlow and Sons. Read more.
Mid 2.4: If you want an old style NY steak meal then there is the famous Peter Luger's which is also in Williamsburg. If in Manhattan, try Sparks, Wolfgangs or Gallaghers for steak. Read more.
Mid 2.5: This is Daniel Boulud's French bistro restaurant focusing on sausages and bistro fare. The food is very solid and very French. Read more.
Mid 2.6: This is a pretty good Italian place in SOHO. Each night, there is a 5 course prix fixe menu for $50 which is very good value and the quality is solid as well. Read more.
Mid 2.7: If you like Izakaya style Sake bars, then this is probably the best place in NY. It's a bit hard to find though as you have to walk through an office building to get there, but it's worth it! Read more.
Cheap 3.1: For a solid Italian meal, then I have always had decent meals here. It's in the West Village. Read more.
Cheap 3.2: Jewish style massive melt in the mouth pastrami sandwiches on rye with sauerkraut. This place became famous globally as it was where When Harry Met Sally was filmed. Read more.
Cheap 3.3: Another Danny Meyer venture. Original venue is in Gramercy Park and only has outdoor seating. I hear they also have a new venue in Hell's Kitchen where you can probably sit down inside. Read more.
Cheap 3.4: A West Village institution. It's a grungy bar which serves simple burgers and good fries. Great place to waste an afternoon over a couple of beers and a solid burger and fries. Read more.
Cheap 3.5: This is a cool little place in SOHO serving Cuban food. Great place for brunch and a few margaritas. Read more.
Cheap 3.6: If you want a cheap Japanese Izakaya bar, then this place near Times Square is pretty good. Read more.
Cheap 3.7: For a grungy sake bar in the East Village, this place is pretty cool! Read more.
Brunch 4.1: It is famous for its eggs. It can be a pretty long wait on the weekend to get a table, but if you can go mid-week you shouldn't have to wait as long. Read more.
Brunch 4.2: If you like your pancakes then this place is famous for it's blueberry pancake stacks. There are queues for a table for brunch even mid-week. Read more.
Asian 5.1: If you are in the need for some good Chinese food, then probably the best place is Congee Village. But go to the one on Bowery (not Allen).
Asian 5.3a: For a good hole in the wall ramen noodle place, then this place in the East Village called Rai Rai Ken is pretty good.
Asian 5.3b: New York has some really good Japanese ramen places. The most famous one is probably Ippudo. And I also like Kambi on 14th as well.
Asian 5.4: This Shabu Shabu place in the East Village is pretty good and great if you like a warm soupy broth on a cold day.
Coffee 6.1: This place serves very good espresso coffee and the big plus is that you can take it into the lobby of the Ace Hotel to enjoy where there are lounges to sit on. Read more.
Coffee 6.2: This small no table hole in the wall espresso bar in the East Village serves the best coffee in Manhattan. Their olive oil cake is pretty good too.
Bake 7.1: French bistro style restaurant in SOHO which has a very good bakery/patisserie attached. Even if you don't eat at Balthazars, go inside and check out the dining room which is pretty sweet. Read more.
Bake 7.2: This is another good bakery in the West Village. Blue Ribbon also has a couple of restaurants of the same name serving French bistro food. Read more.
Bake 7.3: Famous cupcake place in NY. Only downside is that they often run out very quickly so the selection can be restricted because as soon as they come out of the oven they are pretty much sold. Read more.
Wine 8.1: This is a cool place in the Lower East Side which has an Italian focused wine menu and also serves simple Italian fare. Read more.
Wine 8.2: This is probably my favourite wine bar in NY. It's small and quaint and the sommelier is very knowledgeable. They do some food which is decent as well, in particular, the pork chop. Read more.
