Travel and Dining

Restaurant Guide

Best Restaurants in New York City

Worldpress.org
November 2, 2009

Times Square, New York City

Tao
42 E. 58th Street
Telephone: (212) 888-2288

Tao’s is hot. The 12,000 square feet of dining levels come complete with reflecting pool, Zen garden, and a sky high Buddha. This is where the beautiful young people come to drink Sake and mingle with the rich and famous.Use your time at the bar efficiently - the social scene is as impressive as the food. The Mongolian spicy beef is fabulous, and you can’t go wrong with any of the sushi offerings. Try the Squab lettuce wraps or the fabulous Peking duck. For dessert splurge and order the giant chocolate-filled fortune cookies. If you're from out of town Tao is worth a visit - just make sure to dress chic, talk loud and bring your wallet.

Gascogne
158 Eighth Avenue
(Between 17th and 18th Streets)
Telephone: (212) 675-6564

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This charming bistro is a taste of France in New York City’s Chelsea district. The cozy dining room is lit with tapered candles and its intimacy helps to set a romantic European mood. On a beautiful warm evening enjoy the outdoor garden, which makes you forget you are even in New York. On a cold night, a sip of their fabulous Armagnac accompanied by their full body cheese platter will surely take the edge off winter’s chill. Their escargots, presented in crispy phyllo pastry are incredible. And if you like pate or confit, you have come to the right place. Their salmon is fantastic, the Petatou Des Pyrenees (warm goat cheese, potatoes and roasted walnuts) a must. The waiters will all speak French to you - not to worry, they are charming and cut quite a dash – and it won’t matter a bit if you can’t speak French. Their wines by the bottle or the glass are delicious and quite reasonable. Gascogne is sure to impress.

Olives
201 Park Avenue South
(In the W Hotel on Union Square)
Telephone: (212) 353-8345

As you enter the restaurant through the trendy W Hotel, and are greeted by Olives' charming front desk hostess, you will feel as if you have arrived. When making reservations, if you are a party of four or more, ask for a curtained table in the back. Go for lunch and enjoy the sun pouring in from the open sky over Union Square. Chef Todd English’s menu is wonderful. Try the lamb spare ribs and you will undoubtedly agree. The tuna tartare and their flat bread pizzas are a culinary pleasure. If you are a traditionalist, you can’t go wrong with the simple but sumptuous herb-and-garlic-roasted chicken. And there's a copious, first-class wine list to compliment all the terrific food. And don’t forget to save room for dessert or cheese.

Nobu
105 Hudson Street (At Franklin Street)
(212) 219-0500

There is no other experience like this wondrous and original epicurean delight. The densely flavored sweet black cod marinated in miso is Nobu’s signature item and as one would expect, the sushi and sashimi are decadent. The food and presentation are so delightfully unique that you will hardly feel the sting of the hefty bill at the end of your meal.

Spice Market
403 W. 13th Street (At 9th Avenue)
(212) 675-2322

This sexy, spicy scene in the middle of the meatpacking district is worth the long lines. Enjoy the Southeast Asian street food in this huge but beautiful locale.

Megu
62 Thomas St. (Tribeca — between Church and W. Broadway)
212-964-7777

An architectural wonder on two soaring levels, Megu is created around a 600-pound Bonsho, or Temple Bell, which is suspended over a stunning ice-carved Buddha. The 14-page menu offers distinct selections beyond your wildest culinary imagination. Megu specializes in meat, fish, and vegetables grilled over charcoal imported from Japan. Try their cold edamame soup, sake-steamed slices of grilled abalone or Panko-crusted pork tonkatsu. Or go all the way with one of their tasting menus or the Kobe beef. And if you have room for desert (and money left in your pocket) try Yuzu’s unforgettable dark chocolate soufflé.

Sea Grill
Rockefeller Center
19 W. 49th St. (5th & 6th Aves.)
New York, NY 10020
212-332-7610

The Sea Grill is one of New York City’s best seafood restaurants. While not on grand display, the restaurant boasts an impressive raw bar, usually featuring a half-dozen choices of clams and oysters, plus perfect jumbo shrimp for a divine shrimp cocktail. Winning appetizers include Sea Grill chowder with lobster, shrimp, and clams; and a wonderful cured salmon belly tartare with fresh dill and black salt. As good as the seafood can be, and as clever as many of the colorful presentations are, none of that really matters in winter, when the dining room overlooks New York’s most romantic and nostalgic scene — the skaters twirling about under the twinkling lights of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. For a major tourist destination, the dining room does not feel all that touristy, especially in the evening when the lights soften and the pace eases.

Casa La Femme North
140 Charles Street between Greenwich and Washington
Telephone: (212)505-0005

Gauzy white tents, belly dancers, exotic plants, leather ceiling lamps. Egypt? No, it’s Casa La Femme North, one of New York City’s few Egyptian restaurants. Dine in a romantic tent - where only a $55 tasting dinner is served – and you won’t be sorry. Everything is made fresh and from scratch so it may take 40 minutes or so for your main course to come, but what’s the rush? The belly dancer and exotic music will help pass the time while you sample delicious appetizers from Arab wheat bread to Crab Kofta. The entrees are indeed fresh and the menu completely authentic. For fish lovers try the whole fish or the wood-grilled red snapper for two. And don’t forget to top it off with Turkish coffee (the only coffee served) and their amazing Baklava.

Dos Caminos
373 Park Avenue South
(Between 26th and 27th Streets)
Telephone: 212 294 1000

Walk into Stephen Hanson’s Dos Caminos and you feel like you’ve entered party central. Weave your way through the packed bar to your table, and be prepared to have fun. With 100 types of Tequila to choose from, as well as an impressive array of exotic drinks, Dos Caminos has "party time" written all over it. The restaurant is Hanson-fusion so don’t think Mexican food when you come here. Start with the delicious guacamole, made tableside with the freshest of ingredients. Try the baby back ribs, roast chicken or the sirloin steak – all are impressive. If you’re a fish eater try the big eye tuna ceviche with chile salsa. Too full for dessert? Indulge in a coffee with Kahlua and whipped cream. In a city with only average Mexican restaurants, Dos Caminos is a gem.

Blue Water Grill
31 Union Square West
(Flatiron/Gramercy/Union Square at 16th St.)
Telephone: 212 675 9500

If ever a restaurant was a New York City “scene” – this is it. The converted bank on Union Square, seats 500 on three levels, and includes outdoor seating. Dine in the lower level and enjoy the dimly lit romantic ambiance and fantastic jazz band. The fish - always fresh - is incredible, the sushi – divine. The Chilean sea bass is wonderful and if you like shellfish go all the way with the impressive seafood castle. Chocolate fondue is a must dessert, and the wine list is varied and reasonably priced. At the bar, it's cruising and hooking-up galore.

Khyber Pass
34 Saint Mark’s Place
(8th Street between Second and Third avenues)
Telephone: 001 212 473 0989

Antique musical instruments, throw pillows and oriental rugs fill this small, cozy and inexpensive East Village Afghan restaurant. The air is filled with spices, and the exotic destination and dining experience is memorable. Try their Pamir Sabzu - a delicious salad of mint, watercress and feta cheese. Try entrees like Quorma Sabz (lamb and scallions sautéed with spinach and coriander), or chopped beef patties with basmati rice and lots of hot spices. Or sample the spicy sauté of spinach and lamb, homemade noodles topped with mildly spiced meat and lentils, or eggplant slices served over a layer of mint yogurt. Top your meal off with Turkish coffee and their outstanding Baklava. Very authentic, very novel, very tasty.




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