restaurantgirl

Favorite Restaurants

Best Overall Dining Experience:
Gramercy Tavern - 42 E. 20th St., btwn. Broadwasy & Park Aves, (212)477-0777.

Danny Meyer has mastered the art of hospitality, his tour de force being this warm, yet elegant New American. With one of the most user-friendly tasting menus in the city, not to mention vegetarian offerings that manage to pique even a carnivore's curiosity, Gramercy Tavern remains one of my favorite "special occassion" spot in NYC.

Best French:
Daniel - 60 East 65th Street, btwn. Madison & Park Aves., (212)350-6658.

A culinary pioneer, Daniel Boulud continues to dazzle in this "break the bank" New French with a phenomeonal tasting menu and the best chocolate souffle in existence. Daniel is an obligatory rite of passage for global gastronomes.

Best New French:
L'Atelier de Robuchon - 57 East 57th Street, nr. Park Ave., (212)350-6658.

My favorite newcomer of 2006, grab a seat at the generous eating counter for a theatrical fine dining experience. From fantastical foie gras raviolis to the best poached raviolis, there are many gems to be devoured at this uniquely unfussy haute spot.

Best Quaint Eatery:
The Little Owl - 90 Bedford St., corner of Grove St., (212)741-4695.

This cozy, 28-seat eatery took NYC by storm in 2006, making it uber-impossible to score a reservation. But host Gabriel Stulman & chef Joey Campanaro make you feel right at home with addictive sliders & truly delectable seasonally-inspired dishes.

Best Culinary Playground:
Upstairs at Bouley - 130 W. Broadway, btwn. Duane & Church Sts., (212)608-5829.

Tucked above his two-level market, this gem is Daniel Bouley's culinary playground. In an atypically casual space, the open kitchen simultaneously churns out juicy burgers, superior sushi and some of Bouley's masterful signature dishes.

Best Global Tapas Dive:
Kuma Inn - 113 Ludlow St., (212)353-8866.

Not much to look at, this second-floor tapas joint is about the food, which gleefully wreaks of bold flavors and innovative combinations. With a definitely Thai-Phillipine spin, sit back and feast on dishes like garlicky Chinese sausage & sticky rice or savory pork chops that will undoubtedly make you take pause.

Best Outdoor Casual Italian:
Bar Pitti – 268 6th Avenue, (212)982-3300.

There's a summer civil war on Sixth Avenue just north of Houston and I dare to take sides (but I will). Forget the menu, order the daily specials – the ever-present eggplant parmesan, veal meatballs & pesto pasta (only available in the summer).

Best Indoor Casual Italian:
Frank – 88 2nd Avenue, (212)420-0202.

Cozy and warm, this budget-friendly Italian boast one of the best beet & goat cheese salad around, not to mention the gnocchi.

Best Italian:
Lupa – 170 Thompson, (212)982-5089.

Babbo who? This poor man's Babbo might just outdo its pricey predecessor. The roasted duck is peerless.

Best Spanish:
Sevilla – 62 Charles Street, (212)929-3189.

Great old school Spanish restaurant's are diamonds in the rough in NYC. This one's a gem, especially the crabmeat-stuffed mushrooms and paella.

Best Sushi:
Sushi Yasuda – 203 E. 43rd Street, (212)972-1001.

It's the closest you'll get to Tokyo in NYC. Sit in front of Yasuda Son and let him do the ordering for you. But whatever you do, get the scallop and the toro. Bring your credit card – fresh sushi doesn't come cheap.

Best Burger:
Burger Joint –118 West 57th Street, (212)245-5000.

Oddly tucked away in the Parker Meridien, the Burger Joint seems an oddly out of place, no-frills, no nonsense burger joint, where you shut up and order, then wait your turn for a crispy outside, juicy inside, paper-wrapped burger and exceptionally crunchy french fries.

Scenester Sushi:
Bond Street – 6 Bond Street, (212)777-2500.

In a city littered with sushi joints, few (with the exception of Nobu) can be considered scenes worthy of people-watching, not to mention culinary accomplishments. The swanky East Village haunt manages to be both to dish out defiantly greaseless lobster tempura, zesty shrimp tempura rolls, luscious fresh-off-the-boat hamachi appetizer. And lest we forget, the icing on the cake: a chocolate fondue that puts all others to shame.

Best Dim Sum:
Chinatown Brasserie- 380 Lafayette, (212)533-7000.

Forget eggs benedict, dim sum's the new brunch. With Chef Ng heading up the impressive 40 item dim sum menu, head straight for the steamed mushroom dumplings with sweet corn (sauce mysteriously inside). Ditto on the shrimp dumplings and pork & peanuts.

Best Bakery:
City Bakery – 3 West 18th Street, (212)366-1414.

Their hot chocolate's so insanely rich, they've decided to devote the entire month of February to it. And lest we forget the chocolate chip cookies, half-baked dough ridden with dark chocolate chunks.