Now that 2011 is in full snowy swing, the time for lists and resolutions are most likely unfulfilled memories, and I am certain you may be sick of both already. But reading about so many top restaurant lists on Grubstreet, Eater, Serious Eats, and the NY Times, gave me food for thought and prompted me to compile a list of my own.
It’s based on my favorites rather than what’s popular. The list is compiled as recommendations/suggestions, not as absolutely the best etc...After all I am only one eater/drinker, although I I do feel that in this up to the second information age many diners have become prisoners of the moment and go to places because they read about it as hot or trendy, not necessarily due to the merits of the establishment. But like following any critic, we all align ourselves to someone who generally shares our taste and sensibility, using the critic as a guide to choose among the dizzying array of choices. My only pet peeve is that as a whole, New Yorkers, and especially those from elsewhere who call themselves New Yorkers (having lived here for only a short time) seem very preoccupied over the scene, i.e. the ambiance of a place and who else might be spotted there. This is a criterion I utilize so I know where not to go, just as a bottle of wine that lists at 14.5% alcohol on the label is a wine I choose not to buy, in general, of course, as there are always exceptions. If we took time to simply analyze and focus on the food and wine objectively, there may be several surprises.
The following is a list with notes, in no particular order.
ITALIAN
Maialino – all the marks hit at Danny Meyer’s Italian casual
La Pizza Fresca – good pastas, the best Neopolian pizza, and expensive wine list
Perbacco – eclectic and EV quirky, usually interesting combos
Marea – Chef White on display here, lovely crudo, formal setting
Sfoglia – rustic fare serving as an oasis in that dead sea known as the UES
Babbo – a classic with good service, wine list and use of offal
Lupa – simple pastas and impossible waits plus good wine list
Via Emilia – under the radar with lots of Lambrusco
Giorgione – sceney, warm vibe with mixed menu and nice wines for every budget
JAPANESE
New Bohemian – Chef Shinoki and crew in the undergound resto with soothing space and fine plates
Sake Bar Hagi – what an izakaya is supposed to be, simple and hectic
Yakitori Totto – upscale yakitori with grilling skill
Umenoie – traditional Japanese food, no sushi here
Yakitoi Riki – late night spot for industry, cook your own meat
Kanoyama – good oyster bar and unusual cuts of fish
Tomoe – large slices, I know, but still delivers
Yama – only Irving Place branch, mayo on everything, but tasty
Greenwich Grill – miniscule portions, downstairs resto, but good sushi
Robataya – theatre Japanese food at its best, only eat at bar
Men Kui Tei – tonkatsu ramen and gyoza
Rai Rai Ken - EV ramen, fried rice sleeper
Minca – Another EV ramen spot, good broth
ASIAN
Fatty Crab – go even if just for the chili crab
Sripraphai – Well known authentic Thai spot in Queens, ask for it spicy if you dare
Thai Son – Viet spot in heart of Chinatown, soups are hearty and cha gio best in city
CHINESE
Oriental Garden – sleeper for dim sum, seafood specialty
Phoenix Garden – best Cantonese and located in midtown, byob
Fuleen’s – late nite, have the squab, quality is high
Big Wong – cheap, soups and roast meats, the big wong donut is over rated
Ping’s – proper dim sum, go early to beat the crowds
Peking Duck House – only one dish here, and ask for the carcass to take home
Grand Sichuan – skip the Chinese-American, go for the hot stuff
Spicy and Tasty – not for the weak
X’ian’s Famous Foods – in Chinatown, noodles are made before your eyes
Dim Sum Go Go – maybe the best dumpling selection in NYC
AMERICAN/FRENCH
Prune – inventive and professional
Little Owl – pork chops, and meatballs, tight wine list, good luck w table
Eleven Madison Park – four star
Gabriel’s – Lincoln Center resto w a little something for every one
Ouest – expensive, but tasty
Telepan – Bill knows how to cook
Dovetail – inventive and necessary in the desert that is the UWS
Bar Boulud – solid esp for Lincoln center,expert wine list and sausages
ABC Kitchen – great newcomer, good ingredients, great cocktails
Minetta Tavern – just a heck of a lot of fun, good solid French fare
BRUNCH
M. Wells Diner – inventive Montreal fare, head to PS 1 after
Diner – good bloody mary, good breakfast
Egg – long waits, but these people know what an egg is
Good Enough to Eat – if you are on the UWS, best option
Barney GreenGrass – pricey, but lox w onion and egg is still top ten
Bubby’s – Triburbia mania, expensive, but local fare goodness
Bar Berry - sleeper in the Burg, brunch capitol of New York
Balthazar – fresh baked anything, drink up
Colette’s – newcomer and doing fine
SEAFOOD/OYSTERS
Balthazar – pristine, expensive, proper martinis
Aqua Grill – wide selection and killer martinis - beware
Mermaid Inn – great happy hour
BLT Fish – Oysters and wine
Grand Central Oyster Bar – wide selection, good pan roasts, nice wine list
Blue Ribbon - late nite oysters, must have fried chicken
John Dory – pristine oysters, interesting beers and soups
Mary’s Fish Camp – overall good seafood menu
Pearl – my fav for seafood, go early
BURGER
The Burger Joint at the Parker Meridien – my fav, right price, right setting, don’t go before 2 pm
Minetta Tavern – damn that blue label burger
Black Iron Burger – sloppy, but good
Dumont Burger – Burg sleeper
Resto – different texture, but juicy
Anthos – dead now, but that lamb burger…
Peter Luger’s – only at lunch
Brindle Room – newcomer to EV, good
CHOPHOUSE/STEAK
Prime Meats – Brooklyn attitude plus a trek, spotty service, but great cocktails, environment and food
Minetta Tavern – try getting in, but the closest thing we have to French steak house
Strip House - a welcome addition serving classic cuts
BLT Prime – high end, but good
Peter Luger’s – old standby, must be a porterhouse fan
Keene’s – go for the mutton, nice wine list, best for Scotch
BARS
B Flat – Triburbia temple manned by Taka
Hotel Delmano – fab setting in da burg
Raines Lawroom - civilized
Little Branch – time it right to hear the jazz trio
Apotheke – cocktails hit or miss, great hideaway in Chinatown
Pegu Club – the standard, except when B & T arrive
Death and Company – good choice for EV
PDT – Forget the phone booth, good cocktails
Mayahuel - great tequila and mescal selection
Brandy Library - civilized
The Ear Inn - proper
Employees Only – it’s a zoo, but it’s fun
WINE BARS
Ten Bells – wine lover’s selection
Otto – extensive Italian wine list, avoid the “pizza”
Ino, Inoteca – the standard
Sakagura – sake delight, do not skip dessert
Buvette - Jody at her best, nice wine list
PIZZA
La Pizze Fresca – authentic Neopolitan style, forget the rest
Sal and Carmine’s – classic NY slice
Franny’s – delicious stuff, nice backyard and wine list
OTHER
Taboon – great middle eastern, try to stop eating the bread
Solera – tapas at the bar
Resto – frites and moules and bieres
La Superior – proper tacos and agua fresca
Restaurants I would include but have not visited ever, or in some time:
Grammercy Tavern
Per Se
Daniel
Bouley
Corton
Soto
Town
Mas
Sushi Yasuda
Atelier Joel Robuchon
WD-50
MOST OVERRATED RESTAURANTS:
Momofuku & SSam bar – used to be good, but now, over thought dishes, ridiculous service, seats without backs, noise levels of the subway and lines of B & T wannabees. Pork buns and fried chicken the only redeeming quality.
Ippudo – it’s ramen, expensive, and not the best, so why all the hype?
Locanda Verde – taste the food please, I know it’s De Niro owned, but we’re not in LA people.
Breslin Bar – no resto is worth that attitude, no disrespect to Chef Bloomfield. BTW, The Spotted Pig is a bar, not a comfortable restaurant by any stretch. I fear the ‘tude has spilled over into John Dory as well.
D’ell Anime – hands down the worst attitude and service I have experienced in NYC, bottle service a hot mess
Boqueria – has anyone ever been to Spain? Seriously?
Freeman’s Alley – downhill skiing folks
Salumeria Rossi – Cold cuts and overdone pasta and a staff who believes that prosciutto is actually better than pata negra
Coffee Shop – and no, not even the dessert or samba is worth it
Shun Lee Place – enough already with Chinese American, the food lacks flavor
