The 38 Essential New York City Restaurants, October 2013

The 38 Essential New York City Restaurants, October 2013

 http://ny.eater.com/archives/2013/10/the_38_essential_new_york_restaurants_october_13.php

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Locanda Verde
Though owners include one Robert DeNiro, chef Andrew Carmellini is the real star here. After four years, this rustic neighborhood Italian restaurant is still one of the hottest tickets in town. [Krieger]
377 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10013
(212) 925-3797

Balthazar Restaurant
Restaurateur Keith McNally's enduring Soho brasserie is the best every day restaurant in New York City. Period. [Krieger]
80 Spring St, New York, NY 10012
(212) 965-1414

Mission Chinese Food
Danny Bowien's Orchard Street hot spot serves super-charged Chinese food in a loose, fun setting. Right now, the menu is full of "greatest hit" dishes like the Kung Pao pastrami and the salt cod fried rice, as well as brand new Bowien creations. You're going to want to try a lot of things on the menu, so bring a few friends. NOTE: Mission Chinese is currently closed for renovations.
154 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
(212) 529-8800

Lure Fishbar
Great for dates and business lunches alike, the subterranean Lure Fish Bar offers up a solid roster of sushi offerings as well as seafood, steak, and one of the best burgers in the city.
142 Mercer St, New York, NY 10012
(212) 431-7676

Il Buco Alimentari e Vineria
In the morning, Il Buco Alimentari is a casual cafe offering homemade breads, fresh Italian pastries, and light breakfast dishes. In the middle of the day, it's an Italian delicatessen that also serves pasta, charcuterie, sandwiches, and small plates in the back. And at night, it's a bustling bar and dining room serving a big menu of rustic, inventive Italian fare. Il Buco Alimentari is an ambitious restaurant, but restaurateur Donna Lennard and chef Justin Smillie make it work on every level.
53 Great Jones St., New York, NY 10012
(212) 837-2622

Perla
Perla is the Greenwich Village Italian restaurant from young gun chef Michael Toscano and restaurateur Gabe Stulman. Toscano has a knack for cooking pasta dishes and monster pieces of meat. If you're in a large group, do consider the dry-aged porterhouse for two, or the veal head for three. Like all Gabe Stulman restaurants, Perla offers terrific food and charming service in a bustling, yet intimate dining room.
24 Minetta Lane, New York, NY 10012
(212) 933-1824

Commerce
At Commerce, chef Harold Moore serves terrific fresh pastas, a monster pork chop, and one of New York's very best chickens for two. The space here has a cool old-school vibe, and the bar is a fun place to grab a drink at the beginning or end of the night. Commerce is a great date night restaurant. [Photo]
50 Commerce St, New York, NY 10014
(212) 524-2301

Red Farm
Joe Ng and Eddie Schoenfeld's charming contemporary Chinese restaurant is one of the hottest tickets in New York right now. The best things on the menu here are chef Ng's playful dim sum creations, like the 'Pac man' dumplings, The Katz's pastrami egg roll, and the pan-fried lamb dumplings. The mains are great too — especially the grilled Creekstone rib steak with asparagus and the black cod. Head here for brunch if you want to avoid the crowds. [Photo]
529 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014
(212) 792-9700

Takashi
Takashi is a meat-lover's paradise. The menu features a long list of top-quality raw beef which you cook at your table on little electric grills. Offal-freaks will want to try the stomachs, intestines, and tongues, but there are a few steaks on the menu for less adventuresome diners, too. [Krieger]
456 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014
(212) 414-2929

The Spotted Pig
One might expect owners and regulars like Jay-Z and Bill Clinton to distract from the food, but chef April Bloomfield holds her own and then some at New York's top (wait … for it) gastropub. One of the best restaurant burgers in New York is served here, as anyone who has braved the two-hour wait for a table can tell you.[Krieger]
314 W 11th St, New York, NY 10014
(212) 620-0393

Kin Shop
Harold Dieterle and Alicia Nosenzo's contemporary Thai restaurant has a relaxed vibe, a great wine list, and awesome food. Dieterle has a knack for fusing Thai cuisine with his own New-American style, and the result is one of the most unique menus in New York right now. [Krieger]
469 6th Ave, New York, NY 10011
(212) 675-4295

Momofuku Noodle Bar
David Chang's first restaurant is still turning out inventive, deeply satisfying, affordable food, and the buns and ramen are just as good as you remember. [Kalina]
171 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003
(212) 777-7773

Hearth
Hearth only gets better with age. Marco Canora's East Village restaurant still serves one of the best ragus in the city, and the menu always includes a few terrific vegetables dishes, monster meat entrees, and gracefully prepared fish courses. If you really want to see what the kitchen is up to these days, consider the seven-course tasting for $80.[Krieger]
403 E 12th St, New York, NY 10009
(646) 602-1300

Casa Mono
The lone Spanish baby of Molto Mario’s empire, Casa Mono has been an Irving Place destination since it opened in ’04. Chef Andy Nusser has crafted a menu of substantial tapas and medium-sized entrées, done mostly “a la plancha” with unmistakably Catalan flavors; get the duck egg with mojama. NB: If you have trouble securing a table, and chances are you will, little sister Bar Jamon is right next door. [Photo]
52 Irving Pl, New York, NY 10003
(212) 253-2773

Maysville
Maysville is the stylish Southern restaurant from former Gramercy Tavern chef Kyle Knall. His food is refined without being fussy, and his menu is full of crowd-pleasers. Make sure to get the crispy grits with ribbons of country ham, and the poached egg dish with duck confit and hen of the woods mushrooms. Maysville is also a good place to keep in mind if you're looking for an afterwork drink around the Flatiron. [Photo: Maysville]
17 W 26th St., New York, NY 10010
(646) 490-8240

The NoMad
Daniel Humm and Will Guidara's restaurant in The Nomad hotel is a great choice for date night, after work drinks, a leisurely lunch, a business breakfast, and everything in between. The food is always fresh and exciting, but the service is what you'll remember most once your meal is finished.
1170 Broadway, New York, NY 10001
(212) 796-1500

Café China
Cafe China serves all your Sichuan favorites, plus dim sum dishes, in a dining room that evokes 1930s Shanghai. It is easily one of the prettiest Chinese restaurants in town. Standout dishes include the spicy diced rabbit, the baby black lamb, the dumplings in chili oil, and the unusual, but very tasty "Szechuan pesto chicken."
13 E 37th St, New York, NY 10016
(212) 213-2810

Keens Steakhouse
Get a mutton chop with a side of history at this century old steakhouse that offers classic delicious food, perfect cocktails, and a killer ambiance. Those on a budget can hit up the bar room. [Krieger]
72 W 36th St, New York, NY 10018
(212) 947-3636

Benoit Bistro
Alain Ducasse's casual French restaurant serves faithful versions of all your bistro favorites like coq au vin, cassoulet, and escargots. The bar room is a cool place for after-work cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, and on the weekends, Benoit serves one of the best brunches in Midtown (it includes a dessert buffet). [Photo]
60 W 55th St, New York, NY 10019
(646) 943-7373

The Modern
Gabriel Kreuther cooks French-American food that looks great and tastes even better. You can have a fine light meal mixing and matching the small plates from the first two pages of the menu, but the restaurant is also a great pick for a serious three-course meal. Pro tip: the tarte flambee is one of the best bar snacks in NYC. [Photo]
9 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019
(212) 333-1220

Esca
Non-theatre-goers sometimes forget about Esca due to its Siberia-adjacent location, but in many ways Esca is as good as the four-starred Le Bernardin. If nothing else, it's cheaper, more relaxed and, bonus, also serves Baltali-brand pasta.
402 W 43rd St, New York, NY 10036
(212) 564-7272

Danji
Danji has been receiving raves from critics big and small for their casual, modern take on Korean fare in the Western edges of Midtown. It's fast without being hurried, delicious without being expensive. Just be ready for crowds.[Photo]
346 W 52nd St, New York, NY 10019
(212) 586-2880

Boulud Sud
Daniel Boulud's foray into Mediterranean cuisine is a solid choice for date night on the UWS, or a meal before a show at Lincoln Center. Even the most exotic dishes like the zaatar baked cod have that signature Boulud touch. [Photo]
20 W 64th St, New York, NY 10023
(212) 595-1313

Telepan
This Upper West Side New American restaurant is one of the best places for brunch in the neighborhood (try the patty melt), as well as a solid choice for a leisurely meal during the week. Chef Bill Telepan has a gift for cooking greenmarket vegetables, but his menu also includes a few great splurge dishes like the lobster bolognese and the grass-fed ribeye for two. Telepan also offers a steal of a five-course tasting for $69.
72 W 69th St, New York, NY 10023
(212) 580-4300

Sushi of Gari
The original location of Masatoshi “Gari” Sugio's chainlet is still one of the best sushi restaurants in NYC. Start with an omakase tasting, finish with the tempura-fried ice cream. Photo]
402 E 78th St, New York, NY 10075
(212) 517-5340

Amali
This stylish and comfortable Upper East Side restaurant serves a menu of modern Mediterranean cuisine made with local ingredients. Standout dishes include the crudo plates, the pastas, and the chicken under a brick. Amali is also something of a destination for Greek wine enthusiasts.
115 E 60th St, New York, NY 10022
(212) 339-8363

Donguri
One of the best places in the neighborhood for Japanese food. You won't find any sushi rolls on the menu at Donguri, but there are a few excellent soba and udon dishes, and a number of lightly-composed fish and vegetable items. The lobster miso soup is a must-try dish. [Photo]
309 E 83rd St, New York, NY 10028
(212) 737-5656

Red Rooster
Marcus Samuelsson's hot Harlem global soul food joint is luring the food lovers and critics from across the city uptown. A gamechanger for the neighborhood and totally worth the trip. [Krieger]
310 Malcolm X Blvd, New York, NY 10027
(212) 792-9001

Roberta's Pizza
One of the Brooklyn new school of locavore-crazy, market-driven ingredients, Roberta's is in many ways what happens when hipster chefs get it right. See also the Heritage Radio Network, which broadcasts from the dining room.
261 Moore St, Brooklyn, NY 11206
(718) 417-1118

Delaney Barbecue: BrisketTown
The New York barbecue scene has grown by leaps and bounds over the last few years. Restaurants like Mighty Quinn’s, Fletcher’s, and Alchemy, Texas, are all delivering great smoked meats, but BrisketTown is the most fun barbecue restaurant in New York City, and the brisket is out of this world. Daniel Delaney’s signature dish is tender, smoky, and pleasantly moist, with a thick black crust around the edges. If you play your cards right, you can have a monster feast here for about $35 per person.
359 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 701-8909

Diner
The specials are the dishes to order at Diner (and yes, the servers still write them down on the table). Right now, chef de cuisine Ken Wiss is turning out inventive plates of Italian-influenced American fare, but you can always get the excellent burger and a serious steak, too. In terms of atmosphere, food, and value, Diner is one of North Brooklyn's best restaurants.
85 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 486-3077

Gwynnett Street
This critically-acclaimed Williamsburg restaurant serves modern American fare in a relaxed neighborhood setting. Chef Owen Clark's dishes are tightly composed, but they all pack a lot of flavor. Head to Gwynnett St. if you want to taste what's exciting about Brooklyn cuisine these days.
312 Graham Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211
(347) 889-7002

Frankies 457
Frank Castronovo and Frank Falcinelli have opened several great restaurants in the past few years, but their original is still a total classic. The cavatelli pasta alone is worth the trip to Carroll Gardens, but, then, so is the rest of the food and scene here, which is quintessentially Aging Hipster in the best possible way.
457 Court St, Brooklyn, NY 11231
(718) 403-0033

La Vara
At La Vara, Alex Raij and Eder Montero serve a unique version of Spanish cuisine that has Moorish and Jewish influences. The menu is full of winners, but make sure to order the sandwiches stuffed with bacon stew, the fried artichokes, the lamb meatballs, and the shellfish-studded fideua. La Vara is a fun choice for date night. [Photo: Krieger]
268 Clinton St., Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 422-0065

Pok Pok Ny
At Pok Pok NY, Portland chef Andy Ricker serves what many consider to be some of the finest Thai cuisine in New York City. Standout dishes include the grilled Chiang Mai sausage with chili paste, the charcoal-grilled hen, the clay pot-baked white prawns, and the roast-catfish laap If you go on a weekend night, or basically any night when the weather is nice, be prepared to wait.
127 Columbia St., Brooklyn, NY 11231
(718) 923-9322

The Good Fork
The menu at this homey Red Hook restaurant has a little something for everyone: you can get a textbook roasted chicken, a serious pub burger, homemade pork dumplings, Korean-style steak and eggs, or a Peking duck leg, if you like. The Good Fork just launched a $25 three-course prix fixe menu that's serve Tuesday-Thursday.
391 Van Brunt St, Brooklyn, NY 11231
(718) 643-6636

Ayada Thai Restaurant
Head to this Elmhurst Thai restaurant for fiery curries, perfectly composed salads, and awesome whole fish dishes. No meal is complete without an order of the fried bananas and the mango over sticky rice, when it's in season. Ayada is one of New York's best Thai restaurants, and you'll never have to fight monster crowds to snag a table. (Photo)
77-08 Woodside Ave, Queens, NY 11373
(718) 424-0844

Tortilleria Nixtamal
Corona's Tortilleria Nixtamal is famous for its homemade tortillas and all the delicious things that are stuff inside of them. Try the chicken mole enchiladas, the fried skate tacos, or the never-dry tamales. Many Mexican food snobs say that this is the best taqueria in NYC. (Photo)