Discover New York

Best American Casual Greenwich Village: Commerce
The food here is wonderful if you can take the noise level. Try to book a table on Sunday or Monday evening when things are a bit quieter. The bread basket is filled with freshly baked mini-size breads so that you can have multiple choices. The pasta with fresh ricotta is lovely and the chocolate soufflé with banana crème anglaise is a must order.

Best American Casual: Union Square Café
Singles can sit at the bar and enjoy dinner and feel very comfortable. Danny Meyer's staff aims to please. The Salmon Burger is only available at lunch.

Best American in Gramercy Park Area: Eleven Madison Park
Danny Meyer does it again with warm welcoming service and great food. Chef Daniel Humm is the chef. Serving market driven French cuisine.

Best American “Tavern” in Gramercy Park Area: Gramercy Tavern
Danny Meyer’s comfortable two section restaurant allows you to choose the rear room with a full menu or a more casual atmosphere in the front bar room. The meatballs are fabulous. Michael Anthony’s is the current chef serving contemporary cuisine.

Best Architectural Food: Gotham Bar & Grill
Alfred Portale's "towering" New American creations have been delighting diners for 20 years.

Best Barbecue and Jazz: Blue Smoke
Voted New York's Best Jazz Club, the Jazz Standard is downstairs. Hot jazz is downstairs and for serious aficionados. Basic Barbecue and hot jazz make this a Gramercy Park favorite. If you want to talk stay upstairs and enjoy dinner without the jazz.

Best Brooklyn Pizza near the Brooklyn Bridge: Grimaldi's
Located in Dumbo, and easily accessible walking across the Brooklyn Bridge, or by water taxi, this is pizza worth the long lines. Cash only -- whole pies, no slices here.

Best Casual dinner with Opera across from Lincoln Center: O'Neals
On certain Saturday evenings starting at 8:30 PM, enjoy a variety singers from Julliard and the Manhattan School of Music. Check our calendar of events for a listing.  The menu has something for everyone and the singers represent a wealth of new young talent. 

Best Caviar: Caviar Russe
There is an elevator, so it does have wheelchair access. Small, intimate, private and elegant. Perfect for a romantic occasion. Small insulated bags will let you take home additional caviar and blini for a snack in the middle of the night.

Best Chinese: Tse Yang
This is a beautiful upscale Chinese restaurant that specializes in Peking Duck. Beautiful service. Perfect place for a special occasion.

Best Continental: Four Seasons
Philip Johnson designed this fabulous setting for the ultimate power lunch in the Grill Room and the Pool Room for the celebrations that make life special. Menu changes with the seasons. Good pre-theater dinner options keep prices attainable.

Best Desserts for Children: Serendipity 3
Reservations a must at this East Side landmark stop for heavenly desserts and long lines. Crowded and noisy, the frozen hot chocolate is a must order.

Best Dim Sum (authentic style with carts): Golden Unicorn
I lived in Hong Kong from 1988 - 1990, and this would be the most authentic restaurant that is good for a group with the dim sum carts. If you want "pretty" this is not it, but the selection is excellent so there is something for everyone. They are members of the Chaine des Rotisseurs.

Best Dim Sum (small restaurant): Dim Sum Go Go
Small restaurant, so don't go with a group. Everything is fresh and the owner wants to please.

Best East Side Pre Fixe Italian: Convivio
Best menu items: Cicatelli: buffalo ricotta gnocchi, san marzano tomatoes, basil, or Sgombro, sliced yellowtail, olivada, pistachio, scallions, Filetto di Vitello, pancetta wraped veal tenderloin, creamy polenta, chanterelle mushrooms; cheese plate.

Best Fine Dining in Times Square: Aureole
The new restaurant space is actually divided among three rooms.  The bar is bustling with snack food items along with cocktails and is adjacent to the extremely loud dining area.  Because the noise level is high with folks coming from Conde Nast and the Bank of America buildings next door, it seems even louder.  The main dining room is lovely, small and quiet.  The food is beautifully presented and delicious.  The service is very professional and comfortable.  Beware, the kitchen is far from the dining room which means the food is not as hot as you’d like.  They are working on trying to fix this challenge.  Order the Pre-Fixe at lunch for a real value.

Best French Bistro: Jubilee
Best French bistro for moules and frites with a perfectly dressed salad and apple tart. Absolutely delicious from beginning to end. Go early or late to avoid the noise since the tables are too close to feel private.

Best French on Park Avenue: Daniel
Daniel Boulud's East Side flagship is New French cooking with flawless service due to cameras above each table. The chefs will make sure that each course is timed perfectly. A perfect special occasion place for the over 40 set. The new décor is brighter and more contemporary.

Best French Technique and Japanese Style: L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon
Close your eyes and try to forget that you are about to pay these prices and just enjoy dinner. With just 20 seats at the pearwood counter – considered the most desirable with their view of the kitchen – and only 26 more at individual tables, this is a small and intimate space with wonderful service. Try the Crispy Langoustine Papillote with Basil Pesto, Pan-Sautéed Amadai in a Yuzu Citrus Broth with Lily Bulbs Free-Range Caramelised Quail Stuffed with Foie Gras, Served with Potato Purée and Summer Truffle. L’Atelier offers an atmosphere that is both intimate and dynamic. Try the Tomato Gazpacho with Croutons and Ricotta Cheese.

Best Fusion: Spice Market
Beautiful Thai-Malaysian food and decor make this Jean-Georges Vongerichten another winner in the Meatpacking District. This is a good restaurant to share small plates of food so come with a group.

Best Gelato: Otto
Batali-Bastianich hold court over high end pizza and 14 flavors of extraordinary homemade gelato.

Best Greek Near Fifth Avenue: Kellari
Really delicious, beautiful restaurant, although noisy when busy. Lots of great appetizers and small plates allow you to enjoy a variety of dishes.

Best Greek on 7th Avenue: Molyvos
This is Greek at its best. The sampling of traditional Greek spreads, Eggplant Salad, "Caviar" Mousse & Cucumber Yogurt with Garlic is a must try! Great for pre-theater.

Best Greek in TriBeca: Thalassa
Lovely contemporary space, tables well spaced with private rooms on the lower and upper levels.  Outstanding wine list with terrific service to help you navigate both the menu and wine list.  Order the Main Diver Scallops wrapped in kataifi with sheep’s milk butter and Kalamata balsamic reduction, any of the fresh fish grilled with olive oil.  Two lovely choices for dessert are the Bougatsa, Custard Cream Layered in Flaky Filo served with Greek Coffee Ice Cream and the Greek Yogurt Cake with Fig Preserve.  This is a Greek Cheesecake rather than an American layer cake. It’s light.

Best Greenvich Village Indian: Surya
Adam Tihany's decor and food from Venice create a perfect pre-theater dinner even for children who love beautiful spaces.

Best Greenvich Village Mediterranean: Alta
Simply darling, romantic, charming and delicious!! This townhouse has a long bar at the entrance and double story main dining room with a balcony. Opt for one of the upstairs small dining rooms and feel as though you have stepped back into the 1800's and are dining in someone's home. The inventive Tapas range from small portions to larger ones, but all are meant to be shared. At around $8.00 per plate, if three people shared 10 plates, that's $80.00 plus beverages, tax and gratuity.

Best Hamburgers Greenwich Village Corner Bistro
Paper plates, plastic forks, this is really casual pub food, cash only. Avoid the long lines at prime time.

Best Hamburgers Upper East Side: J.G. Melon
Great pub food, cash only, avoid the long lines at prime time.

Best Haute French: La Grenouille
Wonderful service and elegant surroundings with great French cuisine. The gorgeous floral arrangements make this a spectacular special occasion event.

Best Historic Steakhouse: Keens Steakhouse
Dating from 1885, this Midtown steakhouse-saloon is home to one of the largest collections of antique clay pipes in the world. A serious scotch selection is perfect for the man in your life. The steak salad for lunch is terrific.

Best Hotel Dining: Jean Georges
Jean Georges Vongerichten's New French cuisine is beautiful and delicious. Adam Tihany's sophisticated design allows just 65 diners to enjoy the experience at one time. If you can't snag dinner in the dining room, try for room service when you stay at the hotel, or take the less formal Nougatine Room or on the terrace.

Best Indian Weekend Buffet: Utsav
This is just fabulous. The selection of dishes comes from both southern and northern India. This is the only restaurant that serves Pani Poori on their weekend buffet. It is available by special order in the evening on the a la carte menu. The coconut sauce for the dosi is wonderful. For $17.95 for the lunch choices, it’s a steal given the hours and work to make the dishes.

Best Inexpensive Middle Eastern: Moustache
Puffy pita and wonderful baba ghanoush, delicious, is expensive and worth the wait on line. Cash only. The pizzetta are flatbread pizzas. The lamb and onion is delicious. The tabouleh is so fresh it is a must order dish.

Best Inexpensive Noodles: Republic
The food is really good, the décor is basic and the noise level is a challenge. Decide what's more important and your wallet will determine that this is probably the best bang for the buck in the neighborhood. The grilled eggplant, chicken sate, watercress salad, and the chicken and lemongrass soup are all delicious. You'd be hard pressed to eat more than $20.00 worth of food including tax and tip per person. Ideal spot for NYU students and shoppers exhausted from cruising around ABC Home Furnishings store on Broadway and 19th Street.

Best Italian New Restaurant in the Chelsea: Scarpetta
Treat yourself to really beautifully made food in either the dining room or front of the restaurant at tables or at the bar.  The menu is extensive and the service is lovely.  The asparagus soup and soft shell crab were delicious.

Best Italian New Restaurant in Meatpacking District that has space between the tables: Del Posto
Beautifully renovated space that allows for gracious dining without being overly stuffy. High ceilings and nicely spaced tables allow for adult conversation. The menu changes, but the food is beautifully presented using fresh ingredients. A good idea is to split the Seafood Combination of scallops, lobster, langoustines. The warm fig pudding at $15.00 per portion is among the most expensive dessert menu in NYC, and yes it is worth it. One portion for two is ample. A rolling silver cart of small pastries is presented at the end of the meal and the choices are wonderful.

Best Japanese-Peruvian Fusion: Nobu and Nobu, Next Door
An institution for New Yorker’s and visitors alike. The food is fresh and the prices are high. Reservations are always a challenge. Nobu, Next Door, (212) 334-4445, walk in no reservations. This celebrity scene is expensive with month long waits for reservations. Nobu Next Door does not take reservations, so you need to decide if you feel it's worth the wait. For me, Aja is prettier, more convenient and better sushi with other interesting dishes.

Best Luxury Dining Experience on Broad Street: Sho Shaun Hergatt
This elegant restaurant has a wonderful menu and time and care are obvious everywhere from the minute you enter this gorgeous space.  The staff is attentive, if a bit “formal”. Each dish is presented with extraordinary thought and care combing flavors, textures and colors.  the $69 pre-fixed three course menu is a bargain. Save room for the fabulous complimentary chocolates at the end of the meal.

Best Manhattan Pizza: Lombardi's
Since 1905 this "Little Italy" landmark has been delighting families with whole pies from their coal-fired oven. Cash only.

Best Mediterranean in the Flatiron District: Barbounia
A beautiful trendy space. Try early for a delicious and quiet dinner. The food is really delicious. Try an assortment of Mezzes, spreads and flatbreads. The skewers are delicious and healthy and everything is reasonably priced.

Best Mediterranean in the Flatiron District: Barbounia
The "gold standard" for upscale Mexican with made at the table guacamole and good Chicken Mole. Bring your wallet.

Best Midtown Indian: Darbar
Not the best physical space in town, but its midtown location and great lunch buffet is available 7 days a week. It's the first buffet where each dish actually tastes as if mother was in the kitchen grinding the spices just prior to serving the dish. The variety of flavors is exceptional. One of the best Indian meals that I have ever eaten. Enjoy the Halibut mole sautéed with ginger and coconut sauce, incredibly tender and flavorful Chicken chettinad cooked in chettinad sauce, lemon rice and great breads. Go with friends so that you can share the dishes. The garden in the back of the restaurant is quieter and heated in the winter. Try the wines from India to round out a wonderful evening.

Best Midtown Upscale Italian in the Theater District: Remi
The Venetian menu and murals on the wall are a great option for both pre-theater dinner and dinner after 8:00 PM. Everything here is beautifully presented and delicious.

Best Midtown Value Italian: Becco
All-you-can-eat pasta and $25.00 wines make this a great pre-theater dinner choice especially with children and teens.

Best Museum Restaurant: The Modern
There are two sections to the restaurant. The more casual space is the Bar Room, where you can order the Tarte Flambee with a glass of wine and feel fabulous at the bar area or sit at tables, first come first served in the adjacent section. The whole area is a casual restaurant. In the evening it is a real "bar scene" so can be a little noisy. However, the main restaurant, simply called The Modern, overlooks the sculpture garden and is quiet and has understated elegance. The pre-fix menu is $85.00 per person plus a cheese course at $18.00 per person. The Seasonal Tasting Menu starts at $138.00 per person. It's for those who want to spend the entire evening eating. Dinner was four hours.

Best Newcomer to Bleecker Street: Choptank
This new, smart causal neighborhood place has the most welcoming staff.  The choice of East Coast West Coast oysters are terrific.  The crab chowder is a must.

Best New Thai: Kittichai
Beautiful and sexy, this setting was designed by the Rockwell Group and has large booths situated around a reflecting pool. The Thai marinated beef salad, chocolate back barbeque ribs marinated in Thai spices are amazing. Save room for the chocolate cake. The spare ribs are amazing. The steak salad is great.

Best Nuevo Mexican: Hard to choose between Maya and Pampano, same owners so it's no wonder.
Owners of Pampano and Maya have interesting twists on traditional Mexican cuisine. Both have great guacamole. Pampano, 209 East 49th Street (between 2nd and 3rd Avenues), (212) 751-4545. It's an interesting take on Mexican cuisine.

Best Pre-Theater near Lincoln Center: Landmarc
This wonderful new addition to Time Warner Center allows guests to sit at the bar area and order a hamburger or a steak. Guests can sit at tables well spaced for good conversation in a beautiful room with friendly service and delicious American cuisine. For business dinners requiring privacy, two round tables are surrounded by walls to provide extra quiet. Try the roasted marrow bones with onion marmalade and grilled country bread, the grilled skirt steak salad watercress, roasted peppers, gorgonzola and chimichurri vinaigrette, and the salmon tartar with red onion, parsley, lemon confit and Dijon. They are all fabulous. Their wines are so reasonably priced that you can order half bottles rather than wines by the glass. Very good value.

Best Pre-theater with Children: Café Un Deux Trois
This French bistro fare knows how to get you on your way to the theater on time. Paper tablecloths and crayons keep the little ones entertained while parents can dine on real food.

Best Sandwich Flavors in Theater District: Xie Xie
This tiny sandwich shop is packed with fabulous flavors at reasonable prices and a great stop for a pre-theater bite before when you are running late to the theater.

Best Seafood Fine Dining: Oceana
The new space is lovely.  It’s combines an area for a raw bar and cocktails, with tables in a separate space from the main dining room.  Tables are set far enough apart for quiet conversation and the whole space feels bright, open and clean.  The food is very rich, even for seafood because the sauces are rich although you can have them on the side.  The wine list is extensive and there is a chef’s table overlooking the kitchen that can seat up to five people.  Hopefully, they will add a pre-theater menu soon since this new location is perfect for a lovely dinner before a show.

Best Italian Seafood on Central Park South: Marea
This is another fabulous restaurant by Michael White.  His ability to combine fresh ingredients, beautifully presented with terrific service is also at Convivio and Alto. Choose Convivio for quiet conversation, Alto for a wine scene in a space that is acoustically challenging and Marea for a see and be seen scene.  The tables are too close together and the noise level is challenge, but the food is terrific.  The pasta is delicious.  Their pre fixed menu is good if you want dessert.  Otherwise, still to the a la carte.

Best Seafood near Lincoln Center: Ed’s Chowder House
Ed Brown does it again with a fabulous menu of wonderful tastes.  The room is lovely on the second floor of the Empire Hotel across from Lincoln Center but the noise level is horrible.  If the food and service were not so fabulous, it would never make Kitt’s Picks since the entire evening should be lovely.  This is another China Grill Management Restaurant and the noise level in all of their venues is devoted to a hip group of diners who care more about being seen than dining and quiet conversation. So, beware.  The pre fixed menus are a great value around Restaurant Week.

Best South American: Churrascaria Plataforma
Perfect for pre-theater fussy eaters. There is something for everyone, including waiters scurrying about with skewers of grilled meats. A long buffet is perfect for the vegetarians among the group.

Best Traditional Hot Dogs: Gray's Papaya
Considered the city's top dog, these stand-up corner shacks are where true New Yorker's get their hot dog fix. Cash only.

Best Upscale Café: River Café
The view is amazing, the florals are glorious, the staff is wonderful and the choices are a wide range under an umbrella of $78.00 for three courses. The food is very good; what more could anyone ask for? Well, transportation for one thing. It's not easy to get a taxi back to Manhattan from the base of the Brooklyn Bridge. Ask us for a car and driver.

Christmas Eve: 21 Club The ultimate power scene, with fabulous a wine cellar and toys on the ceiling in the main dining room. The Salvation Army arrives with sheet music in hand to sing Christmas Carols after 8:00 PM and then passes the hat. It's a lovely tradition over the past 37 years.