NYC Restaurants

Fives

Fives American | Midtown West 

700 5th Avenue (55th St-Peninsula Hotel)

212.903.3918

www.peninsula.com/New_York/en/Dining/Fives/default.aspx

Notes: Very pretty room in the Peninsula Hotel, tastefully furnished. Beautiful views of Fifth Avenue. Excellent breakfast, brunch and lunch.


Eataly

Eataly Italian | Flatiron

200 5th Ave (bet 23rd & 24th St)

212.229.2560

www.eataly.com/restaurants

Notes: Mario Batali’s massive Italian food hall and market houses an extensive array of stations where you can munch on, among other things: bread, cheese, seafood, pizza, prepared foods, wine, coffee and gelato. It’s always pretty crowded, but grab a table where you can stand and enjoy a tasty meal or a snack. 


Atera

Atera New American | TriBeCa

77 Worth Street

212.226.1444

http://ateranyc.com

Notes: Diners are served a progression of wildly imaginative small plates at a counter that frames an open kitchen. While the technique and thought that goes into each dish is more than admirable, the food was not as tasty or memorable as the visual artistry.


Isabella’s

Isabella’s American-Mediterranean | Upper West Side

359 Columbus Ave (77th St)

212.724.2100

www.isabellas.com

Notes: Located across from the Museum of Natural History, we recommend this Isabella’s for breakfast and brunch.


Sarabeth’s

Sarabeth’s American | Various locations

www.sarabeth.com

Notes: Yummy goodies like pancakes, waffles and eggs for breakfast and brunch. Check the website for locations.


Sfoglia

Sfoglia Italian | Carnegie Hill

1402 Lexington Ave (bet 92nd & 92rd)

212.831.1402

www.sfogliarestaurant.com

 

 


Sparks Steak House

Sparks Steak House Steak | Midtown East

210 E 46th St (bet 2nd & 3rd)

212.687.4855

http://sparkssteakhouse.com

Notes: Once a venerable old classic, the food has gone somewhat downhill and the space has expanded, making the restaurant noisy and bustling. Their salad dressing, though, remains legendary.

 


WD-50

WD-50 New American | Lower East Side

50 Clinton Street

212.477.2900

www.wd-50.com

Notes: Chef Wylie Dufresne uses cutting-edge culinary techniques in his science lab-like kitchen to prepare dishes that not only make you think, but often boggle the mind by creating dissonance between sight and taste/texture. I’m not a huge fan of this style of food, so for me the presentation was more spectacular than the food itself. But if you appreciate the artistic and technical aspect of culinary science, by all means experience the thrilling, thoughtful skill of WD-50.


Telepan

Telepan New American | Upper West Side

72 W 69th St (bet Columbus & CPW)

212.580.4300

www.telepan-ny.com


Tao

Tao Asian | Midtown East

42 E 58th St (bet Madison & Park)

212.888.2288

http://taorestaurant.com/

Notes: The food is good, but more impressive is the cool ambiance, great club-like music, and the towering golden Buddha floating over the koi pond.