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This aptly named restaurant, run by husband-and-wife team Chef David Page and co-owner Barabara Shinn, produces wonderful home-style cooking and is a favourite with locals. Most diners skip the cosy dining room and head straight to the patio, though it is advised to book an outside table well in advance. The cuisine here takes comfort food to an entirely new level - fresh ingredients and clever seasoning transform even the simplest dishes. Steak, pork chops, quail, and seafood preparations excel, and signature dishes include a rich, creamy blue cheese fondue with caramelised shallots and roasted chicken with spicy onion rings. A must for dessert is the sensational chocolate pudding, and the wine list gathers a number of bottles from Long Island vineyards. Open for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays, lunch Monday to Friday, and dinner nightly.
Address: 20 Cornelia Street, between Bleecker and West 4th Street
Food type: American

Tribeca Grill
Located in Tribeca's Washington Market area, Tribeca Grill radiates excitement and energy. Co-owned by Robert DeNiro, its association with hundreds of major media events has helped to make 'The Grill' a classic New York social gathering place. It is a massive restaurant with high ceilings and exposed brick walls - not the place for a romantic dinner, but great for celebrity spotting. The menu includes enticing grilled and sautéed selections with cross-cultural creative influences of many different cuisines, with an enormous selection of wines, and the prices are reasonable. Closed for lunch on Saturdays. Dinner nightly.
Address: 375 Greenwich Street
Food type: American

Le Bernardin
Le Bernardin, New York's internationally acclaimed seafood restaurant, was born in Paris in 1972 by sibling duo Maguy and Gilbert Le Coze and had earned a Michelin star by 1978. Le Bernardin opened in New York in 1986 and in no time became a four-star restaurant that is renowned for setting standards in the cooking of seafood in America. Try the red snapper baked in a rosemary-and-thyme crust, or steamed striped bass and top it off with a chocolate-peanut tart. Ideal for a romantic evening. Book well in advance and wear a jacket. Lunch Monday to Friday, dinner Monday to Saturday, closed Sundays.
Address: 155 West 51st Street (Midtown West)
Food type: French

Delmonico's
This attractive Wall Street landmark first opened its doors in the 1830s as the first restaurant in America and has an impressive history, even providing the setting for a birthday party for Mark Twain. Serving up delicious steaks in a leather and mahogany setting, it attracts a loyal crowd of businessmen, who feel at home sitting at the low-key bar. Reservations are recommended for both lunch and dinner. Open Monday to Friday for lunch and dinner.
Address: 56 Beaver Street, near Wall Street
Food type: American

Balthazar
Since its 1997 opening, this SoHo bistro has retained its buzz and irresistible allure. Restaurant impresario Keith McNallyre has succeeded in creating the look and atmosphere of an aged Parisian brassiere with pastel colours, oversized mirrors and powdery homemade bread. Nightly specials are based on classic French dishes such as duck confit with wild mushrooms. Balthazar is packed breakfast, brunch and dinner and booking is recommended, otherwise pop in to the attached Balthazar Bakery for fresh, delicious pastries and bread, or a light lunch.
Address: 80 Spring St, SoHo
Food type: French

Gramercy Tavern
This iconic Union Square eatery is restaurateur Danny Meyer's most appealing restaurant and a great choice for entertaining clients or for a romantic evening. Gramercy Tavern's spacious, rustic-looking interior includes a casual street-facing tavern, a lively bar and a series of formal dining areas at the back. Chef Tom Colicchio serves inventive American cuisine such as lobster salad, and venison with onion marmalade. Booking is recommended. Dinner reservations must be confirmed. For the more budget-minded both the Tavern room and the bar have reasonably priced menus offering plenty of delicious choices. The Tavern is open for lunch and dinner daily. Jacket suggested for main dining room.
Address: 42 East 20th Street (between Broadway and Park Avenue)
Food type: American

Nobu
Nobu opened in 1995 bringing innovative 'new style Japanese cooking' to New York City, and the critics and celebrities alike continue to adore it. It won a 'Best New Restaurant' award in 1995 and last year was voted the fifth most popular New York restaurant by Zagat. The restaurant is a visual and culinary delight - tall birch tree columns rise into the ceiling, which is painted copper with patches of open brickwork showing through, giving the effect of a Zen mountain retreat. Nobu's new style Japanese cuisine weds South American sensibility with Japanese traditions using superb raw and cooked ingredients. Try the signature dish of miso-marinated sweet black cod, or give the Matsuhisa shrimp and caviar a go. When booking (which is essential) ask not to have a table at the back.

If you can't get a table try Next Door Nobu (next door), it's a smaller, simpler version and they take no reservations, so just get there early.
Address: 105 Hudson Street (Tribeca)
Food type: Japanese

. Washington Park
Jonathan Waxman, who was among the first to introduce New Yorkers to fresh, ingredient-driven 'Californian cuisine' in the 1980s, has returned to the kitchen for the first time in over a decade at this elegant Greenwich Village restaurant. Waxman's straightforward culinary philosophy is to use only the freshest ingredients available, and as a result Washington Park's menu changes daily, vividly showcasing the best of the season. The restaurant is bright and inviting, with a trim, marble-topped bar up front and an open-plan kitchen. The service strikes the perfect tone, and an astute team of wine experts provide careful counsel on wine pairings that best complement Waxman's menu. Dinner nightly. Reservations suggested.
Address: 24 Fifth Avenue, at Ninth Street (Greenwich Village)
Food type: French

Daniel
In 1993, Daniel Boulud opened his own much-heralded restaurant, Daniel. In just one year the restaurant was rated 'one of the ten best restaurants in the world'. It is still ranked as one of the city's best venues for classical French fare. The 120-seat dining room is located in the former Mayfair Hotel lobby, which has been restored to its original 1920s Renaissance splendour. Using the freshest ingredients, seasonal masterpieces including roasted squab stuffed with black truffle, bacon and wild mushrooms will not disappoint. Sommelier Jean Luc Le Dû helps guests choose wines to compliment the diverse flavours. Jacket and tie are required for gentlemen. Dinner Monday to Saturday, closed Sundays. Reservations recommended up to a month in advance.
Address: 60 East 65th Street (between Madison Avenue and Park Avenue)
Food type: French

Park Avenue
With the changing of the seasons this innovative restaurant changes its décor and menu to suit the changing temperatures and sensations of spring, summer, autumn and winter. Fresh summer greenery gives way to winter white with silver accents, while menus change from fresh lobster salad and fried chicken to filet mignon or grilled veal chops. Desserts include seasonal fruit with homemade ice creams or sorbets, and warm chocolate cake.
Address: 100 East 63rd Street at Park Ave
Food type: Modern Eclectic

Schnack
Good, uncomplicated food in a comfortable (if somewhat kitschy) diner setting has been the secret of success for the yuppie junk food restaurant called Schnack. Breakfast, lunch and dinner offers such staples as scrambled eggs, hot dogs, spicy fries, fat onion rings, fluffy fish and chips and of course beef burgers. There are specials too, like knockwurst and bacon in a Japanese coconut-curry sauce, served with rice, or the Cuban sandwich billed as 'pork heaven'. There are also many vegeterian options including Vegan hot dogs and Tofu Reuben sandwiches.
Address: 122 Union Street, Brooklyn
Food type: American

Hill Country
This bi-level, 250-seater restaurant celebrates the Texas barbecue, with smoked meats including ribs, sausage and the Hill Country speciality: slow smoked beef brisket. Meat is complemented by traditional southern sides and sweets, along with a Texan wine list. There are two bars and a stage for live music. Open daily from 12pm.
Address: 30 West 26th Street
Food type: American

Momofuku Ssam Bar
Chef David Chang has created a highly sought after, authentic, small-plate cuisine with a menu that changes constantly. The food bar's specialty is Asian, and dishes vary from Momos and ssam (steamed buns with meat fillings) to poached Mayan prawns and spicy squid salad. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Address: 207 Second Avenue
Food type: Oriental

El Sombrero
This Lower East Side eatery has been offering New Yorkers Mexican cuisine since 1984 where the burritos and tacos are to die for. Portions are generous and diners can enjoy the laid back atmosphere while listening to Latin hits booming out of the jukebox and sipping on margaritas. The flaming fajitas are highly recommended and quite a spectacle to see. El Sombrero stays open late and has soft lighting, making it a perfect late-night spot after an evening of out. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Address: 108 Stanton Street
Food type: Mexican

ACME Bar & Grill
With its exposed brick interior, the world's largest collection of hot sauce and Catfish and hickory chips delivered fresh from Mississippi, ACME Bar & Grill is as far south you have to go to enjoy the cuisine of the Deep South. Creole delights such as Louisiana Seafood gumbo or Creole Jambalaya on offer while Catfish and Po boys (a traditional submarine sandwich originating from Louisiana) are in abundance. The mashed potato is renowned by New York foodies and the diverse and delicious menu mixed with the warm hospitality of the South is enough to keep everyone coming back for more. Open daily for lunch and dinner and brunch on weekends.
Address: 9 Great Jones Street
Food type: American

Great Jones Café
With the Southern style menu being so flavoursome and diverse, one would almost expect to walk out of Great Jones Café onto Bourbon Street and dance with the minstrels of the Mardi Gras. Great Jones offers arguably some of the best home cooked food New York has to offer with dishes including the likes of Cajun popcorn crawfish, grilled ham steak with brown sugar glaze, pecan pie and Mississippi mud pie. The Cajun martini and smooth electric Lemonade are recommended. Open dinner, Tuesday to Friday for lunch and open for brunch on weekends.
Address: 54 Great Jones Street
Food type: American

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