from french tourists who go at least one time in NY/year :
1?)The firts in service and quality : Gramercy tavern, both lunch or dinner, and the grill at gramercy for lunch is
terrible in quality for the price.

2?)the café@america in upper east side for lunch.

3?)Le café des artistes for the romantic cadre and the food is a good declinaison of a "brasserie" style...

4?)Vinces & eddies in Upper west side,
dor a "classic" food without pretention and dessert are a must.

5?)Oyster bar is good, but for us overrated, carnegie deli for the fun, but can be missed.nd vaenue if you really want a deli is the adress.

Babette,I would recommend at least one place that is NOT expensive, no tourist, and has great atmosphere. Jeremy's Ale House. The best time is weekdays at lunch when the watermen are getting off for the day. Get the calmari platter. And bring an extra bra....

http://www.jeremysalehouse.com/

River Cafe
Best meal I have EVER had - yes it's in Brooklyn right across the river - but ask for a table by the window and you get an amazing view of the city to go with a fantastic dining experience.

kind of a unique NY experience is going to "one if by land, two if by sea". it's sort of overrated, but it is EXTREMELY romantic and you can bar hop in the village afterward.

I agree with LilMisFoodie and Flopmeister about One if by Land. Hubby took me for birthday dinner there last year and it was fabulous. The atmsophere, ambience, service and food were all great.

agree about La Bernadin. The food is incredible but exptremely expensive. The atmosphere is nil...very dull inside but then you are paying for the food and the fabulous service. Book way in advance.....Shar

Many great suggestions above, but no one has mentioned Gotham Bar and Grill, somewhat along the lines of Grammercy Tavern. I really love the outstanding food and its presentation (Alfred Portale (sp?) originated the towering food concept) as well as always very friendly and professional service. And how can you not consider the upscale warehouse space with a statue of liberty in the middle a great New York experience?

My votes go to Carmine's-Great italian/Great portions and alot of fun. We like the one on 44th st.

A dim sum parlor in China town for great asian tastes.

The Four Seasons/Cafe Des Artists/Tavern on the Green/ Altier in the Ritz Carlton(I think this is the best food) for French/Continental.

For those on a tight budget and a desire for some real good New York eating:

1. Essa Bagel
2. Greys Papaya
3. Yaffa Cafe
4. Katz Deli
5. Eisenberg's Sandwich
6. Hot Dog at Yankee Stadium

Whoops, that's six -- but you can probably eat at all of them for the price of one of the above restaurants!

Dinners:

Babbo
Daniel
(good luck w/ those reservations)

Lunches:

Katz Deli
Patsy Grimaldi's Pizza (just across the Brooklyn Bridge)
Le B (true, the room is not too exciting for a night out, so do lunch?)

These are my suggestions, grouped by theme:

My Favorite Truly Great Restaurants
Aquavit (one of my very favorite restaurants in the world)
Peter Luger's
Union Square Cafe (impeccable everything and a truly delightful dining experience)
Daniel
Nobu (say "omakase" and let the chef choose your meal)

Less Pricey Options at Truly Great Restaurants
Gotham Bar & Grill $20.02 prix fixe lunch
Aquavit $35 (I think) prix fixe lunch
Bouley $35 prix fixe lunch
Bread Bar below Tabla $20 prix fixe lunch
Jean Georges $20.02 prix fixe lunch

Adventurous Cuisine - Pricey
WD-50 and/or 71 Clinton Fresh Foods (Wylie Dufresne's lower east side restaurants)
Craft (make your own meals! can be intimidating, but they'll help you out, and it's delicious)

Adventurous Cusiine - Less Pricey
aka Cafe (right across from WD-50; saw Sarah Jessica Parker in there last time)
Craftbar

Romantic
River Cafe (under the Brooklyn Bridge)
Cafe des Artistes

Breakfast/Brunch
Isabellas (I concur with jcny26 - always a delicious and satisfying meal)
Balthazar (get the bread basket, a cheese plate, a fruit plate, and you're set)
Grange Hall (Greenwich Village)

I Like Cheese!
Artisinal

Quintessential NYC Places that I Really, Really Miss
Grimaldi's (pizza, right under the Brooklyn side of the Brooklyn Bridge)
Arturo's (pizza, Houston @ Thompson St., the conventional wisdom is that the nearby Lombardi's is better, but I disagree...also, it's a quintessential Village hangout
Pearl Oyster Bar and/or Mary's Fish Camp
(Greenwich Village restaurants channeling Maine, with excellent lobster rolls; actress/comedienne Amy Sedaris sometimes waitresses at MFC)
BB Sandwich Bar (all they make are cheesesteaks, and they run out by about 2pm)

Unique, legendary, can't believe no one's mentioned THE RAINBOW ROOM. The food may not be "tops" but the view, decor, live music, history of the place is unbelievable. I haven't been since Cipriani took it over but it's about the experience more than the food. Look for info on cipriani.com

Bayard's (bayards.com)-another unique place-the building was, amongst other things, the old NY Cotton Exchange. Has excellent food & great surroundings. Walk around the corner to the narrow cobbelstone street & you'll feel you're in a time machine.

Finally, Le Cirque 2000, set in the old Villard apartments at the Palace Hotel. There's only one of these!

And I'm supposed to narrow it down to three now??? Thanks for all your delicious suggestions. I can't wait and will report back on our meals!

I'd have to vote for Tavern on the Green, late at night. I *know* the food isn't the best, but it is an experience. The really cool part is, after you eat there, you will start noticing how many times Tavern on the Green is used in films. It's nice to think - "I ate there." It is definitely memorable.

Here are some great ethnic choices:

Indonesian - Eastannah in SoHo (more ambiance - get the peanut pancake for dessert) or Bali Nusa Inda near Times Square on 9th Ave (get the Java chicken w/special soy sauce).

Seeda Thai on 50th off 8th Ave

Afghan - Bamiyan in Murray Hill - sit on the floor on cushions and have the pasta with yogurt sauce

Middle Eastern - Cafe Cairo, a hooka bar/restaurant up the block from Katz's - get the $9 combo platter; it's enough for two people

If you're in SoHo and you want a snack, check out Rice to Riches, which is like a Baskin Robbins for rice pudding. You'll probably want to share because it's a big serving, but they'll let you try the flavors and have two flavors in one container.