I'm heading to NYC for the holidays and plan on eating to my heart's content (or discontent for that matter) for two dinners out. Being somewhat of a restaurant junkie, I want these meals to be the best possible. What are your picks?

Ryan:

This catagory has been covered so many times...but I will always vote for Gramercy Tavern!!

JOHN

Sorry, I know this is a somewhat beaten topic, but so many of the responses are full of opinions...just names is what I'm trying to get at.

Patria
Patroon
Bellini
Mercer Kitchen
Ruby Foo's on Broadway (wild atmosphere, good food)

ryan,
You need to give a little more information in order to get serious responses. Do you have a price limit? Do you want casual or more formal?
Do you want good old steak and potatoes or Noveau French?

Jakes's response might be appropriate if you are looking for value.

If you don't care about cost, then Le Bernadin, Nobu, Jean Georges, La Grenouille, and Aureole might suit you. Less formal but no less impressive on food (and cost) are Il Mulino, Babbo, Blue Water Grill, and the Union Square Cafe.


My suggestion is that you go to the zagats.com website and sort by the criteria that best meets you need. FYI, you'll need a reservation and soon at any top restaurant.

Gotham Bar & Grill, 12th Street

1. Chanterelle
2. Bouley Bakery
3. Picholine

Gotham Bar and Grill has extraordinary food, but the room is so big and noisy. It reminds me of eating in my high school cafeteria.

Lighten up guys. He asked what "your" best picks are not which would be best for him. It's a valid question. My favorites are:

1) Nobu
2) Gramercy Tavern
3) Blue Ribbon Sushi

I travel to NYC all the time and one of my absolute favorites is a restaurant owned by Robert DeNiro. Its called The Tribecca Grill. To die for! Enjoy

My two suggestions probably aren't the hottest or the trendiest in the city but they serve a generous portion of delicious food...York Imperial (it is not Asian as the name suggests)...York Imperial is on York Avenue in the 80's and it serves one of the best filet mignons I have ever tasted...and Brunelli's on York Avenue serves great Italian food...the staff is friendly and the service is very good at both locations...Brunelli's has a special family night on Sundays when children eat free.

Ryan:
If you're going in 3 weeks or less you may not have many choices.
Perhaps the most efficient thing to do would be to see who even has tables available.
Most of the places mentioned above book up completely 4 weeks in advance.

Some places that book up also have a "no reservations" section. The 3 palces I mentioned all seat without reservations ("Next Door Nobu" in that case rather than Nobu itself)

Just FYI

Daniel
Daniel
Daniel
Park AVenue Cafe

My favorite three fancy places tonight are Picholine, March and Le Bernardin.