Kasadela
Neighborhood: Manhattan/East Village

647 E. 11th Street
Between Avenues B & C
New York, NY 10009

Vicky L. writes: Kasadela is one of those rare places in NYC where the hype really delivers.  I went on a rainy Friday night with 2 other friends to celebrate a birthday dinner.

I liked how it was small but not crowded.  Probably fits about 18 - 20 people.  The…

L'orange Bleue
Neighborhood: Manhattan/SoHo

430 Broome St
New York, NY 10013

Russ W. writes: So I come here to meet some friends for a dinner party.  We had the long table in the back.  The food....love!  I had the Salad Orange Bleue, with blood orange segments.  I love blood orange.  Next I had the Cigares Marrocains, which are AMAZING!  I…

Burrito Box
Neighborhood: Manhattan/Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan/Theater District

885 9th Ave
New York, NY 10019

MiRIAM w. writes: After an evening of quizzing concierges on a Midtown patio, and skipping lunch to pick up the keys to my new apartment, I was, shall we say, a wee bit FAMISHED. . .

I looked up and saw Burrito Box, recognizing it from one of my earlier searches of…

Olive's Restaurant
Neighborhood: Manhattan/SoHo

120 Prince St
New York, NY 10012

Jessica A. writes: Thursday's special sandwich makes my mouth water. And water. Eat it. I'm not even a vegetarian. Just eat this. Oh my god.

Ridgewood Eats
Neighborhood: Queens/Ridgewood

903 Seneca Ave
Ridgewood, NY 11385

Phil M. writes: We order for delivery at my job from this place almost daily. The gyros are amazing and plentiful. Even their fried calamari taste amazing and for under 7 bucks you get plenty. One time they forgot something from one of our orders we placed and in no…

The Institute of Culinary Education
Neighborhood: Manhattan/Gramercy-Flatiron

50 W. 23rd Street
New York, NY 10010

Michelle M. writes: What can I say about ICE. It will always have a soft spot in my heart. I haven't taken many of the recreational classes here, but I graduated from their professional culinary program in Pastry and Baking Arts. I was very happy with the program…

Kemia Bar
Neighborhood: Manhattan/Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan/Theater District

630 9th Ave
New York, NY 10036

Ahu S. writes: I'm gonna echo the sentiment - this is a very sexy place. However, I think we went on the wrong night of the week. We got there at 9pm and got a fantastic table while the place was still empty, but by 11pm, I felt like I had gone back in time to my…

Marseille
Neighborhood: Manhattan/Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan/Theater District

630 9th Ave
New York, NY 10036

Javier M. writes: Ahh! Nothing like an early morning brunch right? Wrong, there is something more than that.

An early morning brunch in a nice french bistro, on a Parisian environment, teeming with art deco details, and with enchanting company for hours of…

Amarin Cafe
Neighborhood: Brooklyn/Williamsburg - North Side

617 Manhattan Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11222

Val S. writes: OMG...

I love Amarin, so so much.

I think that this restaurant single-handedly has cured my homesickness from moving out here from California.  Not that I've even had Thai food this good in California.  I guess the thought of eating Amarin is enough to…

Odeon
Neighborhood: Manhattan/TriBeCa

145 W Broadway
New York, NY 10013

Atif I. writes: "Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned."

Priest, "What is it that brings you here?"

"Well, Father, I used the F-word over the weekend."

"Oh, is that all? Say Five Hail Mary's and may the Lord be with you."

"But, I really need to talk about it."

"Let's…

Mikey's Hook Up
Neighborhood: Brooklyn/Williamsburg - North Side

88 N 6th St
Brooklyn, NY 11211

Nadja M. writes: I have the prerequisite curly-artistic hair, a disdain for matching clothes, and a general malaise when it comes to doing anything outside the realm of my desires.  (Y'know, like chores)
So, why can't I be artistic?

Around holidays such as Valentine's…

Croxley Ales Ale House

129 New Hyde Park Rd
Franklin Square, NY 11010

Damian K. writes: Me Drink Beer.  Croxley Many Beer Have.  Me Like Drink Croxley.

Yup.  This is a true Ale House.  And the same thing always happens.

Bartender::  "What can I get for ya?"

Me::  "Uuuuuuhhhhhhh.   Hmmm.  Lemme get erm....I'll have the uuhhh...."

Bartender::…

Nougatine

1 Central Park W
New York, NY 10023

Chi N. writes: Very hidden inside the trump international hotel towers.  Once inside you definitely know you won't find tourists here even though you are right next to central park.

Observe all the stainless steel pots around the entire kitchen!  Service was very…

Ugly Luggage

214 Bedford Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11211

jacqui o. writes: I bought my first piece of furniture ever at Ugly Luggage back in 1995 or 1996. I walked past this place every day from my apartment on S. 2nd to the subway. Great selection, especially when you consider how tiny the shop is. I miss that retro 60's…

Madison Square Park
Neighborhood: Manhattan/Gramercy-Flatiron

E 23rd St
New York, NY 10079

Ed U. writes: Wouldn't you think Madison Square Garden would be IN Madison Square Park?  Well, in fact, the Garden moved from this location sometime in the 1920's, but they didn't bother changing the name. Try explaining that to an ignorant tourist like myself.…

71 Irving Place Coffee & Tea Bar
Neighborhood: Manhattan/Gramercy-Flatiron

71 Irving Place
Between 18th and 19th Streets
New York, NY 10003

Sam P. writes: Heaven forbid I ever become bourgeois enough to live anywhere around here, but if I did, I feel quite sure I would spend a lot of time at 71 Irving.  The steps descend into a warm, dark, inviting coffee house with tables galore and everything from a…

Osteria Al Doge
Neighborhood: Manhattan/Theater District

142 W 44th St
New York, NY 10036

Victor L. writes: Absolutely lovely Italian restaurant off of the Times Square hustle and bustle. Its very quaint, the decor is really cute and, well, italian. I rarely use lovely and cute in the same day, much less the same paragraph. The host was boisterous and…

La Villa
Neighborhood: Brooklyn/Park Slope

261 5th Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11215

Jodi V. writes: Good food, nice place, reasonably priced.  They were also very cooperative when a take-out order got messed up.  In the end, it was our mistake, but they still came through.

Big Wing Wong
Neighborhood: Manhattan/Little Italy

102 Mott Street
New York, NY 10013

Kain V. writes: Best Cantonese Chinese restaurant in Chinatown.  I have tried many but none of them tops Big Wing Wong.  It's a small restaurant but it's always crowded with mostly Asians.  The food is that good.  Their noodle and rice dishes are awesome.  They make…

Paradou
Neighborhood: Manhattan/West Village, Manhattan/Meatpacking District

8 Little West 12th St
New York, NY 10014

Shannon B. writes: Oh, Paradou, maybe it's the champagne talking, but I love you.

Small, Blue, European-- your outdoor area is tucked away down a back hallway. I was surprised that it wasn't packed with people, besides our group of 16 and three other sweaty, smiling…

Casimir
Neighborhood: Manhattan/East Village

103 Avenue B
New York, NY 10009

Chris H. writes: "What!???  You'll have to speak up, I can't hear you!"  

"I said, How's the duck confit??!?"

"Yeah, i'm pretty comfy, howabout yourself!?"

Oh the misery of eating at an over-ly loud restaurant.  As restaurants go, Casimir is one of the loudest.  Every…

Les Enfants Terribles
Neighborhood: Manhattan/Chinatown

37 Canal Street
New York, NY 10002

Joan C. writes: Great place to meet frenchmen or francophiles esp. during "football" season.  Or more recently during the rugby world cup.  

Not that that's why I frequent this place....
*innocent*  
I come for the ambiance!!  Which is truly lovely.  ;)

Totonno's Manhattan
Neighborhood: Manhattan/Upper East Side

1544 2nd Ave
New York, NY 10028

Jessica B. writes: Without question, this is where I want to eat when I don't care about calories on a Friday movie night:

Large bianca pizza
Pint of whatever ice cream they have home-made that day

If they deliver it - add a little olive oil to the pizza, oven at 375 for…

The Cutting Room

19 W 24th St
New York, NY 10010

Tori K. writes: "Le Scandal "... NY's longest running Burlesque/variety show- every Saturday night at "The Cutting Room" - is not to be missed!  I don't recall how I ever ended up on stage-all the sudden I was in bright red star shaped Pasties, rainbow glitter, dyed…

Cookshop
Neighborhood: Manhattan/Chelsea

156 10th Ave
New York, NY 10011

MiRIAM w. writes: After hiking together in Kauai, rearranging the furniture in my San Francisco apartment and braving summer thunderstorms in Chicago to eat Weiner Circle hot dogs together, it seemed fitting that Nic and I would end up living in New York at the same…

Second Ave Deli
Neighborhood: Manhattan/Murray Hill

162 E 33rd St
New York, NY 10003

Gourmet G. writes: A neighborhood institution since 1954, it's everything a Jewish delicatessen should be . . . a no-frills place to nosh on a sky-high corned beef or pastrami sandwich with a side of tangy cole slaw and a crisp Kosher pickle, a steaming bowl of matzoh…

Patsy's Pizzeria
Neighborhood: Manhattan/Greenwich Village

67 University Pl
New York, NY 10023

Srini V. writes: New York has the best pizza, notwithstanding continued claims by some Yalies that New Haven has the "... best pizza outside of Naples".  Now, in rating New York pizza, the issue is almost entirely mine.  I don't always look for the same qualities in…

N Y Historical Society
Neighborhood: Manhattan/Upper West Side

170 Central Park W Fl 1
New York, NY 10024

Sienna K. writes: One of the best assignments I ever received was to study an 18th century cabinet for an hour and then write a six paged paper based on my observations; for someone who grew up with the biased view of history being forged by great men and their…

Aja Asian Bistro
Neighborhood: Manhattan/Midtown East

1068 1st Ave
New York, NY 10022

Natalia J. writes: Do NOT get the ceviche. It was a mixture of lemon+lime juice with 2 or 3 frozen shrimp. Yeah, don't make the same mistake we did.

Sashimi and sushi were fresh, good sake (sneaky waitress filled my glass every time without me noticing), and nice…

Cheeburger Cheeburger

18 Soundview Marketplce
Port Washington, NY 11050

Allison G. writes: Completely delicious, completely customizable cheeseburgers! What I love about Cheeburger Cheeburger is this:

1.) Select your size of burger (the smallest is always the best for me -- and I can hardly finish it!)
2.) choose your cheese (many kinds to…

Peter Luger Steak House

255 Northern Boulevard
Great Neck, NY 11021

Judith G. writes: This place should be illegal (and may soon be, if the anti-trans fat people get their way.)

Mmm....just thinking about this gets me salivating.

I have never been to the Brooklyn location.  Just happy enough to return here, anytime.

I always get the…

Panera Bread

165 Old Country Road
Carle Place, NY 11514

Kathleen B. writes: This Panera location is very poorly laid out, as the outside door is right in the middle of the seating area.  You have to walk through the narrow seating area in order to get in line to order your food.  Every time I've been in here there are women…

Bowery Poetry Club
Neighborhood: Manhattan/East Village

308 Bowery
New York, NY 10012

Andrew J. writes: I had the privilege of playing on the stage here with my sketch comedy troupe, The Gashouse Gorillas.  We had a great time and the crowd was awesome.  The staff was also very welcoming and fun.  The bartender was nice enough to buy all the performers…

Monster
Neighborhood: Manhattan/West Village

80 Grove Street
New York, NY 10014

luis .. writes: If there is a cover I wouldn't know since they didn't charge me one when I visited.  I guess us straight boys get all the special treatment with our virginal buttholes and all that good stuff.  And unlike the movie by the same name there were no…

Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory

1 Water Street
Fulton Ferry Landing Pier
Brooklyn, NY 11230

Nic B. writes: 1 star - Beautiful view of downtown Manhattan from everywhere.  Really gorgeous at any time of day or night.
+
1 star - Taking the water taxi for ice cream (you can catch it in Murray Hill on 34th along the water) and sitting on a bench together by the…

Blue Smoke

116 E 27th St
New York, NY 10016

Tony L. writes: Sometimes a restaurant is so right you don't know what to do with yourself.  Blue Smoke is one of the best BBQ experiences I've ever had in New York.  There was just the right amount of food for everybody at the table, and the BBQ was fantastic.

When…

Paley Center for Media
Neighborhood: Manhattan/Midtown East

25 W. 52nd Street
Between Fifth Avenue and Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019

Mingus R. writes: Somehow I was expecting exhibits with memorabilia, props, etc. What I got was an archive which in and of itself was really intriguing.  I mean, what child of the 70's/80's doesn't like to revisit those old fav's that aren't currently in syndication.…

Tahini
Neighborhood: Manhattan/East Village

23 3rd Ave
New York, NY 10003

Srini V. writes: Yes, you can find cheaper falafel or even better falafel in the city, the latter with some difficulty.   But I challenge you to find a better combination of price and quality in your falafel than what is offered day after day at Chickpea.

I originally…

Delphinium Home
Neighborhood: Manhattan/Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan/Theater District

653 9th Ave
New York, NY 10036

Jessica F. writes: Delphinium is a much-needed and handy store to have in this neighborhood.  It's relatively inexpensive and has something for everyone.  We picked up picture frames for my sister and my parents at Hanukkah time, a rubber duck for my nephew and I was…