In 1986, sibling owners Maguy and Gilbert Le Coze opened Le Bernardin in New York after finding phenomenal success with their flagship restaurant in Paris, established in 1972. The duo won numerous accolades at the helm of this culinary destination, and it has continued to thrive under Chef Éric Ripert, named executive chef in 1994. Seafood has been the inspiration behind the menu at Le Bernardin since its conception. The tasting menu takes diners through courses filled with delicacies like Osetra caviar, Dungeness crab, Lobster Tail, and Black Bass. Patrons can also enjoy delectable small plates and handcrafted cocktails from the lounge if they wish to do so.
Chic and supremely popular, Gramercy Tavern is known among the Manhattan elite for its excellent service, superb food, plush interiors, and extensive wine list. The restaurant boasts two distinct dining options: you can enjoy a cozy, à la carte meal in the Tavern or indulge in the prix fixe experience in the Dining Room. Chef Michael Anthony proudly sources ingredients from local vendors, creating sensational dishes that change with the seasons. Whether you're snacking on treats like Wagyu pastrami and fluke tartare in the Tavern or reveling in courses like pork belly with peaches and strawberry brown butter cake for dessert in the Dining Room, you're sure to be amazed by Gramercy Tavern.
The Dead Rabbit has been lauded for many things: being the "Best Bar in North America," the "World's Best Bar," and offering the "World's Best Cocktail Menu" among them. This sophisticated Irish pub meets classy cocktail lounge has something for everyone, be it the stellar selection of craft beers in the taproom, more than 70 vintage cocktails in the upstairs parlor, or festive bands and DJs featured weekly. Hungry crowds can choose between elevated bar snacks like cheese and charcuterie plates or heartier dishes like the rabbit burger. There's even a gourmet grocery attached where foodies can stock up on artisan goods. Experience the flow of conversation among fashionable guests on the first and second floors of The Dead Rabbit or book the top floor for a private event.
Croxley Ales certainly offers plenty of selection, with nearly 60 lagers and ales on draught in each of their three New York locations. Friendly servers offer up lunch, dinner, late night, and Sunday brunch menus... plus a Monday to Friday happy hour from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 10¢ wings on Mondays and Wednesdays! Special beer promotions and weekly line-ups, with the kitchen open until 1 a.m., keep Croxley lively until late into the night. See website for further details.
Located by New Jersey's waterfront, Son Cubano offers its guests a great dining experience by the sparkling waters of the Hudson. At Son Cubano, guests can relish the delectable Cuban fare as they gaze at New York city's spectacular skyline. Weekends is the best time to visit this place; you can unwind at the bar and sway to the gentle beats of the music. You can also drop in on a Sunday to devour on a typical Cuban brunch. Do try out the Mojito: a Cuban classic cocktail. If you are planning to dine in this sophisticated space, remember to leave your sneakers and t-shirts at home.
Experience what it is like being in an Austro-Hungarian beer garden right at the heart of Hoboken, New Jersey. This charming gem of a beer garden is known for its brewery-like ambiance accentuated with large wooden tables, high ceiling hall and small but a vibrant, smoker-friendly garden space. Needless to say, its bar menu has a collection of German beers with as many as 20 draft beers that are directly imported from Germany. It also has a selection of 50 American as well as European beers, much to the delight of even the most discerning beer-lover. If you are in mood for cocktails then the Kolo Klub loft lounge and private event space inside the Pilsener Haus is just the right place to sip on the tasty mixes churned out by the bartenders. As for the food, Pilsener Haus serves traditional European delicacies like grilled sausages, smoked Polish kielbasa and beef burgers, prepared under the guidance of the expert chef Thomas Ferlesch. Its vibrant ambiance is further upheld with the live music events and movie screenings. Be ready to sip on your favorite beer and listen to Gypsy Jazz music in company of your friends. A perfect place for an after-work hangout, walk in here and live the German pub-life.
If you love chicken, Yakitori Totto ('yakitori' meaning grilled chicken) is for you. Start with their skewer appetizers and Japanese or Korean vodka served with a real grapefruit half, and then move on to the chicken served in uncountable ways. Your order will be taken on Palm Pilot in this upscale restaurant and don't forget to try the apricot kernel panna cotta before you leave.
The sculpture of a giant nose appearing in the window of this spot will let you know you are in the right place. Located across the street from Carnegie Hall, Trattoria Dell’Arte is one of Manhattan's best places to enjoy antipasti and thin-crust pizzas. The pumpkin-colored dining room is bright and beautiful, and the food, service and ambience are all good. It is often crowded, but worth the wait. Try the grilled vegetable platter, veal chop parmigiana or the grilled shrimp. Check website for details.
So you think you know what hamburgers is all about? Wrong. One visit to Vizio's and you encounter hamburgers in every possible variety of stuffing. Try their ostrich burger, Kobe burger, bison burger, elk burger and even wild boar burgers! Not just that, there are a range of grilled foods, sandwiches, appetizers, side dishes and salads to indulge in. Pork Chops with mashed potatoes and gravy is yummy! All products used are natural and free of trans-fat, antibiotics, and growth hormones making it a haven for the health freaks. Their brunch menu including Eggs Benedict is very popular with locals. Top any of these with a 'fiberactive' or 'fruitilicious smoothie'. Or keep it simple and have a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice instead.
Amidst crystal chandeliers and high ceilings, savor popular Italian dishes like pasta, pizza and gnocchi at Serafina. This trendy restaurant is a popular place among locals to grab a quick bite and curb their hankering for food from the "Boot". Notable dishes on the menu would be the pizza marinara and the risotto. The menu is inspired by Northern Italian cuisine and successfully strives to recreate the same magic of the Apennines. The intimate venue is ideal for parties as well as cozy dinners. Be sure to try the desserts here too, especially the berry tarts and the Tiramisu.
Redeye Grill is a big and lively place with an extensive menu. The ceilings are high, murals cover the walls and crowds are constant, yet it is not overly noisy in either of the two dining rooms. Owner Sheldon Fireman appeals to his customer's desire for variety, offering everything from diner food to fine dining. The menu includes burgers, club sandwiches, black sea bass and lobster. The service is good and the atmosphere is upbeat. Try out Redeye Grill for the best of steaks.
Located in Midtown, Tanner Smith is a modern-day speakeasy with the trappings of an era gone by. Seat yourself at the main bar area inspired by a 20th century libation house. The namesake, Tanner Smith was associated with bootleggers from the Prohibition Era, which is where this old-time cocktail bar derives its name. While the ground level bar has elements of taxidermy, is strewn with teapots and carries a saloon-eqsue air, the underground space is where creative cocktails are served, some even in tea-pots and tea-cups. Dig into small plates, cured meats, burgers and flat-breads to soak up the booze.