Jean-Georges

It is currently this reviewers top pick for dining in the Manhattan. The room (tranquil yet busy), the service (polite and attentive) and the food (simply the best and still prepared under the eye of Jean Gorge V himself) are simply the finest. The wine list is legendary (and Frank once saw a bottle for sale that was also at anti-workingman Napoleon Bonaparte’s coronation as Emperor for more than I will ever spend on a wine, or a boat for that matter). Excellent experiences that come with special occasions can be enhanced by great food and this restaurant can really come in handy.

Grub: 9.25
Vibe: 9.25
Damage: $$$$+

- Frank O'Phile

Jean-Georges
1 Central Park West
New York, NY 10023
(212)299-3900

Artisinal

The room is vast and Terry Brennan has built a sweet bistro that rivals Balthazar in its ability to please the working palates of this city (on the former site of Larry Forgione’s An American Place Restaurant of 15 years ago). The wine list alone makes this a must-visit with over 200 bottles by the glass (offering a great variety for the price)! The kitchen is steady, but the cheese is the draw here – it is made by artisinal cheesemakers who care about the quality of their name. So if you like wine and the abundance of “fromages” it offers from around the world (many not pasteurized by US guidelines thank goodness), they can be ordered by the flight (6 cheeses or a dozen – you pick some and let the cheese monger do the rest). Try the Primadonna Blue, which will remind you of a Pixie Stix when it hits your tongue. Depending on the season and the supply (they once billed themselves as having the most int’l cheese in North America) and, while unsure if they can still make that boast on a Wednesday night (Murray’s Cheese Shop might take issue), it's a place that can still make for a wonderful night.

Grub: 8.25
Vibe: 8.25
Damage: $$$-$$$$
Faves: Primadonna Blue

- Frank O’Phile

Artisinal
32nd and Park Ave.
New York, NY
(at the nexus of where Park Ave meets it’s downtown cousin Park Ave South)

Yakitori Torys

I'd wouldn't be lying if I said that I didn't like to eat the grilled soft-knee bone of chicken because of it's weirdly crunchy cartilage texture. However, I would be lying if I said that the salty and fatty taste of any of the crispy, grilled random chicken parts, in the case of Yakitori Torys, wasn't completely awesome with an ice cold Sapporo draft in a stone cup. Because it is, and I don't like to lie.

Grub: 7
Vibe: 7
Damage: $$$
Faves: chicken tail, chicken oyster, chicken skin, tender simmered pork, shishito, kobe beef tongue

-Hannibal Nectar

Yakitori Torys
248 E. 52nd St
New York, NY 10022
Tel: (212)813-1800
map

Saul

After passing by Saul several times, thinking that it was just another so-so French or American restaurant in Brooklyn, I decided to give it a shot. The deal was sealed after I noticed...it has a friggin Michelin star! The fact that it was topped off with a 27 rating for food in Zagat got me hook, line and sinker. Yeah, I take those ratings seriously most of the time. In this case, I am 110% glad that I did, because this joint served one of the best meals that I've had in awhile. They call it "New American", I call it "OFF THE FUCKING HOOK."

Grub: 9
Vibe: 8.5
Damage: $$$+

-Hannibal Nectar

Saul
140 Smith St.
Brooklyn, NY 11201
718-935-9844
map

Stone Park Cafe

Every so often a restaurant opens up in Park Slope that offers hope to poor souls looking to do more than just fill up their empty stomachs. One that aims to tame the palate and provide a proper dining experience. After several visits, I have never walked out of Stone Park feeling like my limited cash was wasted on a trendy place striving to serve a menu of creative or fusion style food, but only ends up serving overseasoned, overpriced and underportioned plates of slop served by moonlighting wannabe actors with bronzed skin and whitened teeth. No. Rather, I have walked out feeling like I may have spent just a little too much on really good and honest food served in a simple cafe like atmosphere without pretension or an ounce of disappointment.

Grub: 7
Vibe: 7
Damage: $$-$$$
Faves: Mushroom Risotto, Beef Short Rib Sandwich, Burger, Scallops, Cobb Salad

-Hannibal Nectar

Stone Park Cafe
324 Fifth Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11215
718-369-0082
map

Wolfgang's Steakhouse

Being a hardcore proponent of Peter Luger's, I was a bit hesitant to drop a load of dough on a steakhouse that came recommended by a friend who would just as soon order Pizza Hut as he would John's of Bleecker St. Sure, I had heard all the hubbub about Wolfgang's being opened by a head waiter from Luger's, but I had also been burned before by a few other pricey meat joints said to be as good. Fortunately, my craving for a juicy steak had made me somewhat vulnerable to the idea of checking it out anyway. Long story short, I went to Wolfgang's with the work crew and then again for more, because, quite frankly, it has a porterhouse that tastes 99% like the Lugermeister-Meisterluger's and it's a Hell of a lot easier to get into on short notice. The douch baggery of some of the waiters could even be mistaken for that of their Brooklyn brethren. I'LL BE BACH.

Grub: 8
Vibe: 6
Damage: $$$-$$$$

-Hannibal Nectar

Wolfgang's Steakhouse
4 Park Ave.
New York, NY 10016
212-889-3369
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=4+park+ave,+nyc&sll=40.719811,-74.008906&sspn=0.008115,0.014613&ie=UTF8&ll=40.747777,-73.982062&spn=0.008112,0.014613&z=16&iwloc=addr

Applewood

Blah, blah, blah...fucking awesome food...blah, blah, blah...creative menu...blah, blah, blah...super-friendly service...blah, blah, blah...get there early or you could be waiting awhile...

Grub: 8
Vibe: 8
Damage: $-$$$

-Hannibal Nectar

Applewood
501 11th St.
Brooklyn, NY 11215
718-768-2044
map