Need a list of fine restaurants and bars in Manhattan

[El Presidente]

Need a list of fine restaurants and bars in Manhattan

I have a foodie Brisbane mate who loves great food and fine wine and excellent bars.

Could our NY/Manhattan members please post the better places based on your experience that he should go to. A name of the establishment, if possible an address and telephone number. These can be non smoking abodes as Glen is a non cigar smoker (Yes.....BOOOOOOO!).

He does however prepare my breakfast every morning at "Harveys" the local breakfast joint for 6-7 of us FOH locals :-D

He loves great food (be it local grub or fine dining), great clubs (wine and music).

All help is appreciated.

[CIGARHead]

Rob,

Every time I visit fam in NY we go to Uncle Jack's Steakhouse. Damn fine establishment, with great service and food. Try the Kobe Steak..

[link=http://www.unclejacks.com/newyorkcityrestaurants/media/unclejacksnewyorkcity.html]Uncle Jack's Website[/link]

[Claudius]

Del Frisco's was very nice (very good food, killer wine list, fine spirits, cigar lounge), but last time I went was in 2000, so things may have changed...

[havanaclub7]

Alas, Manhattan has gone completely smoke free. None of the restaurants have cigar lounges anymore.

[geoffrie]

Here's some personal favorites.... a ton of other places as well. Any request for a certain cuisine?

This is high end ... will work on "local grub" and other bars.

In general, citysearch.com can be helpful

Fig & Olive:

http://www.figandolive.com/downtown.html

West 13st Street Meatpcking District. Mediterranean tapas. Good wine list. (Was there last night)

Keens Chophouse:

http://www.keens.com/

Tremendous selection of single malts. Good muttonchop and prime rib. Aged Steaks as well

The Brandy Library

http://brandylibrary.com/sections2007/home.htm

In Tribeca, a swanky bar. Great selection of cognac, armagnacs, and calvados. Underrated food.

Morimoto

http://www.morimotonyc.com/

Iron Chief guy. Go for the Duck Duck Duck

Del Posto

http://www.delposto.com/home.htm

A Mario Batali place. Upscale Italian. Runs about 100USD per person ... maybe more depedning on your taste in wine. Great Service.

Crif Dogs (my favorite)

http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/11651062/

East village dive ... great hot dogs ... get the tsunami ... bacon wrapped dog with teriyaki sauce and pineapple. Or the Spicy Redneck... bacon wrapped dog with cole slaw, chili, and jalapenos. Bring your own Mylanta.

[geoffrie]

» Alas, Manhattan has gone completely smoke free. None of the restaurants

» have cigar lounges anymore.

Not entirely true.... but mostly true

Club Macanudo on the Upper East Side: good food, not great, but adequate

Florio's in (Very) Little Italy: Say hi to Larry from me and get the stuffed veal chop!

[tigger]

» Alas, Manhattan has gone completely smoke free. None of the restaurants

» have cigar lounges anymore.

I think Merchants and a few other places allow smoking in their lounges, but they're few and far between.

As to the OP, DelFriscos has a great reputation.

Wish I could come up with more names, but my MO when we go into the city is to wander around until we find something that looks good and give it a try. Kind of hit or miss, but it's fun. And then I never remember the names of any of the good places we find.

[Digi]

This is great info, thanks guys. I'm going to be in Manhattan for two weeks on business at the end of September; I've never been before.

[CelticBasque]

As far as clubs go, I understand that Scores is very popular with Aussies...

[link]http://friendsofhabanos.com/board_entry.php?id=59125&page=0&category=all&order=last_answer&descasc=DESC[/link]

[The Wise Old owl]

Every one should visit " Tavern on the Green", just so you can say you did. (I did) very nice filet mignon. I've never been to the restaurant "Daniel" but I've read many good reviews of it, the Sommelier has a reputation for being very knowledgeable and is said to be quite the expert at pairing the perfect wine/food combinations. The wine list there is also legendary, as I'm sure are the prices. Of course, the hot dogs from the push carts are pretty good, too... Try the "Hello Deli" at lunchtime for a good Rueben, but bring an appetite. Oh, and I don't live in NY, but I do visit every so often. The list of things to do in the city so great, they had to name it twice, well, it just never ends!

[havanaclub7]

You're right about the "Tavern on the Green." It is a great place to visit - what a wonderful landmark and the food is good.

When I was in New York City for the Republican Convention in 2004, I was told that there wasn't smoking anywhere. I'm not sure what the specifics are, but I wouldn't expect to be able to smoke in a lot of places.

[Jimmy2]

Cru

Greenwich Village

24 Fifth Avenue - (at 9th St.)

Manhattan, New York

Phone: 212-529-1700

Fax: 212-529-6300

If you want the best wine selection in the City well the country this is the place to be and the food is excellent but be warned its very $$$ when buying GREAT bottles of wine but that why we go to a place like this.But again you get what you pay for if you want the best dinning experanice.Go there you will not be disappointed!!!!!!

If you go try the Chiefs menu he truly is an artist its amazing what he serves up for you.

Cuisine: European, Fusion/Eclectic

Specialties: Crudo; sea bass with wild mushroom goulash, watercress, and coconut puree; sweet potato beignet with huckleberry compote, vanilla-Pernod ice cream, and Boylan's Root Beer.

Wine List: One of NYC's exceptional wine lists with over 3,500 selections. Over 50 wines are available by the glass.

Executive Chef: Shea Gallante

Pastry Chef: Tiffany MacIsaac

Wine Director: Robert Bohr

Sommelier: John Slover

Sommelier: Josh Nadel

Sommelier: Alex Miranda

Other Features: Tasting menu

Dress: Business Casual

The New York Times 10/20/20004 Top Pick

"Up until dessert, most of the dishes at Cru are splendid." - Frank Bruni

New York Magazine 10/18/2004 Critics' pick

"the only thing more impressive than the 65,000-bottle wine collection is the food." - Adam Platt

Citysearch

"Rich, sensuous cuisine, with equal attention to texture and presentation as to taste." - Erin Behan

Gayot

"The wine list, built by one of the owners, contains vintages not often found in restaurants."

Augieland 3/12/2006

"It is a very special thing when your neighborhood joint trades in the exceptional."

Veal Cheeks 2/19/2006

"In general, at Cru the simpler the dish, the more satisfying." - Gary Alan Fine

[Tampa1257]

Florio's in (Very) Little Italy:

Everything I tasted there was out of this world! Sitting outside, very European smoking cigars, OK, maybe a little civil disobeadence, but being in Little Italy well, if you are in New York, You Owe it to yourself to experience Florio's, you will not be disappointed.

[Jimmy2]

Florio's is alright for Italian but being Italian and living in NY Tampa there are much better GEMS as far as eating.

If your ever in town i will take you to some that have real Italian home cooking.

[PartagasIV]

If you're in the mood for fish, one of my top 5 meals in NY has been at Le Bernardin, on W.51st. Good for a pre-Broadway show, and honestly, I have never had more incredible flavors out of a dinner than at this place. 4 of 5 for price, but an almost unmatched experience, foodie or not. The deserts are also amazing.

Sample dinner menu:

http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.le-...uvIgY-CQD92D_9A

[jgros001]

My two favorites:

Vincent's (Little Italy)

http://anotherreason.com/vincents/index.html

**the gnocchi with the hot sauce - out of this world

**not on the main drag in Little Italy but I think the food stands up to anyone's

Sevilla (Greenwich Village)

http://www.sevillarestaurantandbar.com/welcome.html

**My favorite for Paella and Sangria

[connoiseur29]

I'm a native new yorker, will be moving back to the region in a year.

My selections are:

Abboccato 136 W. 55th St.

Hatsuhana 17 E. 48th St. Midtown East

Puglia 189 Hester St. Little Italy

Daniel 60 E. 65th St. Upper East Side

Oceana 55 E. 54th St. Midtown East

Peking Duck House 28 Mott St. Chinatown

Pastrami Queen 1125 Lexington Ave. Upper East Side

Il laboratorio de gelato 95 Orchard St. Lower East Side

Pasticceria Bruno 245 Bleecker St. West Village

Lombardi’s Pizzeria 32 Spring St.

Uncle George’s Greek Tavern 33-19 Broadway Astoria, Queens

Nathan's Famous 1310 Surf Ave Coney Island, Brooklyn

and don't forget the coffee and bagel from the coffee carts on the corners around penn station or around wall street for 2 dollars. It's good coffee.

[Jimmy2]

Oceana 55 E. 54th St. Midtown East thats a great one to Connie good choice.

Little Italy is nothing more than a tourist destination.

Some of the best Italian in the city is.

Babbo

110 Waverly Pl., New York, NY 10011

nr. Sixth Ave.

212-777-0303

The most exciting Italian restaurant in town serves food you'll never find in Little Italy. A staff as smart as you want your kids to be helps. So do two uncomplicated floors suffused in honeyed amber light, as easy to get comfy in as a calf-skin slip-on. But what will stun, fool, bewitch, and ultimately obsess you is chef Mario Batali's staggeringly original yet startlingly airy Italian cooking. Ever try goat-cheese tortellini dusted in dried orange and wild-fennel pollen? Or spicy lamb sausage romanced by mint love letters and a paste of sweet peas? Get ready. Ingredients you didn't expect or have never heard of are about to become unforgettable. Hot-chili-flecked linguine and clams will make you lose your composure. Just get it together enough to make another reservation before you leave. Don't fool yourself into thinking that if you can't get in, you can hit Casa Mono and Otto for the same rush at half the price. Methinks Batali loves Babbo just a wee bit more than the others. And it shows.

Del Posto (also Mario Batali is part owner here)

You must see this place the decora is top notch and food is some of the best.

85 Tenth Ave., New York, NY 10011

between 15th and 16th Sts.

212-497-8090

[sluggo819]

»

» Little Italy is nothing more than a tourist destination.

»

» Some of the best Italian in the city is.

»

»

»

»

» Babbo

» 110 Waverly Pl., New York, NY 10011

» nr. Sixth Ave.

» 212-777-0303

»

»

» The most exciting Italian restaurant in town serves food you'll never find

» in Little Italy. A staff as smart as you want your kids to be helps. So do

» two uncomplicated floors suffused in honeyed amber light, as easy to get

» comfy in as a calf-skin slip-on. But what will stun, fool, bewitch, and

» ultimately obsess you is chef Mario Batali's staggeringly original yet

» startlingly airy Italian cooking. Ever try goat-cheese tortellini dusted

» in dried orange and wild-fennel pollen? Or spicy lamb sausage romanced by

» mint love letters and a paste of sweet peas? Get ready. Ingredients you

» didn't expect or have never heard of are about to become unforgettable.

» Hot-chili-flecked linguine and clams will make you lose your composure.

» Just get it together enough to make another reservation before you leave.

» Don't fool yourself into thinking that if you can't get in, you can hit

» Casa Mono and Otto for the same rush at half the price. Methinks Batali

» loves Babbo just a wee bit more than the others. And it shows.

»

»

»

»

»

»

»

» Del Posto (also Mario Batali is part owner here)

» You must see this place the decora is top notch and food is some of the

» best.

»

» 85 Tenth Ave., New York, NY 10011

» between 15th and 16th Sts.

» 212-497-8090

Those places are both excellent Italian food. Some of the best anywhere, but you also can't overlook Carmine's- http://www.carminesnyc.com/ if you want great old fashioned family style food in a large noisy environment. But definitely go to the one on the upper westside. (Broadway and low 90's)

PS-Stay out of Little Italy

[El Presidente]

Thank you gentlemen for the great recommendations!!!!

[geoffrie]

»

» PS-Stay out of Little Italy

Not true ... some of the best chinese food in the city in in Little Italy :-D

I mention Florios only in as much as you can smoke there. Else I would avoid all Italian eateries down there except noted below.

The Malaysian place right next to Florio's is really good. I will go there to eat and then to Florio's for dessert and espresso and a cigar.

If you don't like what's on the dessert menu, they will go across the street to Ferrara's and get whatever.

Also notable is Di Palo ... not a restaurant but some of the best meats and cheeses in the city. I'll put their cheeses on a par with Murrays.

Other than that, Little Itay /Chinatown is good for getting knock off handbags and sunglasses and looking at other tourists.