You won’t believe you’re still in NoHo when you step into this lively little roadhouse with the blasting jukebox. You’ll likely wait for a table, but you won’t wait for a menu, since the specials are printed on a blackboard and change daily. Creole favorites like blackened catfish, gumbo and assorted po-boy sandwiches will sate your hankering for the bayou, but the spicy and fragrant crawfish boil (which includes a shelling demonstration from your server) is the true test for Cajun mavens. Be sure to order the fresh, honey-topped jalapeno corn bread and red-hot Bloody Marys with everything.

Hidden away on Division Street, a quiet block that curves off of Orchard, Chef Frank DeCarlo, his wife Dulcinea and their partner Kama Geary, just opened Bacaro, an intimate osteria. This cozy spot has long wooden tables and benches, exposed brick walls, rough-hewn slate floors, and lots of candlelight, making it a perfect atmosphere for lingering conversation. The menu is a simple array of colorful cichetti, Venice’s traditional bar snacks: platters of mixed crostini, fritto misto, fried sardines, and polpette (tiny spicy meatballs).

Bar Pitti is more cost effective than its neighbor Da Silvano and boasts a similar reputation for tasty staples of Tuscan fare such as veal meatballs and grilled chicken with lemon and endive. Regulars include Sophie Dahl, Sofia Coppola, and Jay Z. An excellent all Italian wine list, friendly wait staff, outdoor seating, and an always packed house all help set the tone for this popular West Village trattoria.

Blaue Gans is a favorite of TriBeCa residents. Tucked away on quiet Duane Street, this wonderful restaurant has a traditional Austro-German menu that pays homage to the traditional wholesome wirtshaus. Featured menu items include traditional Weiner Schnitzel and Kavelierspitz. Dessert specialties include Apple Strudel, Salzburger Nockerl, and assorted cheeses. The walls are lined with vintage film and art posters (left behind from former occupant - Le Zinc) and the restaurants itself has an air of comfortable style.

Antique yellow ceilings, stained mirrors, and red leather banquettes make up the décor of restaurateur Keith McNally’s classic-feeling Parisian brasserie. With an iced shellfish raw-bar, a café section, an in-house bakery, excellent food, and an extensive wine list, Balthazar is one of the best spots in town.

Located on the same block as the original Blue Ribbon, this top-rated sister restaurant offers fresh, creative sushi from both the Atlantic and Pacific, as well as from the Sea of Japan. And the excellent selections of sake, including seasonal unpasteurized sakes will not disappoint.

Eric and Bruce Bromberg’s popular American bistro and raw bar is open from 4pm to 4am. With no rhyme or reason to the menu, the Brombergs have thrown together matzoh ball soup, paella, and sweet and sour catfish to entice their late night crowd. Many come back time and again for its revered raw bar. Always cacophonous, always packed, and always exceptional, the Blue Ribbon is a must for night owls and early birds alike.

Featuring food as simple in nature to its name, Ed’s Lobster Bar is a no frills establishment catering to lobster and seafood lovers alike. With founder and chef Edward McFarland’s love for New England cuisine and impressive resume (everything from Le Cirque to Pearl Oyster Bar), Ed’s offers the freshest ocean catch at some of the best prices around. The raw-bar has something for everyone, whether you’re into jumbo shrimp cocktail or an oyster sampler and the menu offers weekly specials such as Monday “All you can eat mussels” for $15 or Thursday ”1 1/2lb lobsters” for $28.  And of course, the lobster rolls, which come with Ed’s pickles and go for about $20 depending on market price. With their extensive wine, beer and cocktail list, Ed’s makes for a great place to grab a seat at the bar and enjoy some of the freshest seafood around.

Lafayette St is fast becoming a fashionable foodie’s Mecca with restaurants like La Esquina and Café Falai based there and now Café Select. Opened in September 2008, Café Select brings a breath of fresh Alpine air to New York with its Swiss-influenced menu, prepared using the freshest ingredients. Restaurant-goers might not be familiar with Swiss food beyond fondue, milk chocolate and cheese, but this restaurant serves a series of different specialties built up over centuries and influenced by the many countries surrounding landlocked Switzerland. Have a relaxing brunch with delicious salads and sandwiches on offer. Take in the scene whilst enjoying dinner at Café Select – the menu includes more filling mains, such as the classic Schnitzel

Freemans is like an escape to the countryside—to a place where the local hipsters gather around antique wooden tables to drink wine and dine on wild boar and whole roasted trout underneath assorted taxidermy including moose and elk heads. Located on a discreet alleyway off the Bowery, this hush-hush eatery has quickly become the place du jour for downtown scene-makers with its affordable menu, hunting lodge décor, and laid back staff.

Gramercy Tavern is a New York landmark boasted by owner/chef Tom Colicchio’s new American menu and exceptional wine list. One can dine in the casual Tavern room or in the elegant and formal main dining room. For dinner choose from a three-course prix fixe menu or from a seven-course tasting menu. Menu selections change seasonally.

One of the best casual and authentic Sushi spots in New York, Hasaki offers top quality fish at moderate prices, attracting a loyal local following. This is a small space, but enjoyable for sushi aficionados.

An antique store with a hidden kitchen, il Buco is known for its outstanding food as well as its innate charm. Chef Ignacio Mattos (trained as a youngling in his Italian grandmother’s kitchen) prepares Mediterranean cuisine, focusing on the bold flavors of simplistic, prime ingredients. And, with a menu that changes nightly, fresh seafood fare is the order of the day—try the cod croquettes and octopus with Umbrian chickpeas and parsley over charred bruschetta. Or taste the sage-rubbed porchetta with garlicky black kale alongside a glass of wine.

A hot of the moment Mexican restaurant and chic café combined into one compact little venue. Unlike other trendy spots in the city, this one actually lives up to its reputation in more ways than just attracting celebrity clientele. After passing the door person and heading downstairs through the kitchen, you enter a charming restaurant where the food is equally as delightful as the seventy types of tequila they serve in accompaniment.

Little Giant is proof that size doesn’t matter. This tiny 35-seat restaurant (including 5 bar seats), housed in a turn of the century tenement building, is truly special. From the attentive and knowledgeable staff to the seasonal and locally sourced (and vegetarian friendly) menu, this is a dining experienced not to be missed. Try the (now famous) devilled eggs, one of the interesting and delicious salads and the short ribs. Owners Julie Taras Wallach & Tasha Garcia Gibson opened Little Giant back in 2004 yet you will still find it hard to get a table so be sure to book in advance.

This West Village corner restaurant offers a taste of several Mediterranean regions at once with knowledgeable and attentive service. The intimate yet rustic feel makes The Little Owl a comfortable place to dine for any occasion. Sit beside the large paneled windows while dining on the asparagus soup with fried soft-shell crab, the scallops risotto, the halibut with ramps and lemon crème fraîche, or the unpretentious grilled pork chop—a favorite among patrons.

A part of the Drew Nieporent-Robert De Niro restaurant syndicate, Nobu Matsuhisa’s restaurant draws celebrity clientele to its door partially for the Hollywood-esque scene that has come to define it, but also for its exquisite New Style Japanese cuisine. The décor is simple yet beautiful and designed by star restaurant interior designer David Rockwell.

Opened over twenty years ago, this landmark restaurant is the classic TriBeCa hangout for New York’s fashionable elite. Once owned by Keith McNally, this quasi-authentic French brasserie formula made way for newer establishments such as Pastis and Balthazar. However, with its time tested menu and art deco bar, there’s nothing like an original.

This tiny restaurant located in the East Village serves eclectic New American cuisine like fried sweetbreads, lamb loin chops, and whole grilled fish. The atmosphere has a homey sophistication with tile floors, wooden table, and white washed walls. The warm staff and cozy ambiance make this the perfect place for a hearty meal on a cold winter day.

Reflecting the minimalist design of SoHo’s architectural landscape, Public’s interior evokes the feeling of standing in a public library. The Australasian menu is impressive with selections ranging from grilled kangaroo on falafel with coriander sauce to traditional grilled sea bass with wasabi jelly.

With Schiller’s, Keith McNally expands his restaurant empire (Balthazar and Pastis) to the chic neighborhood of the Lower East Side. This über-bistro is adorned with prison block letter-painted wine bottles, low flattering light, and attentive service—all accompanied by a creative cocktail menu.

Riding high atop the trend of market-driven menus, the newest restaurant from Danny Abrams (Mermaid Inn, Red Cat) evokes the simple pleasures of comfort food in an upscale setting. Chef Pablo Romero, formerly of Bouley and Jean Georges, puts a creative spin on classic American cuisine, such as grilled lobster with butternut squash and Brussels sprouts, or steamed egg with creamy polenta and gorgonzola. The menu’s starters change every few weeks, depending on freshly available seasonal ingredients. Equipped with black leather banquettes and an antique mirrored ceiling, the railroad-car dining room is divided into three sections. Perhaps the most intriguing aspect is the velvet-lined hideaway bar in the back, tucked away from view of the eating area and destined to become a hotspot for those in the know.

This upscale take on the classic English pub feels authentic while incorporating a modern element into the original pub concept. With wooden pig accents and a homey feel, this fun and friendly spot has a pint-drinking, comfort food menu featuring classics like meat and potato pairings and shepard’s pie, as well as unique plates.