Mooncake Foods is home-cooked Asian comfort food, as interpreted by a food lover who grew up influenced by the yummy foods of his Spanish Brooklyn neighborhood and the addictive cooking of his Chinese Mom. They try to create a new kind of Asian restaurant. Mooncake Foods breaks all traditions - no woks, no unhealthy fryers, no processed meat entrees, and no heavy heart-clogging sauces. What you’ll find on their menu is innovatively grilled, steamed, or roasted plates, salads, and sandwiches.

They use premium quality natural ingredients, organic when possible, and always fresh every day. They work hard and make their dishes from scratch to ensure our quality. For example, they juice their own limes for the base of our sauces, roast their own bell peppers for our sandwiches, make their own chicken stock for the soups, and hand mix and roll every wonton and dumpling.

The Waverly Inn is a classic. If you manage to play your best cards, and get a table, you will feel part of an exclusive dinning club. No matter when you go, you will most likely be sited next to a celebrity, best-selling author or top-model. The décor is beautiful, cozy, with a lot of wood, chandeliers, fireplace, and paintings which create the atmosphere of a townhouse inhabited by English aristocrats. The food is outstanding, and the service is great. They also promise to use “local and organic” ingredients, whenever it is possible. Many consider The Waverly Inn pricey; however, for such a selective dining experience, it is certainly worth it.



16 Bank St

New York, 10014

(917) 828-1154

This charming Italian venue, called Bocca di Bacco, manages to stand even in the competitive restaurant scene of Hell’s Kitchen. Even though they call themselves a wine bar, explained by the generous selection of 40 wines by the glass and around 500 by the bottle, I personally consider Bocca di Bocca a fabulous restaurant, with an amazing Northern Italian cuisine. The space is stunning.  Mostly made of wood, with brick walls, and dimmed light, this is one of Hell’s Kitchen's most romantic spots. If you pass by Eights avenue and 54^th street, you are probably not going to miss it. Their majestic wooden door made me walk in Bocca di Bacco for the first time.

I would like to introduce you all to this new Soho gem: The Dutch restaurant. Located in the old Cub Room space on Sullivan and Prince, Dutch is charming, welcoming, and their dishes are fabulous. The fairly large restaurant is decorated with giant globe lights, vintage mirrors, wood, and an unique eight-stool oyster bar. The best part is the back room with a working fireplace, and a private dinning room in the basement (reservation are required). On the Dutch’s generous menu you will find seasonal green market salads, good steaks, delicious sandwiches, a great fried chicken, seafood, and amazing pies. The Dutch is great for dinner, but lunch and late nights also.

L'Artusi delivers an Italian food experience at its best, in a chic environment. What more can you ask for? Quite larger than an average West Village restaurant, L'Artusi looks spacious and glamourous. It is the kind of place where you can put on a pair of high heels, and your favorite cocktail dress and have dinner downtown, without feeling overdressed. The deco is chic, with dark walls, high ceilings, and a lot of marble.They have two floors, both just as crowded, but the place still feels cozy and intimate.
Their small dishes are heavenly, and the cheese bar is famous among cheese lovers. I love their scallops, the big selection of wines, and not to mention the desserts. L'Artusi can satisfy the taste of even the most critical New Yorkers.

If you're looking for a new taste on the traditional burger, there's no better place to satisfy a juicy burger craving than at Ted's Montana Grill. Founded by media guru Ted Turner and famed restaurateur George McKerrow, Jr.,  Ted's Montana Grill found a niche in the American grill market and it stuck: Bison Burgers. Repeatedly acclaimed as one of the best burgers in cities across the US, New York's urbanites love Ted's home range twist on American classics as a pre-theater must or relaxed dinner.

Ted's Montana Grill hasn't become a restaurant empire just for its most popular item, it also does all the American classics with style. Try freshly cut french fries, hand-dipped salt and pepper onion rings, pecan crusted salmon and steaks. Located right in Rockefeller Center, Ted's Montana Grill proves hearty American food shines in the heart of Manhattan.

San Marzano tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella flash-frozen in Campagna, Italy before shipping to New York, sea salt, volcanic stone heated to one thousand degrees: these are just some of the necessary ingredients for a true Italian pie at Keste Pizza & Vino. And this attention to authentic detail is working, as the newest contender for the best slice in New York, it has already ranked #1 on NY Mag's list of NYC's Top Pie.

Keste Pizza & Vino offers over twenty pizza pies ranging in price from $9 to $19 with striking toppings such as imported cooked ham, butternut squash cream and truffle spread. Once the order is placed and the toppings are spread over the dough, pizzas cook in just one minute thanks to the thousand degree oven.

Chef-owner Roberto Caporuscio is a traditionalist when it comes to making his twelve-inch Neapolitan pies. With an oven that was made by artisans flown in from Naples, Keste Pizza & Vino is the newest contender for the legendary New York slice status, even if it is through and through Italian. The name sake pie has tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, prosciutto di parma, arugola, gran cru and extra virgin olive oil. And for the purist there is always the simple elegance and perfection that is the equally popular Margherita.

If you're looking for an authentic Mediterranean restaurant with marvelous prices and a fantastic atmosphere, you're only a cab ride away. Nestled in Gramercy, Barbounia allows its customers a glimpse into a Mediterranean dream. The restaurant is dimly lit and is decorated with towering pillars, ornate arches, and lavish floral arrangements.

The menu boasts many flavorful dishes from the region, specifically the countries of  Greece, Morocco, southern France and southern Italy. Such dishes include the Lamb Terracotta, which is Lamb Kebabs served with pepper chutney, pistachios, and tahini wrapped in an oven baked flat bread, and their pan-seared Yellow Fin Tuna served with creamed potatoes and vegetables. While enjoying their meal, customers can also sip on some of the many cocktails offered, including the Barbounia-tini made with fresh aloe-vera juice and foam. But that's not all, Barbounia also offers a champagne brunch on Sunday where you can get a never ending flow of champagne cocktails for only $12!

When Butter first opened it was the hot, new restaurant, and six years later it's still frequented by Hollywood A-listers and sophisticated New Yorkers on a nightly basis.  With three rooms, each serving a different purpose, there's something for everyone at this restaurant and lounge.

In The Great Room, indulge in the French-inspired, American-executed food while sipping on their Wine Spectator award-winning wine list.  After dinner head downstairs to The Birch Room where you will more than likely run into an Olsen Twin or two. If downstairs gets too crazy, at Butter you have a third option. The Gallery Room, located at the entrance to Butter, is equipped with red leather seats located in a series of nooks so you can cozy up to your date and drink in privacy.

Whether you're in the mood for fine American cuisine or to see and be seen, Butter has it all.

Momofuku Milk Bar is restaurateur extraordinaire Chef David Chang’s sweet tooth answer to his hugely successful group of savory eateries in the East Village (and now Midtown as well). With the help of Pastry Chef Christina Tosi, the Milk Bar serves up wild delights like Peach Tea Soft Serve, the classic Cereal Milk Soft Serve, Corn Cookies, and Compost Cookies - which unlike the simple but tasty Corn Cookie has a lot of ingredients in it including pretzels, potato chips, coffee, oats, butterscotch, and chocolate chips. You can also get a bizarre variety of yummy and sometimes savory pies, cakes, breads, and buns here. And then there is the Crack Pie, which, as the menu informs, is made up of two components only: toasted oat crust and gooey butter filling. Seems a little vague, no? Though anyone that has tasted this confectionary delight knows that the title of the treat speaks volumes compared to the description. Coffee lovers will also be happy to hear that the only beans in house here - brewing and in the Compost Cookie - are Stumptown coffee beans.

Insider tip: visit the Milk Bar on a weekday if you don't like to wait for your treats. Otherwise, come on a Friday or a Saturday night and wait in line with all the other Crack Pie addicts. The people watching is good and a couple of celebrities have been known to stop by for their fix too.

At Alice's Tea Cup the air seems to be filled with ferry dust and sweet dreams. It's actually just glitter and the scent of freshly baked cupcakes but when you are here in one of the exquisite tea rooms, the magic of Alice In Wonderland takes over and even the grumpiest adults can become kids again over the famous Pumpkin Scones and a pot of Birthday Tea. Or if you are more adventurous try the Chocolate Mint Tea, that's Indian black tea with mini chocolate chips and peppermint leaves, and Alice's Hamburger, it comes with Lapsang and Rooibos tea infused sauteed onions and mushrooms - yum! For the grown-ups in the group there is also the inventive menu of "Mar-tea-nis and Such" serving up creative libations like the Admiral's Mar-tea-ni which is Rooibos tea, Kahlua, and Kettle One. You can't go wrong with the restorative powers of tea and the ancient effects of liquor all in one! Now with three uptown locations serving a huge selection of teas and beverages, tea sandwiches and soups, treats and cakes, and other delights you should have no problem fitting a little afternoon tea into your afternoon.

Cookshop is an eco-fabulous gem by the same owners as NYC East and West Village favorites Five Points and Hundred Acres. Located on 10th Avenue in Chelsea’s Historic District, Cookshop is surrounded by quaint New York brownstones and The Highline Park…perfect for walking off dessert. This elegantly comfortable eatery boasts all sustainable, farm fresh food. Cookshop masters down-home cooking with a complexity of flavor not out of just any kitchen.

We love the Big Apple not only for the fabulous fashion finds, but also for its fantastic food.  And now, visitors to NYC can have both when they visit Giorgio Armani’s latest venture, Armani Ristorante.  The fashion heavyweight may cause you to expand your waistline;  his restaurant features tempting cuisine and is set atop his flagship store, with spectacular views of the city.  A day of shopping topped off with an indulgent meal while gazing out at the New York scene below? Sounds like the perfect NYC afternoon to us.

Complete with a wine cellar and private dining room, this Little Italy café stays true to traditional cuisine. With a menu spanning from Caprese salad to pan-seared lobster to chicken scarpiello, it has something for everyone. The wooden moldings and granite floors give the restaurant a feel of Rome and reasonable prices round out its appeal.