Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Reservations
Popular restaurants abide by one of two rules: either they take reservations and you need
to plan in advance (weeks or months early for the real treasures) or they only seat patrons
on a first-come basis, in which case you should arrive when it opens. Last-minute cancel-
lations do occur, so try your luck calling that hotspot restaurant around 4pm. Lunch is an-
other option - many of the city's dinner hotspots have midday prix fixe service.
Celebrity Chefs
In NYC, restaurateurs are often just as famous as their fare. It's not just buzz though -
these taste masters really know their trade. Big-ticket names abound: Mario Batali has
painted the town red with his spaghetti sauces, while Michael Chernow's empire contin-
ues to expand with his meatballs.
New American Eats
A gourmet spin on traditional comfort food, the 'New American' movement seeks to fuse
repast standards with market-fresh produce and seasonal ingredients. Many of the city's
most critically acclaimed chow houses offer souped-up versions of family recipes - a trib-
ute to Gotham's citizenry of immigrants.
Top Tips
›
New Yorkers are famous for offering their opinion, so why not capitalize on their taste-bud experiences and
click through scores of websites catering to the discerning diner. Some of our favorite blog-style rags include
Eater
(
www.ny.eater.com
)
,
New York Magazine
(
www.nymag.com
) and
Serious Eats
Best Celebrity-Chef Restaurants
Le Bernardin
Triple Michelin-star earner and New York's holy grail of fine dining is the
domain of French meister Eric Ripert. (
Click here
)
Red Rooster
Marcus Samuelsson gives southern comfort food creative twists at his Har-
lem hotspot. (
Click here
)
