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Guantanamera
Café Cluny
BEST RESTAURANTS
A Taste of Manhattan Whether you call Manhattan home or are merely visiting, you’ll discover that the area boasts an outstanding selection of restaurants and dining options for all tastes and budgets. Next time you’re looking for a new spot to take family, friends, or coworkers, check out one of these tasty options. Your dinner guests will thank you.
BLT MARKET
The Ritz-Carlton
1430 Sixth Ave. at Central Park South
New York, NY 10019
(212) 521-6125
www.bltmarket.com
PRICE: $12–$25 app, $26–$43 entrées
Virtually everything about BLT Market is sophisticated and luxurious, from its view of Central Park South to its monthly changing menu. The elegant and clean décor of the restaurant is reminiscent of a gourmet market where one might find the freshest and best quality produce, meats, and seafood. Not surprisingly, the menu features seasonal ingredients, often from local sources, such as arugula and dandelion salad with artichoke, sevenpepper- crusted grass-fed New York strip steak, and stuffed Amish chicken Provençal.
CAFÉ CLUNY
284 W. 12th St.
New York, NY 10014
(212) 255-6900
www.cafecluny.com
PRICE: $8–$13 app, $20–$26 entrées
Café Cluny is the quintessential neighborhood bistro and one of the most delightful restaurants in the West Village. Order poached eggs with short rib hash and béarnaise for brunch or the grilled duck breast with baby bok choy and duck jus for dinner. The exceptionally warm and friendly service makes everyone feel like a neighbor.
CENTRO VINOTECA
The Michelangelo Hotel
74 Seventh Ave. South
New York, NY 10014
(212) 367-7470
www.centrovinoteca.com
PRICE: $10–$16 app, $12–$36 entrées
This bi-level restaurant and wine bar is great for people watching, whether you are sitting near the wall of windows and observing passersby on Seventh Avenue or checking out the bustling bar scene inside. Although Centro Vinoteca is noted for its wine, try the wonderful house cocktail, which is basil lemonade with vodka. Order eggplant cakes with ricotta as well as truffled deviled eggs to start and then try the ravioli with sage butter sauce and guanciale—it’s divine.
FREEMANS
Freeman Alley
New York, NY 10002
(212) 420-0012
www.freemansrestaurant.com
PRICE: $5–$14 app, $12–$26 entrées
Bring out-of-town guests to Freemans when you want to impress them with your knowledge of New York geography. It is tucked at the end of an alley offof Rivington on the Lower East Side and is an absolute gem. From the taxidermy-lined walls to the satisfying New American comfort fare to the charming wine cellar dining room, the restaurant is certain to soon be on everyone’s map.
GUANTANAMERA
939 Eighth Ave.
New York, NY 10019
(212) 262-5354
www.guantanameranyc.com
PRICE: $6–$12 app, $14–$24 entrées
Named after one of Cuba’s most famous songs, Guantanamera is great for a festive dining experience. Recommended dishes include beef empanadas, pollo guajira, and bistec de palomilla. Be sure to order one of the signature mojitos and enjoy the live Cuban music, both of which should keep your party going strong.
IZAKAYA TEN
207 Tenth Ave.
New York, NY 10011
(212) 627-7777
PRICE: $4–$15 small plates
Described as an authentic Japanese gastro pub, Izakaya Ten is an excellent example of why izakayas are becoming more popular in the U.S. Enjoy small plates like the sublime version of agedashi tofu, diced rib eye with garlic soy sauce, and shrimp two ways, which is deep-fried shrimp wrapped in shiso leaf and served with plum sauce. To complement your meal, choose from a variety of sakes and shochu or the specialty cocktails, such as the Kannoko Pagoda, made with shochu, pear, elderflower, and Chartreuse. Japanese pop music and minimalist modern décor complete your Japanese pub experience.
KAMPUCHEA
78 Rivington
New York, NY 10002
(212) 529-3901
PRICE: $7–$12 app, $9–$17 entrées
Kampuchea is great for lunch and people watching or enjoying dinner with a group of friends. Settle into a bar stool at one of the communal tables near the windows and order a wonderful selection of Southeast Asian street food. The menu includes favorites such as grilled sweet corn with coconut chili mayo, chili powder, and coconut flakes; a succulent pulled oxtail sandwich with spicy tamarind basil sauce; and the Berkshire porkand- chives crêpes with lettuce, sprouts, mint, basil, and tuk trey. Kampuchea is also known for a variety of noodle dishes, such as bwah moun and chicken curry noodle with Thai eggplant, pumpkin, and long beans.
A Taste of Manhattan Whether you call Manhattan home or are merely visiting, you’ll discover that the area boasts an outstanding selection of restaurants and dining options for all tastes and budgets. Next time you’re looking for a new spot to take family, friends, or coworkers, check out one of these tasty options. Your dinner guests will thank you.
BLT MARKET
The Ritz-Carlton
1430 Sixth Ave. at Central Park South
New York, NY 10019
(212) 521-6125
www.bltmarket.com
PRICE: $12–$25 app, $26–$43 entrées
Virtually everything about BLT Market is sophisticated and luxurious, from its view of Central Park South to its monthly changing menu. The elegant and clean décor of the restaurant is reminiscent of a gourmet market where one might find the freshest and best quality produce, meats, and seafood. Not surprisingly, the menu features seasonal ingredients, often from local sources, such as arugula and dandelion salad with artichoke, sevenpepper- crusted grass-fed New York strip steak, and stuffed Amish chicken Provençal.
CAFÉ CLUNY
284 W. 12th St.
New York, NY 10014
(212) 255-6900
www.cafecluny.com
PRICE: $8–$13 app, $20–$26 entrées
Café Cluny is the quintessential neighborhood bistro and one of the most delightful restaurants in the West Village. Order poached eggs with short rib hash and béarnaise for brunch or the grilled duck breast with baby bok choy and duck jus for dinner. The exceptionally warm and friendly service makes everyone feel like a neighbor.
CENTRO VINOTECA
The Michelangelo Hotel
74 Seventh Ave. South
New York, NY 10014
(212) 367-7470
www.centrovinoteca.com
PRICE: $10–$16 app, $12–$36 entrées
This bi-level restaurant and wine bar is great for people watching, whether you are sitting near the wall of windows and observing passersby on Seventh Avenue or checking out the bustling bar scene inside. Although Centro Vinoteca is noted for its wine, try the wonderful house cocktail, which is basil lemonade with vodka. Order eggplant cakes with ricotta as well as truffled deviled eggs to start and then try the ravioli with sage butter sauce and guanciale—it’s divine.
FREEMANS
Freeman Alley
New York, NY 10002
(212) 420-0012
www.freemansrestaurant.com
PRICE: $5–$14 app, $12–$26 entrées
Bring out-of-town guests to Freemans when you want to impress them with your knowledge of New York geography. It is tucked at the end of an alley offof Rivington on the Lower East Side and is an absolute gem. From the taxidermy-lined walls to the satisfying New American comfort fare to the charming wine cellar dining room, the restaurant is certain to soon be on everyone’s map.
GUANTANAMERA
939 Eighth Ave.
New York, NY 10019
(212) 262-5354
www.guantanameranyc.com
PRICE: $6–$12 app, $14–$24 entrées
Named after one of Cuba’s most famous songs, Guantanamera is great for a festive dining experience. Recommended dishes include beef empanadas, pollo guajira, and bistec de palomilla. Be sure to order one of the signature mojitos and enjoy the live Cuban music, both of which should keep your party going strong.
IZAKAYA TEN
207 Tenth Ave.
New York, NY 10011
(212) 627-7777
PRICE: $4–$15 small plates
Described as an authentic Japanese gastro pub, Izakaya Ten is an excellent example of why izakayas are becoming more popular in the U.S. Enjoy small plates like the sublime version of agedashi tofu, diced rib eye with garlic soy sauce, and shrimp two ways, which is deep-fried shrimp wrapped in shiso leaf and served with plum sauce. To complement your meal, choose from a variety of sakes and shochu or the specialty cocktails, such as the Kannoko Pagoda, made with shochu, pear, elderflower, and Chartreuse. Japanese pop music and minimalist modern décor complete your Japanese pub experience.
KAMPUCHEA
78 Rivington
New York, NY 10002
(212) 529-3901
PRICE: $7–$12 app, $9–$17 entrées
Kampuchea is great for lunch and people watching or enjoying dinner with a group of friends. Settle into a bar stool at one of the communal tables near the windows and order a wonderful selection of Southeast Asian street food. The menu includes favorites such as grilled sweet corn with coconut chili mayo, chili powder, and coconut flakes; a succulent pulled oxtail sandwich with spicy tamarind basil sauce; and the Berkshire porkand- chives crêpes with lettuce, sprouts, mint, basil, and tuk trey. Kampuchea is also known for a variety of noodle dishes, such as bwah moun and chicken curry noodle with Thai eggplant, pumpkin, and long beans.
