he ‘city that never sleeps’ might also be called the city that never stops eating: in New York, a hot new restaurant opens almost weekly—and more than ever, the city is full of ambitious, energetic dining experiences to suit every pocket. From the street-side hot dogs that are a Big Apple staple all the way up to the city’s most luxurious tasting menus, these are the 50 meals that nobody should skip while they’re in town— even if it takes a few trips to get through them all.
1 Brunch at ABC Kitchen
35 East 18th Street, Flatiron (www. abckitchennyc.com) $$ There isn’t a bad time to go to superchef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s rustic, farm-obsessed spot. Despite its location (in a furniture store— seriously), it’s one of the city’s trendiest restaurants, and a visit almost guarantees at least one celebrity sighting. Still, brunch is the best time to stop by, as the scene isn’t quite as hectic and it’s the only time you can get executive chef Dan Kluger’s first-rate pancakes with lemon curd.
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2 New Nordic cuisine at Acme
9 Great Jones Street, Noho (http:/ / acmenyc.com) $$ This downtown restaurant once peddled Cajun American cuisine, but an ownership overhaul brought in an ultra-hip crowd and a new kitchen team, including chef Mads Refslund, who came to New York after helping found Copenhagen’s much-celebrated noma. Now the menu includes inventive, Nordic-inflected dishes like langoustine with raw, shaved foie gras; pickled vegetable salads; and the sweet beerand-bread porridge øllebrød for dessert.
4 Inventive American food at Annisa
13 Barrow Street, Greenwich Village (www.annisarestaurant. com) $$ Chef Anita Lo has garnered a loyal following among New Yorkers in the dozen years since Annisa first opened (a fire temporarily closed the spot in 2009-2010). The reason? Her mastery of classic French techniques and understanding of exoticto-America ingredients come together expertly in dishes like foie gras with soup dumplings and squid with Thai basil and peanuts.
3 Kaiseki Dinner at Brushstroke
30 Hudson Street, Tribeca (www. davidbouley.com) $$$ David Bouley’s name is synonymous with French food but his partnership with Yoshiki Tsuji, the head of Japan’s largest professional culinary school, has yielded this standout spot. Try the kaiseki-inspired tasting menu (a cooking style where a series of small, intricate dishes are served) in the main dining room. 164