The coffee and desserts here are just part of the draw for this upscale café. Everyone from families to college kids out on dates are customers. This place defines the word "cute."
Boat Basin Café
Address: West 79th Street at the Hudson River
Phone: 212-496-5542
Website: www.boatbasincafe.com
Enjoy a drink as you watch the boats drift by and the sun fade into the Hudson. The setting, right on the river by the boat basin, makes this place a hot spot when the weather is fine. Sadly, it's only open from April through October.
Café Fiorello's
Address: 1900 Broadway (between West 63rd & 64th Street)
Phone: 212-595-5330
Website: cafefiorello.com
A neighborhood favorite for decades. This little Italian eatery continues to draw folks from the area as well as out-of-towners looking for a modest-priced meal before a night out at Lincoln Center. Not the cheapest Italian place, but there's a reason why it's still here when so many others have come and gone. It's reasonably-priced and the food is reliably good.
Some come here for the lovely Art-Deco décor. Some for the far better-than-average Mediterranean food. But most come simply because they have been for years. Brunch here is an Upper West Side tradition.
Murray's Sturgeon
Address: 2429 Broadway (between West 89th & 90th Street)
Phone: 212-724-2650
Website: www.murrayssturgeon.com
A bona fide New York icon, this is the one, the only Murray's Sturgeon. Selling smoked sturgeon that borders on the miraculous, many travel near and far for a sample of their incomparable lox, sturgeon, fresh pickled herring and more. If you are a connoisseur of fishy spreads, you will be an instant convert.
Nougatine and Mistral Terrace
Address: 1 Central Park West
Phone: 212-299-3900
Website: www.jean-georges.com
The more informal route to the Jean Georges experience. Technically, a separate restaurant, it's the same fabulous food combined with the ease of getting a table.
Ollie's Noodle Shop and Grill
Address: 2315 Broadway at West 84th Street
Phone: 212-362-3111
This outpost of Ollie's is one of the better of its class and remains oddly popular. Featuring a goodly assortment of cheap, reliable Chinese eats, it's a favorite among locals for dining in and taking out.
Ouest
Address: 2315 Broadway (between West 83rd & 84th Street)
Phone: 212-580-8700
Website: www.ouestny.com/
American food with a creative twist. The atmosphere here is always lively and energetic. Under the direction of Chef Tom Valenti, the food is consistently good. House specials include pan-roasted Sturgeon, lamb shank and short-ribs.
Possibly the best Turkish food in the city. Sea bass, lamb and eggplant are all seasoned to perfection. Time Out New York even ranked it as one of its TONY 100?the only Turkish spot to make the list.
The ultimate choice for a quick pizza fix in the neighborhood. This outpost of Patsy's serves up reliably-good thin crust pizzas. Eat in their casual dining room or have them deliver it to your doorstep. Either way, it's the place for the perfect pie.
Mediterranean cuisine with no expense spared. Attracting a somewhat older crowd, this local favorite serves up a mean cassoulet. Other crowd pleasers include the rabbit confit, sea scallops and the catch-of-the-day, grilled and seasoned to perfection.
This location of the mid-level Chinese dining emporium remains the liveliest. Flavorful versions of dim sum, roast meats and sushi come in small orders to encourage sampling. A fun night out that won't break the bank.
Shalel Lounge
Address: 65 West 70th Street
Phone: 212-873-2300
Located between Central Park West and Columbus, this quiet bar/restaurant attracts a steady following. The food is Moroccan and the atmosphere, pure casbah.
Sushi Hana
Address: 466 Amsterdam (between West 82nd & 83rd Street)
Phone: 212-874-0369
Website: www.sushihanna.com
Sushi in a simple, yet slickly designed setting. The fish here is fresh. The selection, quite good. Maybe that explains the constant crowds of loyal fans who flock to this mid-priced sushi place.
The Cottage
Address: 360 Amsterdam Avenue (at West 77th Street)
Phone: 212-595-7450
For years, this place has been the restaurant of choice for west side Chinese food lovers. This branch of the Cottage is by far the best. Featuring fresh ingredients prepared with a delicate hand, this cheap Chinese eatery is truly a cut above the rest.
The Sheep Meadow Café
Address: Central Park (at West 69th Street)
Phone: 212-396-4100
Swordfish in the park? Who would have thunk it? This little café is somewhere between upscale snack bar and sit-down restaurant. Taken for what it is, it can be a wonderful way to dine.
Williams BBQ
Address: 2350 Broadway (between West 85th & 86th Street)
Phone: 212-877-5384
While their menu has expanded over the years, the roasted chicken remains their most popular item. Nonetheless, if you're so inclined, they also offer a fair range of exotic poultry, from duck to capon. There are also a number of down home fixings if you do not eat like a bird.
