Pretty in pink! The food is this colorful, formal French leans more toward steakhouse than bistro. And to many, that makes it the best of both worlds. Order a steak and along comes the saucier to your table with a half-dozen marinades to choose from. Some complain of inconsistency, but being that it's the Ritz-Carlton, you can bet your blue chips that your order will be redone until it's just right.
American Park at The Battery
Address: 17 State Street (corner of Pearl Street), Battery Park
Phone: 212-809-5508
Website: www.batterygardens.com
Located right in the park, there's no beating the harbor views at this traditional eatery. While the steak and lamb are excellent, seafood is the true standout. Grilled bass prepared in a wood oven is one of the house specialties. The lobster salad is also a good bet. If you really want to go against the grain, get the pasta.
Chevy's Tex/Mex Restaurant
Address: 101 North End Avenue
Phone: 212-786-1020
Website: www.chevys.com
This popular chain restaurant remains popular as a local hang-out for those craving a whole lot of Tequila and portions the size of Texas, itself. While the food tends to be gloppy and not exactly subtle in its seasoning, it's a fun place to go for a whopping batch of frozen margaritas and nachos. And, rest assured, happy hour is very, VERY happy.
There are 600 bottles of wine here, many available by the glass. And as if that were't enough of an incentive, there's the authentic 1920s interior that harkens back to its olden days as a shoe factory. The food ain't too shabby either. Catering to a slightly older, more upscale crowd, this has been a popular downtown haunt for years.
Jeremy's Ale House
Address: 254 Front Street (at Dover Street)
Phone: 212-964-3537
Website: jeremysalehouse.com
Jeremy's laid back atmosphere, cheap beer and "tasty but really bad for you" bar food continue to draw in a steady crowd. Beware of weekends. Depending on the day, you might feel like you stumbled into a frat house. But more often than not, it's a good place to get a heady pitcher and some honest grub.
Les Halles Downtown
Address: 15 John Street (at Broadway)
Phone: 212-285-8585
Website: www.leshalles.net
This is the same great French Bistro fare as its uptown sibling on Park and 28th. The Steak Fritte is particularly outstanding. The other dishes are not quite extraordinary, but still way above average. The crowd gets pretty lively, especially after work hours are through.
MJ Grill
Address: 110 John Street (at Pearl Street)
Phone: 212-346-9848
This is Markjoseph's little brother (hence the name). The atmosphere is more casual and the prices more modest, but the name of the game is still meat and more meat. From a truly great hamburger to a superb rack of ribs, this is a carnivore's heaven. For a prime plate of porterhouse, however, better head on over to Markjoseph.
Perfect for those who wish Peter Luger's weren't all the way "over there." No need to trek all the way to Brooklyn for a huge slab of Porterhouse, now you can stay on this side of the river. Markjoseph is right up there in quality with Luger's but with a very different atmosphere. Instead of the gruff old New York steakhouse feeling, it's more the like the usual upscale downtowner. Still and all, if you've got a hankering for a big ol' hunk of cow, this is the place.
Moran's
Address: 103 Washington Street (at Rector Place)
Phone: 212-732-2020
Website: moransnyc.com
This classy, traditional Irish bar and restaurant has been delivering the goods since 1897. Basic Irish eats like shepherd's pie with Guinness to wash it down. There's also a good selection of whiskeys and very friendly staff of bartenders and waitresses.
Roy's New York
Address: 130 Washington Street, Marriott Financial Center Hotel
Phone: 212-266-6262
Website: www.roysrestaurant.com
An interesting hotel restaurant, it's actually Hawaiian. While there's no hula dancing or pig roasts, you will find plenty of interesting variations on seafood. And the owner must be doing something right. He has over 30 other Hawaiian eateries around the world.
Enjoy your entrée while soaking up incredible Hudson River views at this dependable steak and seafood place. The fish choices include snapper, tuna steak, sea bass and many others. You could also try the "Grand Seafood Platter," which features shrimp, lobster, claims, mussels and calamari. If you're more in the mood for meat, choices include sirloin, filet mignon, prime rib and lamb chops. You can't go wrong at this Wall Street mainstay.