New York City: Luxe Eats List

ABC Kitchen [Farm To Table $$$]

In my opinion, you have at least dine in one of Jean-Georges Vongerichten's restaurants while in NYC. Beyond being a world famous chef, he is also a savvy restauranteur and marketeer. His signature cuisine combines classic French techniques with Asian flavours, fruit and vegetable sauces, lighter broths and vinaigrettes; in place of the traditional meat stocks and creams. To date, he has more than 30 restaurants around the world to his name. ABC Kitchen, situated in ABC Carpet & Home (an upscale home and decor store where you WILL go broke in) is one of his latest casual ventures and specialises in farm to table cuisine, featuring local, sustainable and organic seasonal produce. Come for the market fresh vegetables, the unmissable crab toast with aioli and finish off with a sinful salted caramel and popcorn sundae. Fresh, light and tasty - I could eat this everyday. A three course set lunch available at 32USD. Otherwise, there is always his more formal flagship restaurant, Jean Georges.

ABC Kitchen
35 East 18th street 
(between Broadway & Park Avenue)
+1 (212) 475-5829
Opening hours vary, please check website
http://www.abckitchennyc.com/ 

The Bar Room at The Modern [Modern French $$$]

I had one of my most memorable dinners ever at The Modern, where everything from food, service and atmosphere was flawless. Located at the Museum of Modern Art, The Modern specialises in Modern French small plates in a casual yet classy setting. There are no "appetisers" and "mains" sections on the menu,  instead only sections "one", "two", "three" which allows you flexibility in building your meal, which I love (since I much prefer appetisers to mains in general). The Long Island duck breast and grilled diver scallops are good choices, or you could go for more classic Alsatian dishes (Exec Chef Gabriel Kreuther is Alsatian) like tarte flambée. For a more formal option, The Dining Room upstairs serves only prix fixe menus and overlooks the Rockefeller Sculpture Square garden. Come before sunset (after touring MoMa, of course) to see the restaurant at its prettiest, when filled with daylight. 

The Bar Room At The Modern
9 West 53rd Street
(between Ave Of The Americas & 5th Ave)
+1 (212) 333-1220
Mon to Sat: 1130am to 1030pm
Sun: 1130am to 930pm (limited menu 3 to 5pm)
http://www.themodernnyc.com

Takashi [Japanese-Korean BBQ/Beef and Offal $$$]

I love the concept of Takashi, an intimate (34 seats only) and one of a kind Japanese-Korean Yakiniku BBQ restaurant that specialises in all parts of the cow, including off cuts. If you can't decide, the horumon moriawase (chef's selection) comprising of different stomachs, sweetbreads etc. is a good start. For the more familiar cuts, my favourites are always the kalbi (short rib) and rosu (ribeye). There are two types of marinades that you can choose from - the first a blend of salt, garlic and sesame oil, and the second a sweeter Takashi's sauce - both are equally delicious. For the adventurous, the menu here has an interesting list of appetisers you won't find anywhere else. The niku-uni (chuck flap topped with uni and wasabi) is a popular appetiser featured on Anthony Bourdain's The Layover. There is even a testicargot (cow balls escargot style with garlic shiso butter) dish but I didn't have the...balls to try it (pun fully intended). A small selection of complimentary banchan is served at the start of the menu, similar to Korean restaurants. Takashi can get pricey as portions are small, but it's definitely a place for beef/offal lovers, or jaded diners looking for something new. Reservations for four pax or more only.

Takashi
456 Hudson Street
(between Morton and Barrow)
+1 (212) 414-2929
[Dinner only] Mon to Thur: 6pm to 11pm, Fri & Sat: 530pm to 12am, Sun: 5pm to 1030pm 
http://takashinyc.com
 

Marea [Italian Seafood $$$$]

I admit - I am not the biggest fan of Italian food - it's a great cuisine for sure, but just not my favourite (it's Japanese btw, like 90% of SG). But an Italian seafood restaurant? That's an entirely different story. Uni, crudos (raw fish), seafood pastas, fish and shellfish entrees - I could eat this everyday (I'm not a pescatarian but somewhat leaning towards that diet). While the a la carte menu is available during dinner, the 99USD four course prix fixe seemed reasonable and comes with a lot of options for each category. For a two starred restaurant in NYC, extremely fresh seafood produce, and enough food that I was full midway, I thought it was a fair deal. Highlights of that night included the ricci (uni and lardo on toast), a mouthwatering selection of crudos (ten types to choose from), seared scallops, and the legendary red wine braised octopus and bone marrow fusilli (a must order). Even the Italian desserts here are well executed (gelato and sorbet flavours like lemon basil and blood orange, bomboloni doughnuts). Pair Chef Michael White's stellar food with a glass of white or two, and this ode to Italian coastal cuisine is a great alternative to a Sicilian holiday. A two course set lunch available at 45USD.

Marea
240 Central Park S
+1 (212) 582-5100
Opening hours vary, please check website
http://www.marea-nyc.com 

Sushi Yasuda [Sushi $$$$]

My first taste of haute sushi was at Sushi Yasuda, so it will always have a special place in my heart. I arrived a sushi noob, and left a changed woman. At Sushi Yasuda, you are encouraged to eat sushi with your hands (traditional style), and discouraged to dip sushi in soya sauce and wasabi (since the sushi chefs would have already done the flavouring for you - let's not insult their craft). The fish here is extremely fresh, and until today I can still remember that transformational uni I had (two types - one from the Atlantic and one from the Pacific - and you could really taste the difference though both were still amazing). Omakase starts at 100USD, but you can come for the more affordable prix fixe combinations/sushi sets, add on premium pieces, and still have a very nice experience. Though Chef Yasuda has left since my visit, recent reviews seem to show that it has managed to maintain its high standards. Book a seat at the bar, and come here for an education in traditional Edomae sushi. You will never look at sushi the same again. 

Sushi Yasuda
204 East 43rd Street 
(between 2nd and 3rd Ave)
+1 (212) 972-1001
[Lunch] Mon to Fri: 12pm to 215pm
[Dinner] Mon to Sat: 6pm to 1015pm
Closed on Sunday
http://sushiyasuda.com

Le Bernardin [Seafood $$$$]

If you are a seafood lover, Chef Eric Ripert's Le Bernardin is considered the temple of seafood in New York City. It's a staple on many best of restaurant lists and holds an unshakable three Michelin stars. Hence I was uber stoked to score a reservation after much clock-monitoring and Skyping, even if I were going to be the only solo diner in the resty (true story). Despite the hefty price tag, I went all out for the tasting menu (150USD for seven courses) since it would be the best way to try Le Bernardin's signature dishes. I was off to a good start with the super sublime salmon rilette spread on crispy toasts, elevating the oft-afterthought amuse bouche course to something else. That was succeeded by dish after dish of well-executed striped bass tartare, lobster carpaccio, scallop carpaccio, black bass and skate, before two dessert courses, of which the deconstructed "black forest" was particularly memorable (dark chocolate cremeux, Kirsch Bavaroise, Belgian Kriek beer sorbet). Needless to say, it is a lot of food, so perhaps I should have just got for the less ambitious three course set lunch (75USD) instead since I was full by the second course (despite me trying my hardest to not eat the really good bread). My only grouse with the menu was that both carpaccios on the menu were warm carpaccios (perhaps a seasonal thing since it was Autumn?), while personally I prefer cold carparccios and more variety. Service however, was flawless, and they very willingly accomodated my request to change the monkfish course (just not a fan of the texture) to something else, and printed a copy of my menu/threw in a Zagat guide for a little something extra. Jacket required for guys (it's that kind of formal business-ish venue).

Le Bernardin
155 West 51st
+1 (212) 554-1515
[Lunch] Mon to Fri: 12pm to 230pm
[Dinner] Mon to Thurs: 515pm to 1030pm, Fri & Sat: 515pm to 11pm
Closed on Sunday
http://le-bernardin.com
 

Buddakan [Lounge/Asian Fusion $$]

Buddakan in Chelsea is probably one of the most jaw dropping restaurants cum lounges I've been to. There's a reason why Carrie Bradshaw held her wedding rehearsal dinner here (nevermind that wedding didn't work out). Remember that long table with the ornate chandeliers set in the dark "den" like room? This is it. If you're not into Asian Fusion fine dining, come late for post-dinner dessert and drinks to experience it, which is what I did. It's an extremely sexy and glamorous location, so dress to impress or be prepared to stick out like a sore thumb. While I can't vouch for the food since I didn't dine here, you won't go wrong with the crying chocolate dessert and cocktails. Great for a girls' night our or celebrations.

Buddakan NYC
75 9th Ave
(between Ave Of The Americas & 5th Ave)
+1 (212) 989-6699
Opening hours vary, please check website
http://www.buddakannyc.com 

Angel's Share [Cocktail Bar $$]

Trying to get into an 'it' speakeasy bar in Manhattan on a Saturday night is pointless unless you have made a reservation in advance, or have an invisibility cloak on. So after realising that our spots on the waitlist at PDT and Death & Co were hopeless, we gave Angel's Share - a Japanese bar hidden in the rather greasy Village Yokocho restaurant - our last shot. Surprisingly, we only had to wait for a table for 5 minutes before they sat us at a table by the bay window overlooking Stuyvesant Square. The inventive cocktails here have an Asian twist, incorporating Japanese flavours and liquors. Order the Japanese whiskey based cocktails on the menu, I found them to be absolutely delish. It's an intimate space with a curious decor best described as a blend of Japanese whiskey bar meets Michelangelo (you'll know what I mean when you see it). No groups bigger than four are allowed in so you'll be guaranteed a quiet, civil time. Bliss.

Angel's Share 
Village Yokocho

8 Stuyvesant Street 
(between 2nd and 3rd Avenue)
+1 (212) 777-5415
Open daily: 7pm to 230am