New York State Restaurants $$$

    Smith & Wollensky, New York City

  797 Third Ave. - (49th Street) - New York, NY           
Smith & Wollensky is one of the most trafficked restaurants in New York and among the most celebrated steakhouses in the world. Specializing in fresh seafood and lobster and assorted steaks and chops, Smith & Wollensky is well recognized for its healthy portions, seasoned service staff and pop Americana ambience. The surnames, Smith and Wollensky, were chosen from the local telephone directory by the restaurant’s founder Alan Stillman, of T.G.I. Friday’s fame. Wollensky’s Grill, a small but spirited bar room installed in the side of the famed midtown restaurant, is open until 2 a.m. Catering to night owls, Wollensky Grill offers a late night bill of fare featuring lighter supper versions of items from the grander Smith & Wollensky steakhouse menu and plenty of high-end red wines by the glass to choose from.
    Barbetta Restaurant, New York City
  321 W. 46th Street - (8th-9th Aves.) - New York, NY            
Now 95 years young. Barbetta is the oldest restaurant in New York still owned by the founding family. Authentic Piemontese food in an elegant and romantic atmosphere. Dine outdoors in the garden beside the fountain in the summer. Legendary, award winning wine cellar.
    The River Cafe, New York City
  1 Water Street - (under the Brooklyn Bridge) - Brooklyn, NY            
<iframe id='palyer3' width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dTivLk8iHok" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe id='palyer3'>
What began as the singular vision of Mr. O’Keeffe for an elegant waterfront restaurant took many years of lengthy negotiation with The City of New York before permission was granted to start construction. At the time, the notion of building a restaurant amid what was such an isolated and neglected part of New York seemed like a great risk. Since opening in May of 1977, however, The River Café has been the recipient of numerous awards including selection as one of the five best restaurants in New York by the French culinary guide “Gault Millau”. The restaurant will forever hold the distinction of being at the forefront of what has become the re-birth of the Brooklyn waterfront.
    Riverview Restaurant, New York City
  2-01 50th Avenue - Long Island City, NY           
Riverview Restaurant commands the most spectacular views of New York City's skyline. Directly facing the United Nation with Citicorp Center, Trumps International Hotel and the Queensboro Bridge to the north and the Chrysler and Empire State Building to the south, Riverview is unmistakably, " A Room with a View".
    Lea, New York City
  230 Park Ave - New York, NY           
Lea, a 60 seat wine bar, reataurant-lounge adds an opulent quality of romance to Grand Central's typically professional ambiance. Behind dark wooden slats, nestled in the hollowed granite halls of the Helmsley building, Invoking a 19th century writer’s den of the romantic period, Lea is a seductive and secluded wine bar and lounge located near Grand Central.
    North Square, New York City
  103 Waverly Place - New York, NY             
<iframe id='palyer6' width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fPfxJAH4GDI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe id='palyer6'>
Trends come and go, but apple martinis and Marlene Dietrich are here to stay. Inspired by the subtle glamour that is the everyday, the hide-away lounge is a place for cocktails with friends or dinner for two. Here, the allure of the past is a reminder that good food and great company are always a staple of the present.
The gloves come off for afternoon tea in the Deco Room. Whether it's a light salad at five, or an elegant private dinner at eight, the timelessness of this classic space is a perfect balance of old and new.
    Le Bar Bat, New York City
  311 West 57th St. - New York, NY
          
Some come for our acclaimed Coastal Mediterranean cuisine. Others visit Providence take in the surroundings of the space that decades earlier was a landmark church, followed by a world-famous recording studio in which Hendrix, Sinatra, The Stones, Streisand and The Ramones created historic records. Still others frequent Providence to soak in the after work lounge vibe or to groove at one of the few remaining venues in the city where dinner and dancing are offered under one roof. http://www.lebarbat.com/
    Tao Restaurant, New York City
  42 East 58th Street - New York, NY           
A favorite destination for celebrities and athletes, this Pan Asian restaurant specializes in authentic Hong Kong Chinese, Japanese and Thai cuisines. Tao has 3 levels of dining including the prized "Skybox" which offers views of this former movie theater unparalleled in New York. In addition to its 300 seats, Tao includes a sushi bar, lounge and 2 bars at which to enjoy the food and the show.
    21 Club, New York City
  21 West 52nd Street - New York, NY             
<iframe id='palyer9' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/?listType=user_uploads&list=21ClubNYC'></iframe id='palyer9'>
    Bobby Van's Steakhouse, New York City
  25 Broad Street - Financial District - New York, NY           
Bobby Van's Steakhouse and Grill located across from the New York Stock Exchange uses the original 1898 structure to create lush and evocative dining rooms filled with dark wood, cream-colored walls and beautiful chandeliers. Pass through the glass entrance of the steakhouse into the grand dining room with 20' ceilings to face a gorgeous 20-foot bar and a floor-to-ceiling wall of wine and liquor. Dine under the soft lighting of the grand chandeliers and enjoy succulent 28-day dry-aged prime steaks and the freshest seafood.
    Club Macanudo, New York City
  26 East 63rd Street - (Park-Madison Aves.) - New York, NY           
Club Macanudo is an elegant oasis nestled in the heart of New York’s Upper East Side. It has been highlighted by the Food Network, USA Today, and Time Out New York, among others. Outfitted with rich mahogany furniture, buttery-soft leather chairs and comfortable sofas, Club Macanudo is the ideal place to conduct business, enjoy a romantic evening for two, or catch up during a stylishly casual night out with friends. Complete with a state-of-the-art ventilation system, Club Macanudo offers the perfect environment for smokers and non-smokers.
Club Macanudo consistently offers you a warm, welcoming atmosphere, an attentive staff and a connoisseur’s selection of food, drink and cigars.
Dress Code: Club Macanudo requires gentlemen to wear collared shirts. Tee shirts, athletic attire/sneakers, shorts and flip flops are strictly prohibited. The staff of Club Macanudo reserves the right to deny entrance to any patron who does not meet the dress code requirements.
    Water Club, The, New York City
  East River - Between 28th and 32nd Street - New York, NY            
The Water Club serves wonderful classic American cuisine in a beautiful waterside setting against sweeping river views. The restaurant is open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday, lunch Tuesday through Saturday and an exceptional brunch on Sunday. A seasonal rooftop bar, The Crow’s Nest, sits atop the main dining room and features a moderately priced menu and refreshing drinks from mid-May through late September. The Water Club also has three private party rooms, a lounge with a wood burning fireplace, and piano music nightly in the dining room. The restaurant has complimentary valet parking in the private lot and the first floor is handicapped accessible.
    Blue Water Grill, New York City
  31 Union Square West - New York, NY            
Voted 11th Most Popular Restaurant in New York in the 2008 Zagat Survey and applauded as a restaurant that is "perfect for dates" and "never disappoints," Blue Water Grill is a dining destination in the heart of Union Square. Loyal guests and curious visitors are drawn to the former Metropolitan Bank space that features sexy, dimly-lit red chandeliers illuminating the intimate dining room, a spacious people-watching outdoor café and a cozy subterranean lounge featuring live jazz music.
    Sparks Steak House, New York City
  210 East 46th Street - New York, NY           
Sparks Steak House was established in 1966 on East 18th street by brothers Pat and Mike Cetta. They turned Spark's Pub into steak house and in 1977 they moved it to its current location. Sparks' worldwide reputation for great steaks and fabulous wine cellar was assured in 2001 when the New York Post rated them "the greatest steak house in Manhattan". Sparks' wine list, with its incredible range and reasonable prices, has been awarded the Wine Spectator magazine's Grand Award every year since 1981.
    Strip House New York City Steakhous, New York City
  13 East 12th Street - New York, NY            
The famed New York City steakhouse evokes a retro environment in a modern way. Strip House is known for prime signature cuts of New York Strip Steak and Rib Eye charred to perfection. Table- carved Double Porterhouse and Cote du Beouf add drama to the experience. Decadent side dishes include Black Truffle Cream Spinach and Goose Fat Potatoes. The wine list offers depth and breadth to enhance the dining experience. Part of the experience is the sumptuous, all red décor designed by David Rockwell featuring vintage photographs from Vienna’s Studio Manasse.
    Craft, New York City
  43 E. 19th Street - (Park Ave. South-Broad-Way) - New York, NY            
Tom Colicchio's Craft received the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant nationwide in 2002, and has since spawned a host of imitators for its unique marriage of the finest ingredients, haute cuisine and family-style service.
Against the award-winning architectural design of Bentel and Bentel, and under the glow of filament bulbs, diners share from dishes that celebrate 'single' ingredients, expertly and simply prepared. "Simple doesn't mean simplistic," Tom says in his book, Think Like a Chef, and the food at Craft - under the execution of Chef Damon Wise - serves as proof. Favorites include Pan Roasted Day boat Scallops, Roasted Foie Gras, Braised Short Ribs of Beef, the famous Hen-of-the-Woods Mushrooms, and what many diners describe as the finest Porterhouse Steak in New York City.