Gramercy Tavern

One of America's most popular restaurants, Gramercy Tavern serves inventive American cuisine in a rustic yet elegant setting. We've frequently enjoyed stopping by the Tavern Room in the late afternoon for the superb appetizers that range from a portobello tart with goat cheese, grilled baby octopus with shaved fennel and even a stuffed quail with an innovative sweet corn relish. A leg of lamb sandwich and the fish stew with tomato-saffron broth are particularly wonderful choices in the Tavern Room. After Tom Colicchio announced his departure in August 2006 to focus on his empire of Craft restaurants, much speculation began on the new direction for Gramercy Tavern's kitchen. Yet the cuisine has remained steadfastly superior, a sure mark of managerial and culinary excellence.

In the main dining room, the choices are quite fascinating: An à la carte three-course market menu for $36 and a seasonal five-course tasting menu for $55. And for dinner a three-course prix fixe menu at $76, a seven-course vegetable tasting menu at $82 and especially the seasonal seven-course tasting menu for $98 offer a diverse range of Gramercy's stellar technique.

Do try the roasted sweetbreads, the chilled lobster and the seared foie gras appetizers—the latter two do have a supplemental charge that is well worth the price. Salt-baked king salmon with braised lobster mushrooms is one of the finest fish dishes you will find in New York, and the rabbit with roasted shallots as well as the braised shoulder of lamb with tomato tart are utterly divine.