New York City’s annual eating-out bibles are back with their 2014 editions. The Michelin Guide to New York City Restaurants and the Zagat New York City Restaurants Survey are now available — although you’ll have to save your money for the food.
All seven restaurants awarded Michelin’s 2013 coveted three-star designation — exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey — defended their titles again this year. Midtown West dominates the restaurant scene, featuring three of the top seven eateries. Restaurants earning top marks include Le Bernardin (155 W. 51st St., 212-554-1515), a French seafood restaurant; Columbus Circle in particular lays claim to French/New American restaurant Per Se (10 Columbus Circle, 212-823-9335) and Japanese and sushi restaurant Masa (10 Columbus Circle, 212-823-9800). There only about 100 restaurants in the world with a three-star Michelin rating.
This year, 67 NYC restaurants received Michelin stars. In Manhattan, Michelin recognizes the French trio of Daniel (60 E. 65th St., 212-288-0033), Eleven Madison Park (11 Madison Ave., 212-288-0033) and Jean-Georges (1 Central Park West, 212-299-3900) as three-star establishments. Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare (200 Schermerhorn St., 718-243-0050) is the only restaurant from another borough to make the list. This ultra-exclusive, modern, seafood-centered restaurant only accommodates 18 guests at a time.
Nine restaurants, including Aska (90 Wythe Ave., 718-388-2969), Lincoln (142 W. 65th St., 212-359-6500), The Musket Room (265 Elizabeth St., 212-219-0764) and Telepan (72 W. 69th St., 212-580 4300), earned their first stars.
The Zagat Survey, compiled from reviews of over 48,000 patrons, ranked Le Bernardin as number one in both Top Food and Most Popular. This is a record-breaking 12th No. 1 rating for Midtown’s Le Bernardin. Each of the Michelin three-star restaurants cracked Zagat’s top 10 in Top Food, except for Masa.
Zagat’s Top Food list ranks French restaurant Bouley (163 Duane St.,212-964-2525) as No. 1. La Grenouille (3 E. 52nd St., 212-752-1495) also represents French fine dining at No. 9. Japanese restaurants Sasabune (401 E. 73rd St., 212-249-8583) and Sushi Yasuda (204 E. 43rd St., 212-972-1001) ranked seventh and eighth, respectively.
The ever-popular Gramercy Tavern (42 E. 20th St., 212-477-0777) — ranked the city’s most popular eatery for the past two years — rounds out the Top 10 list.
While these top rankings require top dollar, both the Michelin and Zagat guides also offer some more affordable alternatives, highlighting the best restaurants at under $25 per plate.
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