New York Diet

Image of La Esquina via www.guillaumegaudet.photoshelter.com

As I have learned, many restaurants here only allow you to book reservations 21 days in advance. Not later, and certainly not earlier (unless you want to eat at 6pm or 11:30pm). Our dining schedule is certainly much later now that we live here, but eating after 11pm is a bit tricky for me. My case in point is La Esquina, a tiny little taqueria and cafe. Last Friday at 10 am their phone lines were open for reservations for 21 days from then. Do you think I got through after a zillion times of hitting my redial button? Nope. In any case, we continue in our quest to eat our way through the greatest spots in this gastronomic capital - including La Esquina.

Dying to try/top of mind:

• Osteria Morini
• Babbo
• Sushi Yasuda
• Tartine
• Balaboosta
• Market Table
• BLT Fish Shack
• Pearl Oyster Bar
• Angelica Kitchen
• Momofuku Noodle Bar
• Bar Pitti
• Scarpetta
• La Ripaille
• Philip Marie
• Blue Hill
• Locanda Verde
• Waverly Inn
• Basta Pasta
• Otto Enoteca Pizzeria
• Torrisi Italian Specialties
• Lotus of Siam
• Del Posto
• Cipriani
• The Little Owl
• Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare
• Blue Ribbon Sushi
• Fig + Olive
• Cafe Habana
• Maialino
• ... impossible to make this list there must be hundreds!

Especially loved:

• ABC Kitchen
• Recette
• Lupa
• Cookshop
• Cafe Gitane 
• Peels
• Il Buco
• Cafe Cluny
• The Red Cat
• Balthazar
• Chinatown Brasserie
• Pastis
• The Standard Grill
• Minetta Tavern
• Pulino's
• The Breslin Bar + Dining Room
• Craft
• A Voce
• Le Verdure at Eataly
• Tamarind
• Kenmare
• Momofuku Ssam Bar
• Westville
• Salt
• Eleven Madison Park 
• .... so many more, will keep adding as I recall them!

Do you have other spots that should not be missed?