anny Meyer waited three
years to open Ci Siamo,
and it was well worth the
wait! Chef Hillary Sterling and crew are creating outstanding Italian fare. At Nougatine the food is beyond sublime, and the setting is sleek with a Scandinavian vibe. Gage & Tollner, the Gilded Age jewel (previous incarnation 1879–2004), is gorgeously back—a glittering hall of mirrors, wrought-iron chandeliers, dark wood and tufted banquettes. Its richly satisfying food is back, too. A posh yet easygoing London-chophouse import, Hawksmoor provides locally purveyed meat, seafood and cheese. You have to find Estela, a snug-fitting sliver of a room up a flight of stairs, but once there, you’ll be transported to another world by the vividly flavored small-dish cooking. Sixty Three Clinton’s seven-course, $92 prix-fixe menu is a delicious bargain. Another outstanding bargain is Sushi Nakazawa, which delivers 21 remarkable pieces of fish for $120. If you want to go Greek, Avra Madison is the place to go. Atera remains one of the city’s great American culinary experiences, with two seatings a night. It’s still tough to get a reservation for L’Artusi, a jostling West Village staple, but a few bites into your meal you’ll know what lures the regulars back. Since reopening in June, Crown Shy’s majestic space has been packed. Many of the shared-plate favorites have returned, such as citrus-marinated chicken with house-made hot sauce. Back after what was thought to be a permanent closing, Gotham features an interior update and a refreshed menu of seasonal fare with creative flourishes. Reopened in a dramatic new space, Junoon continues to delight with its sophisticated Indian dishes and extensive wine list. Under the watchful eye of Jacques Le Magueresse, one of the city’s greatest maître d’s, service at Majorelle remains impeccable. Portale is a deliciously delightful, authentic Italian-American trattoria.
3 Stars
Restaurants
Clockwise from top:
Hawksmoor; hutong; crown shy
D
Atera
Avra Madison
Ci Siamo
Cote
Ai Fiori
Crown Shy
ABC Kitchen
Antonucci Cafe
Carbone
Frenchette
Estela
Aretsky’s Patroon
The Clocktower
JoJo
Junoon
Gotham
Gage & Tollner
Hawksmoor
La Goulue
Hutong
Michael’s
Milos
Nougatine
Perry St
Majorelle
Portale
L’Artusi
Marc Forgione
Misi
The Simone
Porter House Bar and Grill
The Mark Restaurant
Nur
Sushi Nakazawa
Sixty Three Clinton
Union Square Cafe
Wayan