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Media moguls rub shoulders with publishing insiders over haute California cuisine at this clubby Midtown eatery. The party is presided over by chef/owner Michael McCarty, who plays gracious host every other week, making the rounds to shake hands and spread bonhomie to each power-lunching table (general manager Steve Millington does the honors when McCarty is tending to his Santa Monica outpost). The food is secondary to the schmooze here, where a fish-heavy menu of tuna, cod, and salmon is joined by a massive mainstay Cobb salad; chicken, duck, and steak with garden-fresh sides; and an expansive wine list. Wall-to-wall carpeting, track-lighting, and chrome Breuer Cesca chairs lend the space a conference-room feel, but an eclectic selection of contemporary art and a spacious back room opening on a breathtaking sculpture garden add to the "only in New York" buzz that permeates the establishment. Even if you're not seated at Table One—more often than not occupied by a clutch of media elite—the vibe at Michael's is warm and familial: Everybody's a somebody here, at least for the duration of the meal. — Melissa Kirsch

You can host a private affair for up to 100 people in the airy, garden-view backroom.

Cobb salad, $36

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