1. 1. Insieme

   777 Seventh Ave., at 51st St.; 212-582-1310

   Marco Canora’s menu at the splashy new Italian restaurant at the Michelangelo Hotel is divided in two: traditional on one side, contemporary on the other.

2. 2. Anthos

   36 W. 52nd St., nr. Fifth Ave.; 212-582-6900

   Michael Psilakis’s homage to his mom’s rustic Greek cooking, only lighter and much more refined.

3. 3. La Grenouille

   3 E. 52nd St., nr. Fifth Ave.; 212-752-1495

   A youthful makeover leaves the once hoity-toity restaurant less forbidding, and, in the ultimate surrender, the menu is finally translated into English.

4. 4. Bar Americain

   152 W. 52nd St., nr. Seventh Ave.; 212-265-9700

   Bobby Flay tackles the brasserie idiom, American style. That means classic cocktails, spice-rubbed steaks, and Gulf shrimp and grits.

5. 5. The Burger Joint

   119 W. 56th St., nr. Sixth Ave.; 212-708-7414

   Behind a Wizard of Oz curtain in the lobby of Le Parker Meridien hotel: draft beer, crisp fries, fudgy brownies, and $6.50 burgers that hit the spot.

Related:

• Archive: “Food”
• Articles by Robin Raisfeld | Rob Patronite
• Table of Contents: Dec 3, 2007 issue of New York | Subscribe!