Minetta Tavern   (Photo: Hannah Whitaker/New York Magazine)

Boqueria
53 W. 19th St., nr. Sixth Ave.; 212-255-4160
This tapas-plus joint takes the familiar Spanish small-plates formula to a stylish new place.

Locanda Verde
379 Greenwich St., at N. Moore St.; 212-925-3797
This crowd-pleasing Italian cooking promotes a good time in a casually stylish, relatively economical way.

Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal St., nr. Bleecker St.; 212-475-3850
The vibe at Minetta is buzzy, exclusive, and properly chaotic, but the menu is a compact, carefully edited compendium of practiced brasserie favorites.

Momofuku Ssäm Bar
207 Second Ave., at 13th St.; 212-254-3500
The mobbed showplace of a unique brand of earthy, Asian-accented "Refined Meathead" cuisine.

Torrisi Italian Specialties
250 Mulberry St., nr. Prince St.; 212-965-0955
In the realm of red-sauce cooking, this spot is nothing short of revolutionary.

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