New York City (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [206]
Hill Country.
$$ | BARBECUE | This enormous barbecue joint is perfect for big groups and carnivorous appetites. The menu was devised by ‘cue queen Elizabeth Karmel, and the current pit master has a championship knack for real Texas barbecue. The beef-centric menu features meaty ribs and exceptionally succulent slow-smoked brisket (check your diet at the door and go for the moist, fatty option). Plump pork sausages, in regular and jalapeño cheese versions, are flown in directly from Kreuz Market in Lockhart, Texas. The market-style setup can mean long lines for meat, sold by the pound, or ribs at cutter-manned stations. Bring your tray downstairs for a fine bourbon selection and nightly live music. | 30 W. 26th St., between Broadway and 6th Ave., Flatiron District | 10010-2011 | 212/255–4544 | www.hillcountryny.com | AE, MC, V | Subway: N, R to 28th St.; 6 to 28th St.; F, M to 23rd St.
Ilili.
$$ | MIDDLE EASTERN | Famed Washington, D.C., restaurateur and chef Philippe Massoud brings his culinary talents to New York City with this bi-level, 400-seat eatery that showcases cuisine from his native Lebanon. The menu includes standard Middle Eastern fare, but also unexpected dishes like bone marrow with sour-cherry tabbouleh and black cod with fragrant rice and tahini. Waiters never fail to refresh the basket of hot, fluffy, house-baked pita bread. A glass of Lebanese or French wine is a nice accompaniment to the cuisine. Late-night entertainment includes belly dancing. | 236 5th Ave., between 27th and 28th Sts., Flatiron District | 10001-7606 | 212/683–2929 | www.ililinyc.com | AE, D, DC, MC, V | No lunch weekends | Subway: N, R to 28th St.
Primehouse New York.
$$$$ | STEAKHOUSE | This sleek steak house comes from the reliable group that operates Dos Caminos and several other perpetually mobbed New York restaurants. Here you’ll find classic presentations like Caesar salad and steak tartare prepared table-side, and respectable dry-aged prime cuts, ranging from hanger steak ($21) to porterhouse for two ($96). For something lighter, try skate sautéed in lemon–brown-butter sauce, or the Berkshire pork chop with fig glaze and apple compote. The mod space has a cream-and-black motif that recalls the Jetsons’ futuristic 1960s feel, interspersed with geometric M. C. Escher–like patterns. | 381 Park Ave. S, at 27th St., Flatiron District | 10016-8806 | 212/824–2600 | www.brguestrestaurants.com/restaurants/primehouse_new_york | AE, MC, V | Subway: 6, R to 28th St.
SD26.
$$ | ITALIAN | The charming father-daughter restaurant team of Tony and Marisa May closed uptown’s San Domenico to open this more casual, yet still impressive, Italian spot. The cavernous main dining room, decorated with a constellation of pinpoint lights and ringed with more intimate tables and banquettes, speaks to a fresher, more modern approach than its predecessor. The food—pappardelle with wild boar ragu, smoked lobster with porcini mushrooms and orange segments—is a refreshing mix of classic and forward-thinking. Expect a personal greeting from either father or daughter before your meal comes to an end. | 19 E. 26th St., between 5th and Madison Aves., Flatiron District | 10010 | 212/265–5959 | www.sd26ny.com | Reservations essential | AE, DC, MC, V | Subway: R to 23rd St. and 5th Ave.
Fodor’s Choice | Shake Shack.
¢ | BURGER | Though the newer, uptown location of Danny Meyer’s patties ‘n shakes joint is bigger by far, this is where it all began. Here in Madison Square Park there’s no indoor seating—just snaking outdoor lines. TIP Check the “Shack Cam” from their Web site to gauge your wait. If it’s raining, you may be in luck—inclement weather can mean shorter lines. Fresh steer burgers are ground daily, and a single will run you from $3.75 to $4.75, depending on what you want on it. For a burger on-the-go, they’re decidedly tasty. For a few more bucks you can also order doubles and stacks or a vegetarian ‘Shroom Burger—a super-rich melty Muenster and cheddar cheese–stuffed, fried portobello, topped with lettuce, tomato,