Best meat

Grilled lamb belly at August
Lamb belly—confited in its own fragrant fat and then grilled to a smoky char—makes for a luscious appetizer at this West Village mainstay. A crust of toasted black sesame seeds adds crunch, while tsatsiki delivers the brightness. 359 Bleecker St between Charles and W 10th Sts (212-929-8727, augustny.com). $13.

Carne asada tacos at Dos Toros
Tender cubes of rich flap steak, seasoned with a secret spice blend and grilled to a gorgeously pink medium-rare, would be good enough to eat alone. But we like them even better cradled in corn tortillas lined with Jack cheese and pimped out with bright guac, fresh pico and a squirt of habenero hot sauce. 137 Fourth Ave between 13th and 14th Sts (212-677-7300, dostorosnyc.com). $4.17 each.

Beef Seven Ways at M Pche
Chef Tien Ho's group feast pays glorious homage to classic Vietnamese banquets, with enough bespoke bovine—sausages, rib eye, tongue salad, a whole shank—to fill your meat quota for the week. Fish sauce, pickles and crisp lettuce for wrapping it all up add a taste of Saigon to each bite. 15 W 56th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves (212-757-5878, momofuku.com/ma-peche). $85 per person.

Punjabi Mutton at Tamarind Tribeca
The spices that are usually ground into garam masala—bay leaf, green cardamom, nutmeg and cloves, to name a few—are tossed whole into this vibrant curry from Northern India. They pack the aromatic heat needed to stand up to goat meat, so rich and tender it slides from the bone. 99 Hudson St at Franklin St (212-775-9000, tamarindrestaurantsnyc.com). $23.

Modern liverwurst at the The Modern Bar Room
Chef Gabriel Kreuther's haute take on liverwurst transforms the deli staple, using a lush, meaty blend of creamy calf's liver and pork shoulder and belly. Smear it on grilled country bread and top it with vinegary sides to cut the richness: Pickled sweet beets, mushrooms, Kirbies and jalapeo-spiked carrots are served alongside. 9 W 53rd St between Fifth and Sixth Aves (212-333-1220, themodernnyc.com). $12.