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[title]A.G. Kitchen Cuban-born chef Alex Garcia puts a Latin spin on American plates at this 120-seat eatery, outfitted with a 100-year-old mahogany bar, butcher-block tables and colorful hanging pots. Dig into dishes like a Peruvian-style beer-can chicken served with roasted tomato salsa, and the Manhattan Latin Burger, a house-ground patty topped with guacamole, bacon, cheddar and a smoky-sweet sauce. 269 Columbus Ave between 72nd and 73rd Sts (212-873-9400)
Alice's Arbor Restaurateur Dimitri Vlahakis (Motorino) and chef Mike Franzetti (Chestnut) transport the latest culinary trends (farm-to-table ingredients, a wood-fired oven, reclaimed furnishings) to Bed-Stuy with this 60-seat canteen. To eat, find locavore American dishes, including roasted Catskills trout served alongside sunchokes, fennel, Yukon potatoes and a Creole-style tomato sauce. Drinkers can choose from biodynamic wines and seasonal cocktails—such as a Russian Spy (vodka, honey, lime juice, ginger beer, mint)—made with homegrown herbs. 549 Classon Ave between Fulton St and Putnam Ave, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn (718-399-3003)
Brooklyn Seoul Get traditional and creative Korean dishes at this family-run restaurant. East Williamsburg locals can swing by the 18-seat spot for a bowl of bibimbap or mash-up plates, such as the BK Seoul Burrito, stuffed with pork belly, kimchi, rice, pickled radish and the spicy chili sauce gochujang. 749 Metropolitan Ave between Graham Ave and Humboldt St, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718-576-3050)
Dumbo Kitchen Forty-five handblown glass globes decorate this upscale Italian market in Brooklyn. The 90-seat space offers imported meats and cheeses, plus rotisserie chicken, wood-fired pizzas and sandwiches (like the Number 1: rib eye, arugula and horseradish sauce on an Italian hero). 108 Jay St at York St, Dumbo, Brooklyn (718-797-1695)
Ktchn Chef Dale Schnell (Setai) helms the kitchen at this 130-seat American restaurant, located at the gay-friendly Out NYC hotel. In the main dining room, diners can choose from contemporary comfort-food plates, like braised smoked bacon served with artichokes and polenta and drizzled in a blue-cheese vinaigrette. Drinkers can snag a seat at the marble bar and order tipples, such as the Steaming Hot (serrano-chili-infused vodka, St. Germain, lime juice, sparkling wine) or the Hudson Caribbean (muddled tarragon, grilled pineapple, vodka, lemon juice, star anise foam). 508 W 42nd St between Tenth and Eleventh Aves (212-868-2999)
La Vid Wine & Spirits Sustainably produced bottles of vino line the wooden shelves of this West Village natural wineshop. Frugal drinkers can find plenty of options under 20 bucks, and many offerings feature lesser-known grape varieties, like the Spanish xarel-lo and the German elbling. 315 Sixth Ave between Carmine and W 3rd Sts (212-242-4545)
Okadaman Food Truck New Yorkers aren't lacking options for highbrow street eats, among them top-notch lobster rolls, killer Mexi-Korean tacos and scoops of artisanal ice cream. But 23-year-old designer Kosei Shido, along with his mother, stepfather and his uncle Yasuhiko Okada, may be the first to bring Japanese soul food to Gotham's boulevards, with this roving food truck. Chef Okada, an Osaka native, will dish out the savory Japanese pancake okonomiyaki, made in two styles: Osaka (fried pork) and seafood (squid). He stuffs both varieties with cabbage, red ginger and tempura bits, and then tops them with bonito flakes and seaweed, plus drizzles of Japanese mayo and the thick Worcestershire-like okonomiyaki sauce. Eaters can also pick up yakisoba (fried noodles with cabbage and pork), takoyaki (fried octopus) and kara-age (fried chicken with ponzu sauce). For locations, visit okadamannyc.com (646-531-7113)
Voila 76 Country Kitchen Health nuts can grab a bite at this quick-service spot on the Upper West Side. Choose from sandwiches (like a bison cheese steak made with arugula and guac), soups (such as green lentil) and salads (including one made with baby spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, tuna, black olives and hard-boiled eggs). 1452 Second Ave between 75th and 76th Sts (212-288-2533)
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