Manhattan Dining

 2 West
 American Price Range: Moderate to Expensive The restaurant at the new Battery Park Ritz-Carlton: killer views, multicultural vittles. 2 West St. Chinatown/Lower Manhattan 212-344-0800

 92
 American Price Range: Moderate to Expensive This spiffy newcomer could very well become the neighborhood canteen. 45 E. 92nd St. Upper East Side

 107 West
 American, Cajun/Creole, Mexican Price Range: Moderate to Expensive The fried chicken beats its competition at almost all the southern-food meccas up here. 2787 Broadway Above 103rd St. 212-864-1555

 21 Club
 American Price Range: Very Expensive You no longer need to wear a necktie -- though the crowd has nothing against them... 21 W. 52nd St. Midtown West 212-582-7200

 2nd Avenue Deli
 American, Eastern European, Hamburgers, Kosher Price Range: Inexpensive to Moderate East Village landmark continues to draw dedicated fressers with killer pastrami and hard-boiled service. 156 Second Ave. East Village 212-677-0606

 44 & X Hells Kitchen
 American, Southern/Soul Price Range: Moderate Inspired new American cooking packs this handsome room nightly with Hells Kitchen locals and clued-in theatergoers. 622 Tenth Ave. Midtown West 212-977-1170

 71 Clinton Fresh Food
 American, French Price Range: Moderate The restaurant that kicked off Clinton Streets dining boom has a new wunderkind in the kitchen. 71 Clinton St. Lower East Side 212-614-6960
 

 AZ
 Asian (Southeast), Chinese, Japanese/Sushi, Thai Price Range: Expensive Think pan-Asian fusion is so last decade? AZ will change your mind. 21 W. 17th St. Flatiron/Gramercy/Union Square 212-691-8888

 Ajisen Noodle
 Asian (Southeast), Chinese, Japanese/Sushi Price Range: Inexpensive A lot of ramen around town can be disappointing. Not so at Ajisen. 14 Mott St. Chinatown/Lower Manhattan 212-267-9680

 Atlantic Grill
 Asian (Southeast), Mediterranean, Seafood Price Range: Moderate Hey, buddy, we got a pan-Asian sushi bar, a wood-burning grill, a big lobster pot... 1341 Third Ave. Upper East Side 212-988-9200

 B. Smiths
 American, Asian (Southeast), Southern/Soul Price Range: Moderate Barbara Smith, "the black Martha Stewart," feeds a theatergoing clientele her own version of global cuisine. 320 W. 46th St. Midtown West 212-315-1100

 Borobudur Cafe
 Asian (Southeast) Price Range: Inexpensive to Moderate 128 East 4th Street East Village 212-614-9079
 

 @SQC
 French Price Range: Moderate Scott (Avenue) Campbells second neighborhood favorite for brunch and beyond. 270 Columbus Ave. Upper West Side 212-579-0100

 71 Clinton Fresh Food
 American, French Price Range: Moderate The restaurant that kicked off Clinton Streets dining boom has a new wunderkind in the kitchen. 71 Clinton St. Lower East Side 212-614-6960

 A
 Caribbean, French Price Range: Inexpensive Barbershop turned four-table cafe specializing in inventive Jamaican-inspired French dishes. 947 Columbus Ave. Above 103rd St. 212-531-1643

 Acquario
 Italian, Mediterranean, Portuguese Price Range: Moderate to Expensive Rustic furnishings, Euro accents, and a tolerant smoking policy create an authentic Mediterranean atmosphere. 5 Bleecker St. SoHo/NoHo/Little Italy 212-260-4666

 Aix
 French Price Range: Moderate to Expensive Didier Virot brings sophisticated French fare to the UWS. 2398 Broadway Upper West Side 212-874-7400

 Alain Ducasse at the Essex House
 French Price Range: Very Expensive The chastised Ducasse now shows us his warm and fuzzy side. 155 W. 58th St. Midtown West 212-265-7300

 F&B
 Belgian, German/Austrian, Scandinavian Price Range: Inexpensive Short for frites and beignets, its the Tiffany of fast food. 269 W. 23rd St. Chelsea 646-486-4441

 Markt
 Belgian Price Range: Moderate to Expensive Unremarkable Belgian fare; impressive beer list. 401 W. 14th St. West Village 212-727-3314

 Petite Abeille
 Belgian Price Range: Moderate Moules marinières with French fries served in paper boats washed down with a Stella Artois -- if this is Tuesday it must be Belgium. 466 Hudson St. West Village 212-741-6479 Multiple Locations
 

 Apizz
 Italian, Pizza Price Range: Moderate Cheaper Southern Italian spinoff of Peasant, pronounced ah-BEETS, as in pizza. 217 Eldridge St. Lower East Side 212-253-9199

 98 Kenmare
 American, Italian, Seafood Price Range: Moderate to Expensive Modern American bistro with eclectic international menu. 98 Kenmare St. SoHo/NoHo/Little Italy 212-226-2888

 Across the Street
 Italian Price Range: Moderate Eli Zabars fine-dining restaurant has morphed into a casual trattoria and pizzeria. 444 E. 91st St. Upper East Side 212-722-4000

 Arezzo
 Italian Price Range: Moderate to Expensive Spare and handsome with an ambitious, seasonally-inspired menu. 46 W. 22nd St. Flatiron/Gramercy/Union Square 212-206-0555

 Artusi
 Italian Price Range: Moderate to Expensive Great service, elegant northern Italian cuisine, and a midtown location. 36 W. 52d St. Midtown West 212-582-6900

 Atlantic Grill
 Asian (Southeast), Mediterranean, Seafood Price Range: Moderate Hey, buddy, we got a pan-Asian sushi bar, a wood-burning grill, a big lobster pot... 1341 Third Ave. Upper East Side 212-988-9200

 Babbo
 Italian Price Range: Moderate to Expensive Get ready to crave goat cheese tortellini dusted in dried orange and wild fennel pollen and other bizarre Mario Batali concoctions. 110 Waverly Pl. Greenwich Village 212-777-0303

 ino
 Italian Price Range: Inexpensive Named for panino, this cozy nook excels at crafting perfect Italian snacks. 21 Bedford St. West Village 212-352-1118
 

 98 Kenmare
 American, Italian, Seafood Price Range: Moderate to Expensive Modern American bistro with eclectic international menu. 98 Kenmare St. SoHo/NoHo/Little Italy 212-226-2888

 A Salt & Battery
 Irish/English, Seafood Price Range: Inexpensive to Moderate A fish-and-chips shop that literally reeks of authenticity. 112 Greenwich Ave. West Village 212-691-2713 Multiple Locations

 Aquagrill
 Seafood Price Range: Moderate to Expensive Still a rollicking neighborhood spot with a lively bar scene and some inspired cooking. 210 Spring St. SoHo/NoHo/Little Italy 212-274-0505

 Barney Greengrass
 Eastern European, Kosher, Seafood Price Range: Inexpensive to Moderate Savor Barneys raison d etre: the holy trinity of sturgeon, smoked salmon, or Nova. 541 Amsterdam Ave. Upper West Side 212-724-4707
 

 Alphabet Kitchen
 Portuguese, Spanish/Tapas Price Range: Moderate Spanish- and Portuguese-flavored food calibrated to every appetite in a lofty, mosaic-filled room. 171 Ave. A East Village 212-982-3838

 Azafran
 Spanish/Tapas Price Range: Moderate to Expensive Sleek Tribeca tapas bar with two young chefs plucked from cooking school in San Sebastian. 77 Warren St. TriBeCa 212-284-0577

 Barca
 Mediterranean, Spanish/Tapas Price Range: Moderate New tapas bar and restaurant with multi-ethnic menu and downstairs lounge. 222 Thompson St. Greenwich Village 212-420-0808

 Bolo
 Mediterranean, Spanish/Tapas Price Range: Expensive to Very Expensive Chef Bobby Flay audaciously injects normally bland Spanish cuisine with jolts of flavor. 23 E. 22nd St. Flatiron/Gramercy/Union Square 212-228-2200

 Branzini
 Italian, Spanish/Tapas Price Range: Moderate Restaurant at the Library Hotel has become part tapas bar, part open-air osteria. 299 Madison Ave. Midtown East/Murray Hill 212-557-3340

 El Quijote
 Spanish/Tapas Price Range: Inexpensive to Moderate Festive vibe and entrees under $20 make it easy to get stuffed on paella and sangria . 226 W. 23rd St. Chelsea 212-929-1855

 Esperanto
 Latin American, Spanish/Tapas Price Range: Inexpensive to Moderate Mojitos and caipirinhas on Avenue C -- for cheap. 145 Avenue C East Village 212-505-6559

 Flors Kitchen
 South American, Spanish/Tapas Price Range: Inexpensive to Moderate Flor Villazans recipes are South American comfort food: solid, soulful, and filling. 149 First Ave. East Village 212-387-8949

 La Paella
 Spanish/Tapas Price Range: Inexpensive to Moderate Everything Spanish but a flamenco dancer – though you may start stomping on tables yourself after a few sangrias. 214 E. 9th St. East Village 212-598-4321