Manhattan Dining

American

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

Asian

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

Continental

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

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

Italian

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

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

Seafood

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

Spanish/Latin

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