Maison Yaki in Prospect Heights is where you go to sit on a red leather barstool and eat classic French cooking-inspired yakitori.

Red Paper Clip serves a very good six-course tasting menu for $95 in a bare West Village space.

Zooba is an Egyptian restaurant in Nolita, and it’s the only fast-casual restaurant worth caring about.

Nami Nori is a reasonably priced sushi spot in the West Village that specializes in taco-shaped hand rolls and looks like a fancy nail salon.

Llama San is a Nikkei restaurant in the West Village from the people behind Llama Inn. It’s pricey, but the food is incredibly delicious.

Sushi Jin is a sushi spot on the UES, and it’s one of the best places to get an omakase in the East 80s.

Kingston is a casual Jamaican restaurant on 116th Street in Harlem with a fun bar and really good jerk chicken.

Le Relais De Venise L’Entrecôte is a French restaurant in Midtown East where the only thing on the menu is very good steak frites.

Edie Jo’s is a bar and restaurant in Prospect Lefferts Gardens that’s great if you’re looking for drinks and snacks in the neighborhood.

Garden Cafe is an all-day American spot in Inwood with a nice backyard.

Indian Road Cafe serves good, filling American food in a casual space at the northernmost tip of Manhattan.

The Mekelburg’s Williamsburg location is the kind of place you should go in a time of need. Or anytime you want fantastic sandwiches and beers.

Vatan is an incredibly fun Indian restaurant in Kips Bay where the only option is a vegetarian, all-you-can-eat dinner.

Floridita is a Cuban spot in Washington Heights that serves one of the best Cubano sandwiches in the city.

Saggio is a casual Italian spot in Washington Heights where you’ll want to become a regular.

Montesacro is a Roman-style pinsa place in Williamsburg with a covered garden patio that’s open year-round.