beyoglu

My cousin took me here for the first time a few years ago, and I've been back many times since. The food (middle eastern / turkish) is fantastic, the prices are reasonable, and the atmosphere is cool and comfortable, with an appealing outdoor space on an appealing block in the upper east side. The mezze platter, with hummus, eggplant puree and tarama, is delicious and, with the accompanying wedges of just-baked pita, more than enough for a meal, and the salads are big and full of flavor, tossed with fresh olives, cheeses and bright, lemony vinaigrette. For something a little heavier, try the doner kebab, with tender, thinly sliced lamb and yogurt dressing, or the char-grilled swordfish served over a bed of rice pilaf.

1431 3rd Avenue (at 81st St.)

*recommendations:
  vegetarian platter
  beyoglu salad
  doner kebab
  kilic sis

john's pizzeria

John's brick-oven thin crust pizza is legendary, and if you haven't had it, you should go get it. Now. Tonight. As soon as possible. The lines move fast, the service is friendly, and the atmosphere is old-world and charming. More importantly, the pizza crust is perfect: not ultra-thin and crackery, but delicate and doughy. The basic margherita - with a glass of cheap red wine and a bowlful of the basic house salad - is my go-to. I can't say it better than New York Magazine: John's "basic margherita should be the standard on which all other pizzas are judged." And that's all you need to know.

278 Bleecker St. (at Jones St.) - the original location
260 W. 44th St. (near 8th Ave.)
408 E. 64th St. (near 1st Ave.)
website

barking dog

http://www.affinia.com/New-York-City-Hotel.aspx?name=Affinia-Dumont&page=Barking-Dog-Restaurant

I saw the final Harry Potter movie last weekend with my roomate, her boyfriend and my brother. We left the theater around 8:30, walked a few blocks and realized, as the inevitable Harry Potter nostalgia wore off and we zoned back into reality, that we were all starving. The downtown Barking Dog was just a block or two away, so we headed over. The hostess sat us in the outdoor area - lots of space, a fountain, twinkling lights - and we ordered two excellent salads (one with shrimp and avocado, the other with grilled portobellas), a juicy cheeseburger and a sandwich with grilled chicken, melted mozzarella and a homemade basil pesto. This (admittedly sub-par) story serves to illustrate the use of this cozy restaurant: it's the perfect place to stop when you want to grab a quick bite with some friends. The food, though not spectacular, is consistently good and across-the-board inexpensive, and the atmosphere is lively and fun, particularly if you can grab a table outside. But beware: lines for brunch can stretch halfway down the street.

150 E. 34th St. (at Lex)
1678 3rd Ave. (at 94th St.)
website

*recommendations:
cajun po boy
grilled portobella mushrooms
shoestring potato fries

16 handles

http://www.une-vie-saine.com/2011/07/16-handles.html

This place is one of the reasons why, when I graduated from college, I knew I wanted to move to New York. The froyo is amazing - sweet, light and satisfying - and the toppings' bar dangerously extensive. Most flavors range from 90 to 110 calories per 3 oz. My personal favorites: irish mint, chocolate eruption, graham cracker and snickerdoodle. And a quick tip: cinnamon toast crunch is surprisingly good on ice cream.

153 2nd Ave (b/w 9th and 10th)
1569 2nd Ave (b/w 81st and 82nd)
325 Amsterdam (b/w 75th and 76th)
website

sarabeth's kitchen

Uptown's favorite bakery and brunch spot, Sarabeth's is classic New York. The food is simple and delicious (think delicate omelettes filled with fresh vegetables and shredded cheeses, buttery scones with currants and homemade jam, rich slices of lemon buttermilk cake), the atmosphere warm, lively and lovely, the lines sometimes stretching far out the door. I've heard the dinner menu is also fantastic, but I've never been able to stay away from those warm sunday-morning pumpkin muffins.

423 Amsterdam (b/w 80th and 81st)
1295 Madison (b/w 92nd and 93rd)
40 Central Park S. (b/w 5th and 6th)
75 9th Ave (at 15th) - bakery, at Chelsea Market
website

*recommendations:
  egg white omelettes
  pumpkin muffins