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Cutting-edge décor, creative food, pedigreed chef, and see-and-be-seen ambience combined with A-list clientele gives these Best Trendy Tables the elusive “it” quality that has the in-crowd fighting for reservations.
Best Trendy Tables in....
Best Trendy Tables
New York
Minetta Tavern 113 MacDougal St., West Village, 212-475-3850 minettatavernny.com
The Draw: Restaurateur Keith McNally (Balthazar, Pastis) has done it again. This gorgeously renovated Italian bistro manages to be both casual and celebrity-friendly. The Scene: Minetta Tavern has already been called “Balthazar West,” and for good reason. This lively space fills to capacity every night with crowds of well-dressed West Villagers, arty film folks, and foodies from all five boroughs. Spotted in the last month? Madonna, Meg Ryan, and all the big-name food critics. Hot Tip: Reservations are necessary for a back table, but if you’re feeling spontaneous, eat at the bar, which is roomy, comfortable, and a great place to keep an eye on the front-room scene.
The Draw: Commanding a lively SoHo corner, this sleek restaurant is more about the scene than the cuisine, with floor-to-ceiling windows wrapping around the restaurant so that you get the feeling you might be an extra in SoHo: The Movie. The Scene: Delicatessen spills over with a near-constant crowd of downtowners, Europeans, and Euro wannabes refueling over comfort food and cocktails. And while it may say “delicatessen” on the menu, the sleek, bright space—cream couches, modern Danish chairs, pounding music—is clubby all the way. Hot Tip: Come for lunch (when there’s little to no wait for a table) and you can enjoy the warm weather on the outdoor patio.
Corton 239 West Broadway, Tribeca, 212-219-2777 cortonnyc.com
The Draw: With master chef Paul Liebrandt in the kitchen and veteran restauranteur Drew Nieporten at the helm, this inviting restaurant triumphs in both food and atmosphere. Try the foie gras paired with beets and blood orange or the squab with chestnut cream. The Scene: Blending right in with the loft-style living of Tribeca, Corton’s cool-toned space (with its bone-white walls and sleek hanging lights) is as stylish as the crowds that frequent it. Hot Tip: While Corton features wines from around the world, you might try one from the Grand Cru region of Burgundy after which the restaurant is named.
