What I suggest for Dining Out:

Links are to Citysearch reviews that contain more info. Dates are the last date I visited. I've sorted starting with my most recent visit.  I'd go back to any place listed unless you see an 'X'.

Go to My Stand bys    Go to Dining Outside of New York

Stonehome Winebar    Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn

 

Liquors    Dekalb Avenue, Brooklyn

 

Le Gamin    Vanderbilt Avenue, Brooklyn

    (05/29/2005)

 

Red Cafe    Brooklyn

    (02/27/2005)

 

Bar Pitti    NYC

    (01/12/2005)

 

Spotted Pig    314 West 11th Street, NYC

    (07/20/2004)

 

Soda Bar    629 Vanderbilt Ave @St. Mark's, Brooklyn

    Bar Food with kitchen open 'til midnight. Late night. Easy on the wallet. Lively atmosphere with diverse, thirty-something neighborhood crowd. Great burger. (02/28/2004)

 

'Cesca    164 West 75th Street, NYC

    Italian cuisine. Excellent food; excellent service. Warm, plush comfortable bar and dining area. (02/26/2004)

 

Bar Jamón    125 East 17th Street, NYC

    Spanish Tapas and Wine Bar. Small, rustic room attached to sister restaurant Casa Mono. Manchego cheese crusted with rosemary is a must. Fast-moving wait staff. (02/21/2004)

 

Blue Smoke    116 East 27th Street, NYC

    Barbecue. Hi energy, warehouse-sized space, good for groups. Had the Memphis baby back ribs which were very lean, and good. I'd try a different kind of rib next time. If you're drinking beer, I enjoyed the Blue Smoke ale. Jazz downstairs nightly. (02/14/2004)

 

Chestnut    271 Smith Street, Brooklyn

    American cuisine. Small space. Worth a meal or sampling of starters; we had a tasty seared tuna appetizer. X. (02/6/2004)

 

Parish & Co.    202 Ninth Ave @22nd St, NYC

    New American cuisine. Bread from the Sullivan Street bakery - yum. Try the warm ricotta crostini. Large bar area up front. We went for lunch; a not-crowded Chelsea option. Creative menu; two price points if you want to do tastings. (01/29/2004)

 

The Biltmore Room    290 Eighth Ave @25th St, NYC

    Asian, Pan-Asian cuisine. Trendy. We had appetizers and drinks at the bar. (01/26/2004)

 

'Ino    21 Bedford Street @Downing St, NYC

    Panini, salads, cheeses, wine bar. Tiny; can be crowded. You must have the chocolate hazelnut (Nutella) panini for dessert. (01/9/2004)

 

Blue Ribbon Bakery    33 Downing Street, NYC

    American, International, Eclectic. Downstairs is warm and cozy. Head there with a small group. Excellent service from all staff.

 

My Stand bys

Blue Ribbon Park Slope    280 Fifth Avenue, Brooklyn

    New American cuisine. Raw Bar. Pricey. Excellent service. Consistent, appetizing food. My favorites are the catfish, fried oysters, spicy fish soup, hummus.

 

West Bank Café    407 West 42nd Street @Ninth Ave, NYC

    New American cuisine. Excellent food and well-priced wines. Awesome bread from Ramon's. Try the risotto, pasta, tuna, salads, burgers. There is a party room/theater downstairs. Great option when you're in the theater district.

 

Lupa    170 Thompson Street, NYC

    Italian cuisine. Rustic flavors and atmosphere. Reserve in advance. I love the escarole salad!

 

Outside of New York

Panzano    909 17th Street, Denver, CO

    Italian cuisine. Quiet elegance. Sit and dine at the open kitchen bar if you're alone; the show is the food prep. Excellent food.