The go-to guide for my favorite places to eat and drink around New York City right now. Check back regularly for updates to the list including the most delectable menu and cocktail options, best seat in the house, and other tips for a solid date, girls night out, or meeting.

Chumley's

86 Bedford St, New York, NY 10014 | chumleysnewyork.com
If you’ve been looking for the perfect burger all over the city, look no further. Chumley’s whips up a tender burger that’s cooked to perfection, topped with cheese, bone marrow, fried onions and a special barbecue-esque sauce, with a mountainous side of addictive fries. Hands down, this is the best burger in NYC. Their cocktails are pretty spectacular as well.

Llama Inn

50 Withers St, Brooklyn, NY 11211 | llamainnnyc.com
Llama Inn is serving up Peruvian cuisine with a modern, very Williamsburg twist. Reserve a seat at the chefs counter where the magic happens. I recommend trying one of each of the skewers (they’re about two bites each), a banana quinoa (a delightful mix of crunch, salty and sweet), the beef stir fry for two, and any of the desserts.

Sakagura

211 E 43rd Street (Basement Level), New York, NY 10017 | sakagura.com
This tucked-away Japanese oasis is like a portal into a Shinjuku basement restaurant. From the immense sake selection that covers the walls, to the minimalist Japanese decor and extremely true-to-Japan menu, you can't go wrong here. For starters, I recommend the salmon roe and bonito onigiri options, the beef tataki, and the sashimi platter. For mains, definitely get the ramen and the hot stone beef - you can cook the meat yourself and to your liking, and every sizzling bite is worth wait. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable on the sake list and extremely friendly.

4 Charles Prime Rib

3004, 4 Charles St, New York, NY 10014 | nycprimerib.com
Okay, I know I already touted the best burger in NYC, but 4 Charles Prime Rib is also plating a burger that you probably just can’t live without trying. Topped with cheddar cheese, thick cut bacon and a fried egg, you can’t go wrong here. The 4 Charles Prime Rib Cut is also a nice dish if you’re a table of 2-4 and looking to share plates. For sides, the button mushrooms and creamed spinach get two thumbs up. The wait staff was superb providing white glove service and changing our cocktail glasses for fresh iced glasses every so often.

Pilot

Pier 6, Brooklyn, NY 11201 | pilotbrooklyn.com
Brooklyn Bridge Park has undoubtedly become a popular place to spend an afternoon in Brooklyn. There is no better way to take in the scenery and end a day there than by slurping down some oysters and ice cold beverages on a boat. Pilot docks at Pier 6 in BBP and has a cocktail bar and oyster bar aboard. Make a reservation or just show up, but the boat can get pretty full on nice afternoons. We had a dozen oysters, a lobster roll, a soft shell crab sandwich and gin cocktails. I would suggest requesting seats at the oyster bar, if not at the front of the boat for larger parties. It could’ve been the food, it could’ve been the booze, it could’ve been the views - but Pilot made for a perfect date night.

Tokyo Record Bar

127 Macdougal St, New York, NY 10012 | tokyorecordbar.com
I’m all about the speakeasy-type restaurants whose entrances completely deceive you. It’s half the fun, right? Tokyo Record Bar is a sake and light bite pairing speakeasy located in the basement of a champagne parlor on MacDougal Street. Beastie Boys records (yes, actual records) are being spun whilst the chef is cooking it up in an open space concept. There are two pre-fixed seatings a night and then an a la carte menu to choose from after hours (10pm-ish).

Taiki

134 Nevins St, Brooklyn, NY 11217 | sushitaiki.com
Taiki is about a year-old and serving one of the best omakase menus in Brooklyn. The chef is from Japan, incredibly talented, and takes his time with each customer. The fish is super fresh and served very simple - a light soy sauce and touch of wasabi. The prices are great at around $60 an omakase and you won't be disappointed.

Casa Apicii and Bar Fortuna

62 W 9th St, New York, NY 10011 | casaapicii.co
Casa Apicii is another restaurant that is under two-years-old, and making waves in the Greenwich Village food scene. With the infinite amount of Italian restaurants in this city, it can sometimes be daunting to choose, but give this well-rounded date night a try. Casa Apicii has an excellent menu with some traditional dishes as well as some contemporary. The plates to try are the burrata, roasted beets, and the Bucatini all’amatriciana (one of the best I’ve had). What makes the restaurant even more special is the speakeasy hiding on the second floor. A hidden door opens to a beautiful room with photographs and artwork displayed on the walls, and mixologists creating some really lovely cocktails. Ask the host if they can reserve seats in Bar Fortuna for after your meal, or you may not get one.

Pig Beach

480 Union St, Brooklyn, NY 11231 | pigbeachnyc.com
For a fun afternoon of barbecue and frosé, head out to Gowanus, Brooklyn and visit Pig Beach. It's a huge outdoor lot with picnic tables and communal eating areas, two huge bars, and a smoke-house where you can chow down on mouth-watering brisket sandwiches, pulled pork, ribs, and house-made pickles. It’s the type of place that works for just about every occasion - Sunday Funday, large groups, birthday parties, reunions, or just to catch up with your bestie.

Chez Ma Tante

90 Calyer St, Brooklyn, NY 11222 | chezmatantenyc.com
This Canadian-inspired bar and restaurant is in the heart of one of Brooklyn's fastest growing neighborhoods - Greenpoint. Chez Ma Tante is sure to become a neighborhood favorite, if it hasn’t already! The menu has just the right amount of options and the plates are all shareable. I recommend the caesar salad (perfect amount of crunch to home-made dressing ratio), the stracciatella, the steak tartare with potato chips, and the half chicken with romesco sauce. I often don't like to get chicken dishes as I find them to be a little boring, but the romesco sauce really makes this dish a win.