New York
Manhattan
Eat
East Village
It's a ramen joint, and gotta say, it puts a lot of places in Little Tokyo (LA) to shame. This is definitely not a traditional-style ramen place so don't come here expecting that, but this is some next-level ish. It says something when New Yorkers are willing to wait in line to eat at place that's been open for awhile, and there seems to always be a line here if that tells you anything. Get the pork belly buns and the Akamaru Modern ramen.
East Village
It's a small but chic Moroccan food place that I love, and I've been to both their Manhattan and Brooklyn locations. Get the lamb or chicken tagine, and the Moroccan mint tea. They also have Turkish coffee if you're in the mood for that.
Soho
This is one of my favorite places to eat in New York. It's Italian (I know, but not the gross I-can-make-this-at-home type full of grease and shittiness!), but it's clean Italian food, like you won't feel like you've bloated to 5 times your size afterwards. I always get the frito mixto because it's the best fried seafood I've had (and not all heavy batter), and when it's in season, they have this homemade saffron tagliatelle with tiger shrimp that yes, was so good I could remember all that. Ambience is also cute, it's got this skylight that covers almost the entire ceiling in the back so you feel like you're dining al fresco without having to deal with the weather.
Soho
One of my new favorite places, the ambiance is good for a date or drinks with a friend. Get their Mount Vesuvius cocktail, duck egg toast (sounds whatever but is damn good), truffle burger, mushroom spaetzle. Look at how many things I listed! You know it has to be good. Get ready for a butter avalanche. Also, there's a tiny kinda-secret room in the back, you gotta go through the kitchen to get there and it's cash-only somehow, but if you want a more intimate (Aly McBeal secret room behind a false wall in a women's bathroom stall-flashback) place, sit there.
West Village
My go-to place for Brazilian food, and they make killer caipirinhas. Get any type of stroganoff, their chicken soup (trust me) and collard greens if you feel like you need to eat a vegetable.
Chinatown
The best soup dumplings I've had, they make those Dim Thai Fung ones look like poo. I once went out of my way to come over here at 9:30pm one day because I was craving them so badly. Cash only!
Blue Ribbon Downing Street Bar
West Village
This place is sort of hard to find, but totally worth it. During the summer you can go out on the covered terrace and people-watch on the street below (don't order the frozen beer though, it's like drinking nothing but foam) or you can sit in the lounge area since it's part of a hotel and order food there. Get the squid ink rice and the uni rice, and the fried chicken is what they're known for but pales in comparison to the rice. Blue Ribbon Sushi is on the ground floor of the building- heard good things, but never been there.
Herald Square
They serve the same food they do at the LA locations, which is a great thing. Known for their tofu stews and already cooked (don't have to do it yourself) Korean BBQ. Really hits the spot if you're starving or are with a group on a cold winter night. Lunch specials are also reasonable.
It's a hyper-cute German place that I went to for a "foodie" thanksgiving. Didn't know about this at all but when I went I was enchanted. Not the cheapest place, but the food and setting were enough to make me wanna come back. The people who work there are also pretty nice.
East Village
A delicious Italian restaurant offering awesome items like duck breast, frito mixto, and scallop crudo salad with grapefruit. The fact that I'm mentioning them means you should order them, right?
Chelsea
The restaurant out front is cute during the warmer seasons, don't know what it's like any other time since it's outside. But it's a good place with nice ambiance if you want to get a drink and order a good pizza.
Multiple Locations
If you want truly awesome pizza in New York that's different from all of the gross $1 slices you see on St. Marks and elsewhere, go here. Order the artichoke pizza with white sauce and it'll change your life.
Multiple Locations
You know what, I'll be the one to say it. Skip the cupcakes and go for the banana pudding. Blows everything else away.
Multiple Locations
Good Cuban food, reasonable prices, and they have mayo and cheese corn on the cob to go.
Union Square
I've eaten here enough times to make it on the list, and while it's crazy loud inside and it's more like a comfort food, eat here and run type of place, the food definitely hits the spot. Get the lime chicken noodle soup. Gotta say though, it's not a date place and if there are people from out of town, it's not one of the "must eat here" spots that I'd take them to. Stop by if you're around and, you know, are hungry.
West Village
This is located in a weird part of the village where it's on one side of a triangle street (if you look at the map you'll know what I'm talking about), but it hits the spot if you're craving something meaty but not greasy... like a meatball! It sounds really weird, but they serve many different types of meatballs, you choose your sauces and sides (like polenta!) and grab a beer to go with it. The place is pretty small tho, so if you have a large party then might wanna look around...
Nolita
I'd say this is some of the most solid, go-to pizza in NYC. Artichoke is good if you're drunk and hungry, L'asso is good if you want a sit-down -in-a-restaurant-and-eat-pizza-with-your-hip-friends kind of vibe, and Prince St. is cheap pizza with good ingredients, thin-crust, and doesn't make you feel like crap afterwards.
Brooklyn
Eat
Williamsburg
Now, first and foremost I don't care what everyone says about fried chicken, Popeyes is still the consistent #1 in my book. But if you don't want to seem poor/cheap by taking your friends out to Popeyes when you've got a fried chicken craving, head out to this place.
Williamsburg
Order BBQ meat here by the pound. Need I say more? Warning: expect to wait in line.
Fort Greene
Hands down, one of the best brunches I've ever had, awesome dinner, and have never been let down by even one dish or drink. Happy hours is great, too. Mediterranean/Spanish mix means tapas like bacon-wrapped dates, goat cheese croquettes, lamb meatball sandwiches, paella, and damn good french toast. Interiordecor is a chic Spanish style and sometimes they have live musicians playing the Flamenco guitar. Seriously, how could it get better than that?
Fort Greene
I was coming here so much the employees started remembering my name. Get the St. Louis style ribs and the cajun fries.
Fort Greene
Formerly Brooklyn Sandwich Shop (but they didn't serve too many sandwiches so I could see why they changed their name), this is an awesome brunch place known for their skillet items and cute interior. Dinner food is kinda meh, though.