The New York outpost of Seattle-born Beecher's Handmade Cheese does not disappoint. This large space on the corner of Broadway and 20th Street recently revamped its interior to focus on providing more seating for lunch and dinner service. Add that to the a hidden wine cellar that lives beneath the lactose-heavy troughs on the first floor and suddenly, Beecher's is even more in demand than ever before. The star of the menu (no surprise) revolves around cheese - the mac n' cheese variety, to be exact. Choose from six different options, all of which happen to pair perfectly with wine.

On the top floor of Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich's epic Eataly, a mammoth food hall dedicated to high-end Italian products, Birreria couples sweeping views of the Flatiron and Empire State Buildings with killer cocina. This is a beer garden, Italian-style. The crowds of happy hour office workers, Italian expats and third-dating couples come for the convivial atmosphere and solid beer list (there are 10 draughts and more than 20 bottled brews), but it's the food that truly impresses. The house-made sausages and charcuterie include bratwurst and cotechino, and can be paired with any number of vegetable antipasti and fresh, seasonal salads. Sometimes, the restaurant transforms into a seasonal pop-up as it did in the winter of 2016 when it took on the persona of a ski-centric lodge cabin.

Supplied with the freshest ingredients from nearby Union Square Farmer's Market, this wonderful American bakery specializes in all of the good stuff: scrumptious scones, marvelous muffins and an array of buttery baked goods. The loft-like, balconied dining room is a great place to watch people as they swarm the horseshoe-shaped bakery counter below. Chances are they're after one of two things: a chewy, salty and stretchy pretzel croissant, or a cup of thick, molten hot chocolate topped with an oversized marshmallow - City Bakery is known city-wide for these signature items. Ordering one, or both, is probably one of the best ways to start your morning off with a smile.

Burgers and custards and fries, oh my! Award-winning chef Danny Meyer created this homage to drive-throughs and burger joints in the southeast corner of the once-seedy Madison Square Park, and inadvertently started a citywide burger craze – and a global phenomenon. Outposts of the quick service concept have spread everywhere from the streets of New Haven, CT to the malls of Dubai, UAE, and fans of the signature Shack Burger loudly debate its merits against competitors from In-N-Out and beyond. Don't believe the hype, though: come to the park-bound original to sample the juicy burgers, crisp fries and wide array of shakes and frozen custards that started it all.

Grandeur is the word at this fine dining outpost on the border of Chelsea and the Flatiron District. The heavy-handled door and building exteriors are covered in hand-chiseled limestone, invoking both Delhi palaces and a really nice day spa. The expansive dining room contains reflecting pools filled with lotus flowers, dimly lit banquettes surrounded by white tablecloths, and no shortage of oversized, pink-hued limestone statues. None of this would matter, though, if the menu weren't so solid. Try the Goan shrimp, packing heat in a spicy piri-piri sauce, grilled monkfish in yogurt sauce with serrano chilies, and handi favorites like chicken Malvan.

A gastropub in the truest sense of the word, April Bloomfield's The Breslin sits next to the uber-cool Ace Hotel. Drawing crowds of Stumptown-loving hipsters, in-the-know out-of-towners, and just about anyone looking for a good meal, this joint has a little of everything - though meat-eaters will be amongst the happiest. With entrees including lamb burgers, roasted sausage and duck and the ribeye for two, you can't go wrong as a carnivore. For special occasions, the kitchen also takes 7-day advance reservations for parties of 8+ that includes a whole suckling pig, crisped to perfection, then presented in entirety to the table.

This impossibly elegant restaurant is attached to the flagship ABC Carpet & Home store, which could have something to do with the fact that it's drop dead gorgeous. The restaurant is outfitted in sustainably created furniture, twinkling lighting and stunning antiques from the globe-trotting store, and the rear dining room connects right to the first floor of the six-story emporium. The locally sourced, seasonal menu does farm-to-table like none other, serving housemade pastas, fresh-from-the-sea tuna sashimi, killer vegetable sides and show-stopping main courses like wood-oven roasted Maine lobster and suckling pig served with braised winter turnips and bacon marmalade. This is one not to be missed.

As the winner of the renowned World's 50 Best Restaurants list in 2017, Eleven Madison Park is now a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience. Though you'll likely have an (even more) hellish time landing a reservation, those who are able to secure a spot won't be disappointed. Though the restaurant is closing to undergo renovations in the summer of '17, the team says they'll keep many of the signature touches while updating the kitchen and giving the dining room a modest face lift. Those who aren't able to snag a table will be happy to hear that the bar will also receive an upgrade, making it a "more inviting place for people to visit more often, without sitting down for a tasting menu meal."

Reserve well in advance to get a table in the central atrium, which has plush velvet chairs and polished tables beneath a vaulted ceiling that lets in scores of natural light two stories up. The side room, or parlour, is no less dramatic, with rosy tones, candlelit tables seating up to eight, and rows upon rows of framed line drawings. The top-notch kitchen produces an array of seasonally inspired plates, including an impossibly elegant hamachi crudo, perfectly seared duck and house-made tagliatelle made with Meyer lemon and tender lump crab. And stay thirsty, my friends – the stellar cocktails are complemented by an impressive, international wine list that includes a crisp, dry rose on tap.

Have you ever visited Los Angeles and thought, "Man, I wish we had food like this on the east coast?" With the arrival of Upland to the neighborhood, that dream is now a reality. Centered around California-inspired fare with an Italian lean, Upland's menu takes its cue from the seasons with dishes that celebrate the abundance of locally well-raised meats. For non-carnivores, the cacio e pepe with bucatini is another fave amongst regulars, as is the whole crispy mushroom topped with fresh, creamy cheese and herbs. While over 500+ bottles make an appearance on the wine list, it's still approachable (if not a little pricy) with by the glass pours in the $13 - $19 range.