Since I live in Italy, I obviously don’t eat in 700 restaurants annually in NYC, nor would such a long list be helpful, but when I am in the city (which is typically twice a year), I try lots of new places, curse their hype, then end up returning to my old standbys. Occasionally, I file stories on NYC dining like this one on the city’s best Italian restaurants. Here are some more favorites in a range of categories:

• Keens is the best steakhouse and their bar is my favorite.
• My go-to breakfast spots are Jody Williams’ Buvette and Russ & Daughters Cafe.
• Gramercy Tavern is fun especially for an extravagant lunch.
• For bagels, check out Murray’s, Ess-A-Bagel, Sadelle’s and Black Seed . Visit Runner & Stone in Gowanus for French-style pastries.
• Wildair, Contra, and Estela all serve outstanding contemporary cuisine. Visit Atla for modern Mexican.
• For amazing sushi, I go to Yasuda or 15 East.
• I seriously dream about the sliced beef tripe and tendons, duck tongues and ma po tofu at Szechuan Gourmet. Go to there at lunch only and stick to the Szechuan dishes.
• My favorite Thai places are Fish Cheeks and Thai Diner in Manhattan and SriPhaPhai in Woodside, Queens.
• You can’t beat the Haianese chicken at Eim Khao Mun Kai in Elmhurst.
• For Italy-inspired cuisine, check out Al Di Là, King, Lilia, Via Carota, I Sodi, Don Angie, and Bar Pasquale. More Italian dining recommendations over on Thrillist.
• New York Style pizza is great at L’Industrie and Best Pizza, both in Williamsburg. In case you were wondering, Di Fara is garbage. You won’t find a better version of Rome’s traditional flat breads than at Sullivan Street Bakery. Some of the best baked things in the Tri-State, however, are across the river in Jersey City (I'm talking Razza near the Grove PATH and Bread & Salt in The Heights).
• Go drink craft beer at Tørst and Proletariat and imbibe natural wines at Ten Bells and The Four Horsemen. For Italian-style cocktails and atmosphere, I love Cafe Dante and Bar Pisellino. And PUNCH has a sensational guide to drinking in Manhattan that must be in every travelers’ bookmarks.