What's your favorite restaurant?

One of the questions we frequently get asked, in fact, one of the questions we frequently ask ourselves, is "what is your favorite restaurant?

It's an especially difficult question for us because we share a preference for trying new places, rather than returning to ones we already know. The risk of having a bad meal seems small compared to the opportunity to discover something new. Missing a meal is not the worst thing that could happen to us! Our preferences extend beyond just the place, to the dishes we order. We (especially me) will frequently order something that seems completely new or different. Chris will also try new things, but first she wants to know what they are - that can be problematic. I didn't eat 'Sweetbreads' for years because I knew what they were; and still can't quite manage 'Tripe'. Sometimes, its just better to not know until after!

There are no generally accepted criteria for judging restaurants. Michelin has clearly established criteria, but they are widely disputed; and "Favorite" is different than "Best". The following reflect our criteria on Feb. 10, 2007 at 12:15.

• Cuisine - we really have no strong preference. Any food well prepared can be wonderful; in fact, after avoiding Greek and Mexican food for years, new restaurants have proved me wrong.
• Food - over the years we have increasingly leaned towards high quality, fresh ingredients, simply prepared. No, or very few, heavy sauces or breaded and fried foods. This is a substantial evolution for both of us. We probably started down this road to avoid "empty" calories, but now strongly prefer these preparations. On the other hand, I do make exceptions for important cultural icons like cheeseburgers, chicken wings, pizza, bacon and ice cream. This probably explains why we both are not fashionistas.
• Ambiance - we both favor small, cosy restaurants with a nice buzz. Service should be good, but not stifling. I'd rather sit 2 feet away from somebody in a small restaurant than have plenty of room in a cavernous hall.
• Location - obviously, we prefer restaurants we can walk to, but we also love the Village (East, West and Center). Partially because Scott and Jory are there; but also because the ambiance is great. Tribeca is OK, but the meat packing district is too far (both in distance and style). Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island are out. New Jersey is almost out but gets a marital exemption once a year.
• Price - this is one of the hardest to judge. Clearly, it depends on all the factors above. But everyone has their own sense of what something is worth, and what they can afford, even if it's "worth" it. We have a pretty wide range of what is acceptable, but still balk at the prices at some restaurants. I cannot imagine spending over $600 for sushi (or anything else).
• Other biases - we are not "foodies" and we are not "trendy" (this will not come as a surprise). We usually avoid restaurants frequented by both.

Given last year's "Restaurant Challenge" (whereby we couldn't go to any restaurant more than once in a year) the following list reflects current favorites, but not necessarily restaurants we've been to recently, They have been drawn from a list of over 100 restaurants that we choose from. I hope you find some places on the list you haven't tried before. All of these restaurants are current favorites. The blue listings have a web link to the restaurant. The list is alphabetic:

• AOC Bedford (14 Bedford St. 212-414-4764) One of our all-time favorites. A small (34 seats), romantic French/Spanish restaurant. We like table #1 by the window. A favourite of Scott and Jory too!
• L'Absinthe Brasserie (227 E. 67th St. 212-794-4950) An absolutely authentic-looking and tasting (almost) Parisian Brasserie.
• specializing in gourmet "comfort food" (e.g suckling pig, rack of lamb, paella).
• Blue Hill (75 Washington Pl. 212-539-1776) A brand new favorite after only one visit! Meets all our criteria in spades!
• Campagnola (1382 First Ave. 212-861-1102) A favorite of Paul's. A little pricey, but worth it for traditional Italian favorites. Bring your big hair and chains.
• Canaletto (208 E. 60th St. 212-317-9192) Our local favorite. Solid food. Warm welcome. Always busy. Chris's favourite for Veal Milanese.
• I Trulli (122 E. 27th St. 212-481-7372) One of our long-time favorites serving regional specialties from Apulia in a cosy room - with a fireplace in winter and a garden in summer. Wonderful grilled baby octopus!
• Jubilee (347 E. 54th St. 212-888-3569) A local favorite for Moules and "frite" to die for. Always busy with neighborhood people. Some of the best french fries in NYC.
• Oceana (55 E. 54th St. 212-759- 5941) My favorite high end seafood restaurant in the city. Tops in every criteria. Chris is a little less enthusiastic. She likes the Greek seafood restaurant 'Milos' better.
• Pampano (209 E. 49th St. 212-751-4545) This Mexican restaurant has quickly become one of our favorites for elegant preparations of traditional Mexican dishes