Soho, Manhattan · restaurant
Red leather banquettes, antique mirrors stacked floor to ceiling, and a room that sounds exactly like a Paris brasserie circa 1995 — loud, crowded, perfect. The French onion soup and the raw seafood tower have both been on the menu since day one and many call the fries "the best in the city." Tables book out weeks in advance, but the bar seats fill up with locals who know better than to wait. Do yourself a favor and stroll in at 4pm for a late lunch at the bar.