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Restaurants
Downtown isn’t just for business lunches anymore.
There’s a great food and great fun every night of
the week and on weekends, too. You’ll find the
perfect setting for any occasion, from
family-friendly cafes to sexy wine bars to haute
cuisine. Best of all, many Lower Manhattan
restaurants boast views that can’t be matched
anywhere else in New York. The neighborhood’s unique
geography guarantees that you can find and array of
restaurants with magnificent vistas – and lovely
outdoor seating in summer. On Downtown’s eastern
edge are several spots featuring views of the
Brooklyn Bridge and the tall ships of the South
Street Seaport. The west side boasts colorful
sunsets over New York Harbor and the Statue of
Liberty.
Bayard’s
One Hanover Square (at Stone & Pearl Sts.)
Tel.
212.514.9454,
Bar opens at 4:30 PM, dining 5:30 PM
Located in the landmark India House, Bayard’s has
been beautifully resorted, featuring a dramatic
dining room, wood-burning fireplaces, antiques, rich
mahogany furnishing, and a masthead from a 19-th
century clipper ship. It’s a grand settling for the
acclaimed French and American cuisine of chef
Eberhard Mueller. Classic specialties such as Dover
sole meuniere, roasted squab, and rack of lamb are
complemented by selection from the superb wine list.
Save room for a soufflé, the perfect finale to a
memorable dining experience.
Bull Run
52 William Street (at Pine St.)
212.859.2200
For casually elegant dining right in the heart of
Financial District, look no further than Bull Run.
The creative American menu features specialties such
as wild mushroom and truffle-crusted fillet mignon
and roasted red snapper with tomato risotto. There’s
an extensive wine list and a tempting desserts lien
the lemon cheesecake and a warm chocolate cake with
confit lf figs and fig ice cream, all of which are
homemade. The crème brulee is a winner! Smooth,
efficient service makes this a solid choice for
business or pleasure.
Smörgås Chef
53 Stone Street (between South William and Pearl
Sts.)
Tel.
212.422.3500
For lunch, you will
find a smorgas board of open-face Scandinavian
sandwiches like Coldwater Shrimp, Smoked Salmon with
Egg & Chives, and Chicken Caramel with Norwegian
goat cheese and asparagus. For weekend brunch, enjoy
Scandinavian Baked Eggs with a chantarelle
hollandaise, Eggs Benedict, Burgers, and Vanilla
Waffles. Now partnering with
The Wall Street
Innto serve in-room guest dining seven
days a week.
Delmonico’s
56 Beaver Street (at William St.)
Tel.
212.509.1144, Mon-Fri Lunch & Dinner, Sat - Dinner
First opened in 1827, Delmonico’s is an Old New York
institution that became the nation’s best-known
restaurant of the nineteen century. It moved to its
present location in 1982, in a landmark building
near the heart of the Financial District. With rich
cherry-wood wainscoting and a grand marble
staircase, it’s an exquisite and elegant setting for
savoring the classic dishes that built the
Delmonico’s reputation, including the famous
Delmonico steak, lobster Newburg and a flamboyant
baked Alaska.
Fraunces Tavern
54 Pearl Street (at Broad St.)
Tel.
212.968.1776, 11:30AM - 4:30PM - lunch, 4:30PM -
9:00 dinner
Step back in time as you dine in the historic tavern
where George Washington bade farewell to his troops
at the close of the American Revolution. There’s a
series of spacious, elegant dining rooms plus a more
causal tavern area. Enjoy all-American fare like New
England clam chowder, a New York strip steak, brook
tout with tomato and okra stew, roast turkey breast,
and butterscotch bread pudding. While here, soak up
some history with a visit to the upstairs museum.
Gigino at Wagner Park
20 Battery Place
Tel.
212.528.2228
Sister establishment of the popular Cigino Trattoria
on Greenwich Street, Gigino’s boasts an appealing
menu of authentic Italian specialties, including an
array of superlative pasta dishes, seafood creations
and fresh salads. The desserts are beautifully
chosen wine list features many fine Italian labels.
There’s a sleek contemporary interior, and if the
weather’s fine, you can sit outside and enjoy
spectacular views of the sunset and New York
Harbor.
Harbor Lights
Pier 17, South Street Seaport (at South and Fulton
Sts.)
Tel.
212.227.2800, located on 3-rd Fl., 11AM - 12
midnight, bar open later
Harbor Lights offers a wonderful waterfront view of
the East River and the Brooklyn Bridge. The outdoor
terrace is especially appealing in warm weather. The
creative seasonal menus feature contemporary
American cuisine, with a special emphasis on
seafood, including Maryland crab cakes, seafood
paella and sesame-crusted salmon. The beautifully
presented desserts are standouts.
Lemongrass Grill
84 William Street (between Maiden Lane and Platt
Street)
Tel.
212.809.8038
This Downtown branch of the Lemongrass chain is
housed in a casual, modern setting. Warmed with
traditional Thai accents, the walls are adorned with
hand-made Buddha sculptures. Service is prompt and
courteous and the Thai dishes offered here are very
reasonably priced. Pads, plats and peds – take your
pick!
Joseph’s Restaurant
Three Hanover Square (at Hanover Place and Pearl
St.)
Tel.
212.747.1300, 12 PM - 9 PM, Mon-Fri
This small, cozy family-oriented restaurant offers
Northern Italian cuisine, much of it prepared
tableside. Joseph’s menu includes favorites such as
jumbo Portobello mushrooms stuffed with crabmeat,
spinach and fontina cheese; medallions of veal with
cognac, shallots, mushrooms, and a truffle cream
sauce; filet of sole stuffed with lump crabmeat and
jumbo shrimps.
Nebraska Steakhouse
15 Stone Street (between Broad and Broadway)
Tel.
212.952.0620
Nebraska, a handsome Old New York spot featuring
warm dark-wood décor, is a high-end steakhouse with
professional service and a fine wine list.
Top-quality dry-aged steaks are expertly prepared
and served in generous portions – with roasted
garlic smashed potatoes o the side, of course. You
might start with hearty fillet mignon chili or a
“monster” shrimp cocktail, and finish with a slice
of rich, creamy cheesecake.
Paris Cafe
119 South Street (at Peck Slip)
Tel.
212.240.9797
Many bars and restaurants claim to be historic, but
the Paris Café is the real McCoy. Established in
1873, it has hosted everyone from Teddy Roosevelt
and Thomas Edison to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance
Kid. Stop at the antique mahogany bar for a
leisurely drink and admire the East River and
Brooklyn Bridge views. The menu is American and
continental with fresh daily seafood specials and
hearty steaks and burgers.
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