Aquavit

The serenely elegant Michelin-starred Aquavit has been around since 1987, gaining its highest profile during Marcus Samuelsson's tenure as head chef (1995–2010). The young Swede who replaced him, Marcus Jernmark, injected new energy, modernizing the menu while keeping true to his heritage. The á la carte menu at lunch features shrimp smørrebrød with dill mayonnaise and traditional Swedish meatballs with potato purée and lingonberries. Seasonal, multi-course chef's tasting menus are spotlighted at night, though we also encourage you to slip into the contemporary lounge for excellent cocktails and a lower-priced bar menu with porcini-dusted fries, grilled flatbread with gravlax or a hand-cut salmon burger with vinegar potato chips and curry remoulade. Broadway bound? Aquavit has partnered with several hit shows to combine a three-course dinner with a theater ticket for $139 per person.