Market Table

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While seasonal, farm-to-table, and local are now ubiquitous buzzwords for the New York restaurant scene, this wasn’t the case when Market Table first opened in 2007. The menu is filled with simple, comforting dishes that happen to change based on what’s in season—not just because kale is en vogue. On a summer night, that might mean you’re starting your meal with creamy local burrata with fresh cherry tomatoes; lightly grilled octopus over a salad of fennel, pistachios and Thai chilis; or sweet watermelon gazpacho that comes perfectly paired with a peekytoe crab garnish. While all the dishes are elegantly plated, they’re not fussy. The entrées always include at least two or three fish options as well as heartier meats (“seasonally driven” doesn’t always have to be so healthy and virtuous, and that’s a good thing). Market Table’s a great place to take a romantic date, but it’s casual enough that you can stop by on a whim without a reservation—as long as you’re prepared for an expensive meal (most entrées are in the high twenties). Don’t skip dessert, as the orange-blossom French toast with almond butter is fantastic. Better yet: Sit down here for brunch or lunch, both are meals at which the restaurant excels, and you can people-watch through the floor-to-ceiling windows. — Sierra Tishgart

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