Food
Best Shop and Stop
Fred's at Barneys New York
660 Madison Avenue, at 60th Street
212-833-2200

Fred's at Barneys has finally seen the light of day -- literally. Since Fred's opened six years ago, the descent into the basement was always a little anticlimactic after the exhilaration of spending megabucks in the designer store. Now you can shop your way through every level, working up an appetite until you meet your reward on the ninth floor. The trendy new restaurant occupies a light and airy window-lined room, offering great people-watching while you sample chef-owner Mark Strausman's Italian-influenced New York menu. If you're not counting calories, try the hearty Tuscan pot roast with mashed potatoes, the traditional lasagna Bolognese, or one of the many pizzas. For the pencil-thin fashionistas, there is a great selection of seasonal salads.