I’m terrible at remembering where I dined, and with so many restaurants in New York (and a revolving door of newcomers and outgoers) it was always a bit overwhelming to be tasked with choosing where to eat. In order to help people visiting the city — or other New Yorkers drowning in choices — here’s a list of the restaurants where I had a good, memorable, or just cheap and easy meal. It’s by no means comprehensive, and you’ll notice my food palate might not be as diverse or refined as say, Adam Platt’s, but hopefully it’s a useful resource as you strike out into the culinary capital of the U.S.

Price ranges:
$ – “Cheap enough to eat even if you’re broke”
$$ – “Casual meal out, usually under $30”
$$$ – “Weekend or nicer dinner, usually under $60”
$$$$ – “Special occasion… or if someone else is footing the bill”

Uptown (Upper East and West)

Bellini: The affordable pizzas and pastas are worth a visit alone, but what really makes this tiny place a winner is the BYOB policy. (Plus it’s next to a wine store.)
Good for: group dinners, delivery, dates, and friend dins
$$ | bellininy.com | Upper West Side

Boat Basin: I’ve never met someone who doesn’t like Boat Basin. The standard grill food’s fine if you’re hungry but the open-air riverfront setting is the main draw – it’s the best place to catch sunset over a few a beers.
Good for: everything and everyone… unless you’re looking for a fancy experience
$$ | www.boatbasincafe.com | Upper West Side

City Diner: I don’t want to know how many grilled cheeses I’ve demolished here at around 5 am after a night out. But they were all awesome, and this large, spiffy 24-hr diner is equally awesome for breakfast or brunch.
Good for: late night munchies, small group breakfasts
$ | City Diner on Google+ | Upper West Side

Calle Ocho: The home of the famous Sangria Brunch. They serve 8 different kinds and keep ’em coming throughout the meal.
Good for: brunch, girls’ night
$$$ | www.calleochonyc.com | Upper West Side

Carmine’s: Ok, it’s a chain, but it’s a chain from New York, and the family-style Italian place is great for group outings.
Good for: family dinners, groups, anyone who’s really really hungry
$$$ | www.carminesnyc.com | Upper West Side

Celeste: You’ll probably walk right past it since there’s no sign or awning, but that keeps the mobs from discovering the perfect wood-fired pizza here.
Good for: girls’ din
$$$ | celestenewyork.com | Upper West Side

Central Park Boathouse: I actually didn’t think the food here was anything to write about (though I heard there’s new management so it might be different), but there’s a reason this elegant breezy boathouse is in so many rom-coms… the lakeside setting is perfect.
Good for: parent visits, dates
$$$$ | www.thecentralparkboathouse.com | Upper West Side

Pizzeria Perfecto: My go-to Italian delivery spot, mostly because the portions are huge and they send free salad and bread with your order.
Good for: delivery
$$ | www.perfectopizzany.com | Upper West Side

Levain’s: Two words: Giant. Cookies.
Good for: sugar overdose
$ | www.levainbakery.com | Upper West Side

Momofuku Milk Bar: I met Christina Tosi at a Random House event, and not only is she the coolest, she’s a sweets genius. Everything at this bakery is amazing, from the compost cookies to crack pie to cereal-infused milk.
Good for: sweets you can’t get anywhere else
$ | milkbarstore.com | Upper West Side

Earl’s Beer and Cheese: Beer + cheese, what’s not to like? This small little place has a woodsy theme and serves up all your cheesy faves – gourmet mac and cheese or gooey grilled cheeses. Wash it down with one of the craft beers on tap.
Good for: hanging with friends, cheese addicts
$$ | www.earlsny.com | Upper East Side

Good Enough to Eat: The name is an undersell for one of the most appetizing eateries on the Upper West. It’s not just good enough to eat, the homey menu is good enough that you won’t mind standing in line for 45 mins in the winter to get a brunch table.
Good for: brunch, friend dates
$$ | goodenoughtoeat.com | Upper West Side

Hampton Chutney Co.: It’s a bit pricey but the dosas are huge and delicious. The restaurant gets crowded so it’s best to take this to-go.
Good for: lunch on the go
$$ | www.hamptonchutney.com | Upper West Side

Jacob’s Pickles: This place feels more like Brooklyn than the UWS, with a hipster-meets-the South vibe. The food is raveworthy but my favorite part is the creative cocktail menu – both the mixtures and the names.
Good for: dates and friend dates, small group dinners
$$$ | www.jacobspickles.com | Upper West Side

Land Thai: Always our go-to Thai delivery spot. I think my apartment alone kept this place in business, though I’ve never set foot inside.
Good for: delivery
$$ | landthaikitchen.com | Upper West Side

‘wichcraft: There are plenty of these around town, but the Lincoln Center location was my favorite. A huge wall of plants makes the atrium the perfect place to work remotely.
Good for: lunch and work
$ | wichcraftnyc.com | Upper West Side

Midtown (Columbus Circle to Chelsea)

2 Bros. Pizza: Ok it’s not the best — in fact you can get far better pizza all over town — but a dollar slice does the trick when you’re hungry, on the go, and totally broke from your absurd New York rent.
Good for: cheap eats
$ | www.2brospizza.com | Midtown West

Barbounia: Sure, you can find boozy brunch spots where the drinks are included, whereas this place charges an extra $20 or so to keep the mimosas flowing. But the large space, pseudo-but-not-too-sceney crowd, and the yummy food make this place worth the extra charge.
Good for: group brunch
$$$ | barbounia.com | Gramercy

Bar Baresco: Coupled with Il Bastardo next door, this place makes boozy brunch even more of a party than it usually is. Don’t come here if you’re hungover or don’t like dance clubs.
Good for: aggressive brunch
$$$ | nymag.com/listings/bar/bar-baresco | Chelsea

Blockheads: I haven’t met a New Yorker who doesn’t like Blockheads. The drinks are strong, the portions are large, and the Midtown West location has a large outdoor seating area.
Good for: group meals, friend dates
$ | www.blockheads.com | Midtown West

Blue Smoke: This was one of the first restaurant to break my picky eater shell. BBQ chips, bacon, and blue cheese dip were three things I never would’ve touched before coming here and falling in love with the dish. The BBQ here is rivaled only by its awesome cocktail lineup: warning, blood orange margaritas go down a little too easy.
Good for: work functions, group dinners, parents, Southern cravings
$$$ | bluesmoke.com | Gramercy

Bouchon Bakery: The macaroons stand out but go for the giant, amazing peanut butter cookies instead. I’m not even a huge peanut butter person and I dream about these.
Good for: dessert, gifts
$ | bouchonbakery.com | Columbus Circle

El Centro: Our go-to Mexican spot from work; one whole wall of this colorful cantina is covered in milagros, those little aluminum figurines of animals, suns, skulls, etc.
Good for: friend dates, lunch, work get-togethers
$$ | www.elcentro-nyc.com | Hell’s Kitchen

The Cottage: If you want a lot of Chinese food, and a lot of free wine, and you don’t mind getting an ulcer from said free, cheap sugary wine, then Cottage is your spot. The starting point of many New York blackouts.
Good for: group dinner, getting sloshed
$$ | www.thecottagenewyork.com | Union Square

Craft: Full disclosure: when I ate here it was an epic 8-course wine dinner served by Tom Colicchio himself (with fellow chef Neil Perry). Sometimes Often being a travel editor is pretty nice. Anyways, even when you’re not getting wined and dined by celebs this place is a sure bet for simple, fresh, and modern fare, and the cozy-but-cool decor rounds out the dining experience perfectly.
Good for: dates, work functions, friend dins, parents in town
$$$$ | www.craftrestaurantsinc.com/craft-new-york | Flatiron

Del Posto: I’m a big Batali fan, and while I’m partial to Otto for the price, Del Posto’s service, food, and classic hotel-style atmosphere make it pretty unforgettable.
Good for: special occasions
$$$$ | www.delposto.com | Chelsea

Le Pain Quotidien: For those of you who live most places, this chain isn’t anything exotic. For those of you who live in places like, I dunno, Minnesota, you should check out the tartines here. Also, don’t leave without trying the bread with Belgian spreads. It’ll make you forget all about Nutella. There are a ton of locations around the city.
Good for: lunch, work outings
$$ | www.lepainquotidien.us | Midtown West

Penelope’s: Homey dishes are served in a cutesy cafe that reminds me of a garden shop; a refreshing escape from the surrounding Brooks Brothers/Brother Jimmy’s world of Murray Hill. Brunch lines are long so come for lunch or dinner — the food’s just as good!
Good for: girls’ din, dates, mom visits, brunch
$$ | www.penelopenyc.com | Murray Hill 

Per Se: This is just on my list because I was fortunate to eat here for free. Sure it’s perennially one of the city’s top restos, but if you ask me there wasn’t enough charm to warrant a $600+ price tag. If money’s not an issue the food and service are deserving of their praise and you shouldn’t have a disappointing meal. I’d just personally rather put that money towards a flight to France to eat at a local hole in the wall.
Good for: rich people, food snobs
$$$$$ (deserves its own category) | www.perseny.com | Columbus Circle

Rosa Mexicano: Yeah ok, it’s a chain. But the Union Square location is big, bold, and serves killer margaritas.
Good for: happy hour, girls’ din
$$$ | www.rosamexicano.com/newyorkcity/unionsquare | Union Square

Shake Shack: They’re all over the city now, and even have spread farther afield, but the original in Madison Square Park is still the best. The line may take your entire lunch break, but eating your fries, burger, and shake in on a bench in the park beats sitting indoors at the other restaurants.
Good for: getting fat, friend dates
$ | www.shakeshack.com | Flatiron

Tick Tock Diner: Tick Tock’s larger than your typical corner diner, and it’s near Penn Station, making it a good place to wait for a bus or train if you’ve got time to kill.
Good for: late-night food, travelers
$ | ticktockdinerny.com | Midtown West

Westville: Fresh, good food that feels home cooked (maybe because the restaurant’s so small you feel like you’re in someone’s apt). It’s the type of atmosphere where menus are written in chalk on the wall and things are erased or crossed out if they run out.
Good for: brunch, friend dates, dates
$$ | www.westvillenyc.com | Chelsea

Wildwood BBQ: Many friends have called these the best wings in New York City, and while I still have a few other spots to try I haven’t yet found  reason to argue. Wings are HUGE, and there are 50+ choices of beer.
Good for: sports, wings, group dinner, more wings
$$ | www.wildwoodbbq.com | Gramercy

Xai Xai: To me, one of the best things about NYC’s dining scene isn’t the ethnic food, it’s that you can find every food. Name a country and you’ll likely find at least one bar or restaurant dedicated to it, which is great for world travelers who want a little taste of nostalgia from past trips. This South African wine bar did just that for me. You can’t order kudu, but you can get ostrich.
Good for: dates, travelers, girls’ din
$$ | www.xaixaiwinebar.com | Hell’s Kitchen

Downtown (Below 14th St.)

16 Handles: Now self-serve multi-tap Fro-Yo joints are all the range, but as far as I’m aware this was one of the, if not the first of its kind in NYC.
Good for: friend dates
$ | 16handles.com | East Village

Adrienne’s Pizza Bar: It’s not your traditional New York slice, but the thin-crust square pizzas here are some of my favorite in the city.
Good for: delivery, work lunch, friend dates
$$ | Adrienne’s on NY Mag | Financial District

A.O.C.: This West Village spot is about 3 times the size of its surrounding cafes and bistros. Nonetheless it maintains a classic Parisian vibe, without making you sit on top of your neighbors.
Good for: girls’ din, brunch
$$$ | aocnyc.com | West Village

Baked By Melissa: Smaller is better at this bakery — the bite-size mini cupcakes are great for indecisive eaters. You don’t have to choose between tie-dye, mint-chip, s’mores or the flavors of the week — just try one of everything.
Good for: dessert
$ | www.bakedbymelissa.com | Union Square

Bar Pitti: This was a favorite New York spot before I even moved here. The casual sister to Da Silvano, Italian reigns supreme here. The outdoor seating is one of the best spots downtown for people watching.
Good for: dates, girls’ dins, small groups
$$ | Bar Pitti on Google+ | West Village

Buvette: One word: adorable. This tiny French cafe has a itsy garden patio, cute and classy decor, and a surprisingly robust wine list to round out the menu.
Good for: girls’ din, dates, brunch, coffee break
$$ | www.ilovebuvette.com | West Village

Cafe Orlin: There’s a lot of crap on St. Marks, so this eatery is a diamond in the rough. It’s a big brunch spot, but I usually opted for dinner time, when it was less crowded but just as good.
Good for: friend dins, dates
$$ | www.cafeorlin.com | East Village

Cherin Sushi: My go-to BYOB restaurant in the city. They always seem to have room, they can accomodate big groups, they let you bring whatever you want to drink, and the sushi is… well it’s completely decent.
Good for: groups, BYOB
$$ | cherinsushiny.com | East Village

Corner Bistro: This is the best burger in New York for many reasons. 1. It’s delicious. 2. It’s cheap. Like really cheap. 3. It’s accompanied by really cheap beer and really good fries.
Good for: friend dates, visitors
$ | www.cornerbistrony.com | West Village

Eatpisode: Unlike most downtown BYOs, which are holes in the wall, this Thai spot actually has a pretty trendy vibe, which makes it a great spot to bring out of town visitors.
Good for: groups, girls’ din, BYOB
$$ | Eatpisode on Google+ | Lower East Side

Essex: Big-time brunch spot — everyone and their hipster brother thinks so, so be prepared to wait in line.
Good for: groups, brunch, girls’ din
$$ | www.essexnyc.com | Lower East Side

Financier Patisserie: The name sums it up; this upscale pastry shop is befitting of its flagship Financial District location. Pre-made sandwiches and salads are a great bet for lunch.
Good for: business meetings, lunch on the go, sweets
$$ | www.financierpastries.com | Financial District

Freemans: With an entry tucked off the street, this place is sort of like a hipster hunting lodge. Brunch is a big deal here.
Good for: brunch, dates, friend dins
$$$ | www.freemansrestaurant.com | Lower East Side

Magnolia Bakery: People love to hate on Magnolia but the line that still forms outside like 10 years after its Sex and the City debut speaks for itself. Yes, the cake’s a little dry; sure, there are better cupcakes, but that buttercream frosting… just wow.
Good for: dessert
$ | www.magnoliabakery.com | West Village

La Mela: Large portions, lots of rooms, and a reliably friendly staff made this my go-to Little Italy spot for big group dinners.
Good for: groups
$$$ | www.lamelarestaurant.com | Little Italy

Morandi: Eating in this trattoria feels like you’re dining in a Tuscan wine cellar.
Good for: dates, girls’ din, parents
$$$ | www.morandiny.com | West Village

Numero 28 Pizzeria: A generic yellow awning makes this look like just another pizza joint, but it’s got a full roster of Italian winners and the price is great for the location.
Good for: group dins, friend dates
$$ | numero28.com | West Village

Otto: Everything about this restaurant is awesome: the 500-ish bottle wine list, the vintage train station table notifier, the quality of the food and service, and the price for the whole experience.
Good for: dates, groups, friend dins, parents visiting
$$ | www.ottopizzeria.com | Greenwich Village

Petit Abeille: Belgian fare is the focus at this vintage restaurant with blue and white checkered table-cloths. Everything’s home-style and everything’s good. Come for brunch if you like waffles.
Good for: dates, groups, brunch, parents
$$ | www.petiteabeille.com | West Village

Piadina: A picturesque ivy-shrouded facade, swinging hand-painted sign, and bicycle parked outside make it impossible to walk past this eatery and not want to go inside. Rustic brick and wood decor (plus some slightly out of place modern art) continues the Italian charm inside.
Good for: dates
$$ | www.piadinanyc.com | West Village

Pommes Frites: Get a pouch of Belgian fries with your choice from about 30 sauces. There’s a reason it’s a popular post-bar stop.
Good for: take-out
$ | www.pommesfrites.ws | East Village

Russ and Daughters: Even if you like fish, the stench inside this old-school appetizer shop is overpowering. I don’t like fish, and could only bear to be inside for about a minute. Just long enough to order a bagel and cream cheese — one of my favorites in the city.
Good for: bagels
$ | www.russanddaughters.com | Lower East Side

Schiller’s Liquor Bar: A white brick exterior, eclectic menu, and vintage vibe make Schiller’s a LES standbye.
Good for: friend dins, brunch
$$$ | www.schillersny.com | Lower East Side

S’mac: A restaurant devoted to mac ‘n cheese. Nuff said.
Good for: delivery, friend din
$ | www.smacnyc.com | East Village

The Smith: The modern American food and classy-hip wood and tile decor are a reliably solid bet. The price has stayed right too, despite the constant crowds.
Good for: friend dins, brunch
$$$ | www.thesmithnyc.com | East Village

Sugar Sweet Sunshine: These cupcakes are similar to the ones at Magnolia, but there are more varieties and they’re a little cheaper.
Good for: dessert
$ | www.sugarsweetsunshine.com | Lower East Side

Sunburnt Cow: Aussies, boozy brunch, and more Aussies. Really this place can do no wrong. Drinking (a lot) is why most people come, but the food is also really good, and the Australian staff, Outback-influenced decor, and surfing on every tv pay homage to Down Under.
Good for: groups, brunch, friend dins
$$ | Sunburnt Cow on Google+ | East Village

Supper: Yet another cutesy and rustic Italian osteria, this one is good for delivery but better to dine in-house.
Good for: dates, girls’ din
$$ | supperrestaurant.com | East Village

Tartine: Good luck getting a table here for brunch. That’s because it’s the best of all worlds: boozy brunch, BYOB, and a tiny Pinterest-worthy West Village space. I had luck on holiday weekends, but either way it’s worth a wait.
Good for: girls’ din, brunch
$$$ | Tartine on Google+ | West Village

Tree: The garden patio at this small eatery is an oasis in the middle of the grungy East Village. The food was good, but the setting stole the show.
Good for: dates, girls’ dins, special events
$$$ | treebistro.com | East Village

Villa Mosconi: Inside it looks like a misplaced Little Italy joint, but this restaurant’s large 4-season glass-roofed garden sets it apart.
Good for: groups, friend dins, dates
$$$ | www.villamosconi.com | Greenwich Village

Yerba Buena: For brunch, this place goes beyond the typical mimosas-and-bloodys menu and serves up high-end cocktails with the meal. The Latin American menu continues through dinner, and there are a few good outside tables.
Good for: brunch, friend dins
$$$ | ybnyc.com | West Village

Yuca Bar: You’ll have to wait, but the sangria, tapas, and lively atmosphere make even an hour wait worthwhile.
Good for: girls’ din, groups
$$$ | yucabarnyc.com | East Village