NYC Restaurants

Brasserie 8 1/2 is a stylish French restaurant in Midtown. A spiral staircase allows for a grand entrance. Look for starters like Grilled Spanish Octopus with eggplant caviar, garbanzo, tomato confit and chorizo, and Lobster Bisque with chives creme fraiche and lobster morsels. Larger plates include Rotisserie Green Circle Chicken with whipped Yukon Gold, Duck Two Ways with brussels sprout and cranberry chutney, Steak Frites Bearnaise, and Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes. Signature cocktails include the 8 1/2 Cosmopolitan and a Pomegranate Mojito. For dessert there's a crepe souffle with pastry cream, warm molten chocolate cake and sweet potato beignets.

- Thomas Rafael