Belle Harlem

We’re never going to make a list of the most charming restaurants in NYC, but if we did, Belle Harlem would be near the top. This place is one tiny room with 12 seats around a counter, and eating here feels almost exactly like attending a dinner party at a friend’s apartment. The menu is small and à la carte, and it consists of upscale, vaguely American things like duck with foie gras gravy and some very good mac and cheese spring rolls with bacon marmalade. It can get a little pricey here (most entreées are in the $40-$50 range), but if you’re looking to have a special night out at an intimate, friendly spot without having to throw a dinner party yourself, it’s worth it.