There’s nothing like the energy of New York after Labor Day weekend. The city is charged, and everyone is ready to go. You’re back on your circuit of lunches at Milos, dinner at The Grill, and if you’re lucky, drinks at the new Aman. The glamour is back again in the city, and it’s better than ever. So in honor of the greatest city in the world, we have the top restaurants, which are reason one million and one to love New York.

For the NYC Scene: Polo Bar

There’s a reason why there’s over a 2,000 waitlist for prime time reservations nightly. And it may just be their bar snacks of deep fried olives, homemade herbed potato chips and spiced nuts. Oh, and the pigs in a blanket, mini reuben and crudités. That’s before you even drink in the scene of beautiful people and power players that make NYC so glamorous.

It’s the kind of place that only Ralph Lauren could have dreamed up, and it is perfect because of that. Hailing from the Bronx, Ralph loves corned beef and burgers more than you’d expect. And red meat takes center stage at his restaurant. Even if ypou’re just there to gawk at celebrities, you’re going to leave with as full stomach. Word on the street is the brownie sundae is a no-miss.

Of course, the cocktails are also out of this world. For a bar that really is a restaurant/universe unto itself, Polo Bar caters to those looking for a drink that’s worth the money.

For a Big Celebration: Les Trois Chevaux

Angie Mar’s West Village fine dining restaurant is as good as it gets. Three words: truffle caviar croissant. That could be the mic drop, but Chef Mar wows you with each and every single course of their tasting menu. Chef Mar brings French dishes that are classic but no one serves anymore. Case in point the Pithivier, which is dunganees crab baked into a crisp and thin puff pastry crust served with fine seafood sauce that you wish you could drink like a soup.

Restaurant with a View: SAGA

The food is good, but the view is what you come to SAGA for. [please research the history of the building which is art deco].

For a Work Dinner: The Grill

There are some places that just evoke the Mad Men days of three martini lunches and Don Draper, and The Grill is it for NYC. This is as glamorous as it gets as far as space goes in New York City, with triple high ceilings and banquettes where every single seat is prime. The historic pool room that was the former Four Seasons space still hosts all the power players, where yes, that is Justin Timberlake having dinner. But even without any of this, you would still love the food, which is old school Hollywood glamorous, with a side of theater. They make their omelets table side, and very impressively have a traditional French press, in a contraption that they crank down tight to compress the bones and meat of chicken for the sauce,  The juice of the chicken and meats is served on pasta, and it’s decadent.

Everyday Lunch:  Milos

This is still one of the best values in the city, where you get a three course prix fixe lunch for around $30.

Afterwork Drinks: Aman New York, if you know a member, are a hotel guest or a member yourself. Otherwise Avra Madison has a good bar scene where you can saddle up to one of the coveted seats and take in the scene. You shouldn’t drink on an empty stomach either, where the saganaki and the zucchini chips always hit the spot. They have a whole host of fruity drinks but stick to the basics like the martinis and whiskey-based drinks. More often than not you’ll be inspired to sit down for dinner if those work drinks are going well.

Tasting Menu: This spot was formerly with Eleven Madison Park, before they went all vegan on us. We have to say that the whole tasting menu experience can be over-produced and over-hyped.

Weekend Brunch: Sadelles

We’re suckers for anything that comes out on tiered plates, and it’s especially exciting when it’s at Sadelles. They hit all the right notes for brunch all  day, with handmade freshly baked bagels, and the best smoked salmon in town. They also do a killer egg salad and whether you go for the salmon roe or splurge on the caviar on latkes, this is Jewish-inspired food at its very best. The list can go on of what to order, like the royal eggs, French toast and Francesca salad. The scene is also always lively and a good spot to bring out of town guests and splurge on carbs.

Casual Bistro: Jack & Charlie’s No 118

This is the neighborhood spot in the perfect, quintessential West Village location that has all the oysters you can eat, along with some of the best steaks from Snake River and a duck meatloaf. This is food that sticks to your bones, like the corned beef knishes and the soft break pretzels with mustard butter.

Everyday Italian: San Carlo 

There are some spots that are just your go-to, and San Carlo always comes to the rescue. It’s the definition of neighborhood Italian in the West Village and Soho Border. Their pasta shines, and this is a place you could bring a large group of friends, and pretty much order everything on the menu. San Carlo always comes through too with truffles all year round, from variations of black from winter through summer, and the coveted white truffles from Alba when they come into season in the fall. Either way it’s all truffles, all the time. It’s an everyday Italian as the pricing is fair, service is impeccable and where you don’t have to grovel for a reservation.

Honorable Mention: Bar Pitti. There’s a reason why you’ll almost always have a celebrity sighting here, as it’s as simple, easy no-frills Italian as it gets.

Coffee + People Watching: Sant Ambroeus West Village

There are some places where you want to sit all afternoon at a perfect corner restaurant, it’s at an outdoor table at Sant Ambroeus. Their coffee is the stuff you dream of, where their cappuccinos have an impossible amount of airy foam. The affogato is a perfect vanilla ice cream with a shot of espresso on top. They of course have cakes and some of the best simple cookies in town, to go with your drinks. It’s a piece of Milan in Italy, but even better because it’s in the West Village.