The Polo Bar is one of my favorite spots in New York City. I realize that may sound somewhat pretentious, given that reservations are very hard to get. Even so, I love the Polo Bar because it screams of Americana and reminds me of my first trips to New York City as a kid when a few nights in Manhattan were the highlight of our family vacations. Back then, I was mesmerized by the raw energy of the city. I still am. For this article, I combined food and wines from several recent dinners.

With its gorgeous setting, relaxed outdoor dining and fabulous menu, the Crow's Nest is one of the best places to eat in the Hamptons. The restaurant is located on a sprawling property on the tranquil shores of Lake Montauk.

After this very rich meal, we skipped dessert. I look forward to exploring that part of the menu on a future visit. Readers spending time in the Hamptons will want to check out Mavericks. The ambiance, food and service overall experience are all top-notch.

If you are in New York, The Four Horsemen is highly recommended. I love the laid-back atmosphere; the cooking is some of the best I encountered during what was admittedly a slightly underwhelming return to the city’s dining scene.

The room is buzzing with energy as our Crichët Pajé is about to kick off. It’s one of the things I love most about our events: the enthusiasm, passion and deep knowledge guests bring to these lunches and dinners. The 60th floor at Manhatta is especially evocative on this morning. A thick blanket of fog weaves throughout the New York City skyline as if we had arranged for the most perfect Barbaresco meets New York views imaginable. We aren’t that good.

I was excited when my dining companion booked a table at The Modern for this recent lunch. I had not been to The Modern in quite some time, so I was very much looking forward to going back. Over the years, I have had some very good experiences here and some that have been rather lackluster, hence my long absence. Walking into the dining room felt like a refreshing new beginning in a place I have often loved.

Ci Siamo, a recent addition from Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group, has fast become one of my go-to spots in New York City for delicious, hearty food and fabulous wine. I can’t say enough good things about Ci Siamo. Two recent dinners have been nothing short of superb.

As great as the wines are, I am once again reminded that wines are made special by context, in other words the circumstances, places and people that surround them. This was a truly unforgettable night of food, wine, friendship and camaraderie. Until next time…

It’s great to see New York back at its customary pace following a very challenging period, especially for restaurants. This recent dinner at Union Square Café was truly invigorating. Plus it was great to just be out with friends again.

My Year in Review article is usually a greatest hits of the past twelve months, a write up of fabulous meals, wines and tastings. Obviously, there was not much of that this year. I almost did not write this article at all, but 2020 has its own vibe and story. Ultimately, I thought that should be documented…

After tasting hundreds of wines over the week, it was nice to spend some time with a few bottles and my closest inner circle, watch a little NFL football and forget about all the stresses of 2020, even if just for a little while.

Via Forno is one of my local pizza joints. Despite the somber outlook, the staff at Via Forno has been upbeat on the few times I have been there recently. I am looking forward to going back when things eventually come back to something resembling normalcy.

There are few things I enjoy more than hosting small dinners for Vinous readers. The conversation and company are always just as good as the wine and food, while the intimate format allows for deeper conversations than at larger events. That was certainly the case at this recent dinner we held Legacy Records featuring wines from a handful of benchmark Barolo producers.

Readers are by now likely aware that the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is considering a second round of tariffs on French and EU goods in connection with France's Digital Services Tax and the WTO’s recent ruling on the Airbus/Boeing dispute. If enacted, these tariffs, which could range from 25-100% on all EU wines, will have catastrophic effects on the US wine industry and many thousands of working-class families that depend on the economic viability of EU goods. Read Antonio Galloni’s letter to President Trump outlining the case against imposing a second round of tariffs.

It’s time to take America’s premier cool-climate wine region more seriously. The Finger Lakes has been branded an “up-and-coming” wine region for almost two decades. So, at this point, it’s a reasonable question to ask: Have the wines finally arrived? Well, yes and no.

The Modern’s beautiful interior space and garden views are very fitting for a restaurant housed within the Museum of Modern Art. And just as fittingly, it is one of NYC’s best dining spots.

Organized at the last minute, this intimate dinner with a small group of friends is a fabulous way to spend a summer evening in Manhattan. I always find it relaxing to step into Marea’s elegant dining room, perhaps because my memories of this space go back to the days when it was home to Tony May’s iconic San Domenico. Since 2009, Chef/Owner Michael White has delighted guests with a contemporary fish and seafood-based menu that is just as exciting today as it was when Marea first opened. The pastas in particular showcase White’s cooking and creative flair to a great effect.

There is something about the simplicity of a perfectly cooked bird that gets me every time. This recent dinner Le Coq Rico was one of the best meals I have had in New York City in a long time. A small group of friends gathered at the bar for front-row seats as we watched the action unfold in the kitchen in real time.

Eric Ripert’s brilliant cuisine and Le Bernardin’s elegant dining room make for a fabulous escape from the hustle and bustle of mid-town Manhattan.

Located in the Redbury Hotel, Marta is one of the more recent additions to Danny Meyer’s restaurant empire. Delicious thin-crust pizzas and a terrific wine list presented in an energetic, casual atmosphere make for a fun night out. The large space, with its high ceilings and open, wood-burning pizza ovens is immediately welcoming. The menu is built around thin-pizzas and handful of appetizers and mains, many of them done in the wood fire ovens.

Il Buco started life out as an antiques shop prior to morphing into one of New York City’s finest and most fun dining destinations. There is nothing antique about the food or wine here. Instead you’ll find expertly cooked, ingredient-driven dishes and a super wine list to dive into.

Trattoria Carpaccio is one my most delightful finds of recent years. This small, neighborhood restaurant captures an intimate atmosphere that is increasingly rare in today’s world of large, corporate restaurants.

As a former New Yorker, I’ve been excited to watch from afar as an increasing amount of acclaim has been lavished on the Empire State’s wine regions. In particular, the Finger Lakes has undergone an enormous transformation in the past 10–15 years as the quality of the wines has taken a gigantic leap forward.