My love for food started at a young age. I think it has a little to do with the fact that my mother is a gourmet chef. She had me trying a variety of delicacies at a very young age. As I grew up, my taste continued to flourish and refine.

I love cooking, entertaining friends and family, and experiencing new restaurants. To me, there is nothing more lovely than meeting up with a friend in the city and enjoying a three-course fine dining experience with a great bottle of wine. I love wine, but Diana Chan, a Kali Girl Tribe writer, is the one to turn to for wine knowledge. She will teach you different wines to try, how to pick a great reasonably priced bottle, and what to pair it with.

NYC is filled with restaurants. I mean…THERE IS SO MUCH FOOD. My favorites change all the time. Here is a list of restaurants I have been going to recently and love, each for different reasons (I omitted sushi restaurants because that’s a post in itself).

#1 AbcV

AbcV, Jean Georges Vongerichten’s new restaurant is fresh and vibrant. His mission at AbcV is to stimulate a cultural shift towards plant-based intelligence. He wants to provide his customers with high-vibration foods. I love coming here because I want to explore more plant-based options in my diet. It’s very easy to explore that here with fresh juices, restorative tonics, melt-in-your mouth avocado toast, and delicious roasted cauliflower.

• Feel: Fast, Casual
• Dress: Casual, Athleisure
• Occasion: Breakfast or Lunch Meetings
• Photo By: AbcV

#2 Le Coucou

Le Coucou is a perfect depiction of chef Daniel Rose’s inventive and elegant French cuisine. As you walk in, you are carried away by the romantic ambiance of their signature chandelier-lit surroundings and tall candelabras at every table. Their cocktail list is fantastic. #2 is my favorite!It’s classic French food done impeccably well. Whether you try the canard et cerises (duck with cherries, foie gras, and black olives), or the tout le lapin (all of the rabbit), you will not be disappointed. They do not have a bar scene, so be sure to have drink plans for after dinner somewhere else.

• Feel: French, Fancy, and Fab
• Dress: Put on Your Heels (I know…)
• Occasion: Friday Night Dinner with Friends or Date Night
• Photo By: Le Coucou

#3 The Nomad Restaurant

The Nomad Restaurant is in one of my favorite hotels in the city – The Nomad Hotel. The chic, mysterious vibe in the hotel is magical. If you get a chance, please book the magic show before heading to the restaurant to order their signature dish – the whole-roasted chicken for two with foie gras, black truffles, and brioche with corn, freekeh, and chanterelles. Your choice for dinner is not an option. You MUST order the chicken. Chef Daniel, of Eleven Madison, has perfected this dish. Book it now. You’re welcome.

• Feel: Chic, Sophisticated, and Elegant
• Dress: Edgy Jeans and Leather Jacket
• Occasion: Date Night
• Photo By: The Nomad

#4 Loring Place

Loring Place is Dan Kluger’s new restaurant that opened in December of 2016. Dan was the head chef at ABC Kitchen. My girlfriend and I had a great time catching up over brunch at the bar. We actually met Dan and he brought us a few dishes he was testing for the menu. Everything we had was absolutely delicious. A few of my favorites were: the jelly donuts, the grandma’s style wheat crust pizza, the fries with homemade ketchup, and the cheeseburger with bacon made onsite.

• Feel: Modern, Relaxed
• Dress: Business Casual
• Occasion: Brunch or Dinner at the Bar; they have a running wait list for the bar seats
• Photo By: Loring Place

#5 Augustine

Augustine’s cheese soufflé is something one dreams about. It is made with cave-aged gruyère, parmesan, and horseradish fondue. It’s a great place to go for a glass of wine and this decadent cheesy goodness. You will feel like you died and went to heaven.

• Feel: French Bistro
• Dress: Casual
• Occasion: Catch up with a Friend
• Photo By: Benjamin Norman for The New York Times

#6 Rose Bar

Rose Bar at the Gramercy Bar Hotel is perfect for anyone looking for an intimate, stylish space to have a cocktail. The bar is lit almost exclusively by candlelight creating a feeling of warmth. It’s a prime location to have a chic, lively happy hour meeting. Not only are the cocktails super chic, the appetizers offered are amazing.

• Feel: Quiet, Inspirational
• Dress: Effortless and Chic
• Occasion: Happy Hour Cocktails
• Photo By: Gramercy Park Hotel

Written By: Jonna Piira, CEO of Kali

Member of the Kali Girl Tribe.