Off the top of my head (and big thanks to the recommendations in this thread)
Bouley's Lunch was decently priced, but not nearly as amazing as
Le Bernardin's Chef Tasting Menu. Does cost an arm and a leg though, but if you gotta splurge once in your life, this is the place to do it.
Another unforgettable meal was at
Minetta Tavern, not pretentious, smart casual ambiance. Everyone says the "Cote du Boef" is the way to go, which is a 32oz ribeye and
Bone Marrow for 2 people. I also wanted the
Black Label Burger.
I had a dilemna because it was only me and my girlfriend; so I asked the waiter what to do because there's no way I could finish a 32oz steak myself and a few bites of their famous burger. So he recommended I try the NY cut and the burger, I also ordered the bone marrow appetizer to start.
The marrow was freakin' DELICIOUS, soft like warm butter but tasted like beef, spread on some toast.
Steak was also the best I ever had. Perfectly charred on the outside, rare and juicy on the inside. Burger was also topnotch, cooked medium rare, flowing with natural juices and complemented with fresh lettuce and tomato, not masked with strong mayo or bbq sauce of that nature.
Of the east coast chain restaurants, can't go wrong with Shake Shack and Luke's Lobster truck.
I also heard great things about Peter Luger's but my schedule was so jam-packed I had no time to cross over to Brooklyn for dinner. Manhattan kept me really busy on my 7-day trip. The Asian in me had to maximize the CityPass so I hit up many attractions
