Zagat Guide Is Released
Zagat, the annual restaurant guide assembled from surveys completed by the dining public, will release today the results of its 2008 edition, with Daniel (60 E. 65th St., between Madison and Park avenues, 212-288-0033) ousting its fellow French restaurant Le Bernardin (155 W. 51st Street, between Sixth and Seventh avenues, 212-554-1515) for the city's highest-rated food. Coming in second place in the food category — service and décor are also rated — is Sushi Yasuda (204 E. 43rd St., between Second and Third avenues, 212-972-1001), followed by Le Bernardin.
Meanwhile Gordon Ramsay at the London (51 W. 54th Street, between Sixth and Seventh avenues, 212-468-8888), a French restaurant that earlier in the week received a prestigious two stars in next year's Michelin dining guide, earned top slot in Zagat's newcomer category. Mr. Ramsay's American debut "lives up to the hype," a according to a survey participant quoted in the book.
In recent months, the city has seen an influx of Texas barbecue restaurants, such as Hill Country (20 W. 26th Street, between Broadway and Sixth Avenue, 212-255-4544), as well as greenmarket-inspired eateries, including BLT Market (1430 Sixth Ave. at Central Park South, 212-521-6125), the survey notes. And the 30 new entries from Brooklyn are emblematic of that borough's burgeoning dining scene.
More than 34,000 people participated in the survey that resulted in the 29th annual dining guide, featuring write-ups on 2,000-plus restaurants in the city's five boroughs. While the cost of meals has remained relatively steady, the average dinner price at the city's 20 most expensive restaurants were found to have climbed to $143.06 — up from $84.45 just six years ago.
