The city's lingering economic doldrums have put a pinch on New Yorkers' purses, but not their appetite for eating out. In a sign of the times, a slew of mid-range restaurants serving well-made soul-satisfying food have opened. In addition, a wave of makeovers has made some haute eateries more accessible and affordable.

Still, New York is about extremes, and although unemployment is at a high, the metropolis remains a mecca of the monied. So pricey menus haven't stopped new celebrity-chef restaurants from opening and becoming hits.

Whether you decide to go for a steaming bowl of noodles in Chinatown or a chichi brasserie uptown, note that some of the dishes recommended in the following reviews may not be on the menu you receive when you sit down to eat. Chefs often change their menus with the season and with the availability of ingredients in the market. Use our recommendations as guidelines and you won't be disappointed.