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The 38 Essential New York Restaurants, April '12

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It's time to update the Eater 38, your answer and ours to any question that begins, “Can you recommend a restaurant?” This highly elite group covers the entire city, spans myriad cuisines, and collectively satisfies all of your restaurant needs, save for those occasions when you absolutely must spend half a paycheck. Every couple of months, we'll be adding pertinent restaurants that were omitted, have newly become eligible (restaurants must be open at least six months), or have stepped up their game.

In January, the Eater 38 got a full reboot that brought back a handful of 38 alums, and filled the rest of the slots with new additions. This time around, after much reflecting and poring over reader emails and comments, Jackson Diner is swapped for another Queens favorite, the Michelin-starred Danny Brown Wine Bar & Kitchen. Over in the West Village, lovely Christopher Street Italian restaurant I Sodi is dropped (too much Italian on the list already) for Hudson Street mega-hit Red Farm. And, because the list had a dearth of Mexican restaurants, classic Italian old-timer Bamonte's is nudged out for taqueria destination Tortilleria Nixtamal.

Rather than a stage-4 meltdown over our having excluded your favorite restaurant from the list, wouldn't it be more productive to just nominate it for inclusion?

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Locanda Verde

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Barbarini Alimentari

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456 Restaurant

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Torrisi Italian Specialties

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Red Farm

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Balthazar

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Rubirosa

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Lure Fishbar

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Blue Ribbon

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The Spotted Pig

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Takashi

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Kin Shop

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Momofuku Noodle Bar

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Casa Mono

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ABC Kitchen

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Maialino

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The John Dory Oyster Bar

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Hill Country Barbecue Market

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Keens Steakhouse

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Danny Brown Wine Bar & Kitchen

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The Bar Room at The Modern

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Salumeria Rosi

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Tortilleria Nixtamal

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Boulud Sud

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Sushi of Gari

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Donguri

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Red Rooster

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Roberta's

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Frankies 457

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Franny's

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The Good Fork

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Vinegar Hill House

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Locanda Verde

Barbarini Alimentari

456 Restaurant

Torrisi Italian Specialties

Red Farm

Balthazar

Rubirosa

Lure Fishbar

Blue Ribbon

The Spotted Pig

Takashi

Kin Shop

Momofuku Noodle Bar

Ippudo

Casa Mono

Related Maps

ABC Kitchen

Maialino

The John Dory Oyster Bar

Hill Country Barbecue Market

Keens Steakhouse

Benoit

Danny Brown Wine Bar & Kitchen

The Bar Room at The Modern

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