"Eric Ripert’s Theater District temple of fine dining has held a rare four-star status since it opened in 1986 from the New York Times. The classic French restaurant is a celebration of seafood, with the $350 tasting menu that includes yellowfin tuna, steamed lobster, Dover sole, and halibut. And yes, there is a $250 vegetarian tasting menu that rivals the pescatarian one, with courses such as artichokes, leeks, and mushrooms. Lunch is a prix fixe affair with the $135 option split into sections categorized by how dishes are cooked (or not) from raw like oysters with uni to lightly cooked such as the baked snapper. There are indoor dine-in services. Know before you go: If you don’t feel like committing to a tasting menu, head to Le Bernardin’s lounge for a la carte dishes like scallop ceviche and lobster rolls." - Emma Orlow