Bazar Mediterranean Bistro

You'd be forgiven for thinking you'd stepped onto the set of "Sex and the City 2" upon entering this Moroccan-inspired bistro: The owner bought some of the décor from the same shop that supplied the set pieces for the movie. (Mercifully, they ditched the couture turbans, thank you.) The Mediterranean-French menu reflects the backstories of the brains behind the joint: Owner Peter Eljastimi is Moroccan, and chef Rick Laakonen is a French-trained CIA grad who cut his teeth working with likes of Alain Ducasse. This cultural collusion has produced grub that goes from bistro classics like moules frites and steak tartare, to Marrakech bites like chicken-stuffed briwat pastries and traditional harira soup with chickpeas, lentils and fava beans.  Laakonon says that it won't stop there, though: "We're gonna stretch the boundaries a little bit. There might be a range of Italian influences, some Alsatian influences, Spanish what-nots."

See more: Flatiron restaurants, French restaurants, Mediterranean restaurants