Babbo

There's a reason why people babble about Babbo. Mario Batali's upscale Italian restaurant is as packed as a can of well-oiled sardines with fans and foodies who call a month in advance for a reservation. And although the hefty check might make you do a double-take, well-satisfied diners swear it's worth both the wait and the price.

The menu brings that sense of surprise into the dining room with a collection of big flavors and unexpected ingredients: lamb tongue salad, for starters, or foie gras or beef-cheek ravioli. Mains include a perfectly cooked pork tenderloin, rib-eye steak, striped bass, or pepper-crusted tuna. If you really love macaroni, there's a pasta-tasting menu, with five varieties plus two desserts.

Surroundings are stylish, too. A duplex brownstone space has been made effortlessly romantic with yellow walls, lots of flowers, mirrors, sconces, and a grand staircase. The best seats are upstairs, under the skylight.

See more: Greenwich Village restaurants, Italian restaurants, Steak restaurants