For decades, Minetta Tavern lingered as a southern Italian warhorse that no one cared about. Enter Keith McNally, who freshened up the dining room with its vintage 1937 decor, and changed the cuisine to French bistro fare, including an entire steak frites menu. Featuring dry-aged, grain-fed Creekstone Farms beef, these steaks made Minetta Tavern an overnight sensation, and nowadays, it's virtually impossible to get a table. But those lucky enough to snag one can dig in to a heavily charred New York strip steak along with frites or aligot potatoes. Another option: what many reviewers swear is "the best hamburger in the country." However, watch out for a dining room called "noisy beyond description."