Dante West VillageEdible enlightenment from our eatery experts and colleagues Monie Begley, Richard Nalley and Randall Lane, as well as brothers Bob, Kip and Tim.Adria‎1556 Second Ave., at 81st St. (Tel.: 646-386-7703) Adria serves coastal Italian fare inspired by the Adriatic coast and is packed nearly every night. To start, try the burrata duo topped with white sturgeon caviar; the fritto misto with fried calamari, shrimp and vegetables; or the seafood platter. For main courses halibut, branzino and swordfish are prepared in a variety of ways, and lamb chops and a traditional strip steak are also on offer. Pasta is also featured: ziti alla Genovese with a beef and onion ragù, rigatoni broccoli rabe and sausage or linguine with clams are all winners. For dessert try cannoli, ricotta cheesecake or rich chocolate mousse—each should be accompanied by a glass of chilled limoncello. Welcoming and gracious service.Golden SteerGolden Steer ‎One Fifth Ave., at 8th St. (Tel.: 646-846-1487) The new Golden Steer isn’t so much translated from the upper Las Vegas Strip to the West Village as it is photo-capture-replicated, complete with tufted leather booths, tuxedoed waiters and flaming tableside desserts. The establishment celebrates its nearly 70 years of Vegas connections, from Mafia chieftains (The Mob Room dining space) to Elvis to the Rat Pack to gamblers and cattlemen. The steaks—all cut in-house—are incontestably wonderful, elevated by their subtle, savory proprietary seasoning. However, the gargan-tuan portions of other dishes, such as Vegas’ largest baked potato, bone marrow and the super-rich Oysters Rockefeller don’t compensate for their “just pretty good” appeal. The pyrotechnical Bananas Foster dessert is a metaphor for the whole experience: fun, showy, so retro it’s fresh. Dining here, you’ll feel like you’ve been somewhere. Casa LeverCasa Lever‎390 Park Ave. at East 53rd St. (Tel.: 212-888-2700) Reopened after a lengthy renovation, this sleek, almost deco-like space feels somewhat like dining aboard an ocean liner. The food is definitely first class. Highlights at lunch include a tangy and tasty artichokes and Parmesan salad and a sublime vitello tonnato (veal, tuna-caper sauce and bell peppers). The bottarga pasta is delicious, and the beef paillard is pounded to tender perfection. The tiramisu gets higher marks than the creamy fruit tart. Perfect service.Dante West VillageDante West Village‎551 Hudson St., at Perry St. (Tel.: 212-982-8799)This Village staple was already two years old when B.C. Forbes launched Forbes. Under new management since 2015, the restaurant still features many Italian classics on its menu, with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients. The seasonal cocktails are a good way to kick things off. Dante’s house-made focaccia with fresh ricotta and salsa peperoncini makes a zesty start to your meal. The chicken alla diavola is delightfully juicy and nestled in a delectable green goddess dressing. The spring peas and fava bean risotto are deserving of a special shout-out. The carrot cake and the tiramisu are divine. The interior is largely original and enhanced with photos of some of the famous folks who’ve grabbed a bite here over the last 109 years.Le Charlot‎19 East 69th St. (Tel.: 212-794-6419)This little French bistro is everything you could want in an Upper East Side neighborhood place to dine. The cream-less broccoli soup is a delight on a blustery evening, and the hearts of palm and avocado salad dressed into a perfect circle is, indeed, perfect. The steak tartare with frites is as good as any bistro in Paris offers. The whole branzino is, as Goldilocks would have put it, just right. The gâteau au chocolat is so rich it would make one of Forbes’ lists.Seahorse‎201 Park Ave. South, between 17th & 18th streets (Tel.: 212-219-8119) This newcomer is a great addition to the Union Square dining scene. The mermaid mural and the art deco fabric-covered chairs make for a handsome setting in which to enjoy some great seafood. The crudo threesome gets things off to a good start, as does a very tangy lobster bisque. Branzino here is as good as you’ll find anywhere, but especially high marks go to the snapper schnitzel—Vienna meets the Blue Lagoon. The carrot cake tops both the caramel cake and the pineapple cake, but the raspberry sorbet more than holds its own. A great place at which to become a regular.Bar Primi‎349 West 33rd St., between 8th & 9th avenues (Tel.: 212-233-6100) Commuter alert! This gem of a casual Italian restaurant is situated directly across from Moynihan Train Hall. A large outdoor seating area leads into a cool bar and dining room, the center of which features a large, cleverly lit tree creating an upscale botanical feel. The calamari verrazano fried with hot peppers and lemon, the meatballs in sugo with their delicate balance of tender interior and slightly crisp exterior and the grilled artichokes enhanced by mint pesto make for terrific starters. The spotlight here is on pastificio (traditionally made pasta). The house specialty is chitarra and clams, with the blend of seasonings really elevating the dish. For dessert, go for the strawberry fantasia.