The River Café

Few restaurants can match The River Café's location in Brooklyn, nestled under the Brooklyn Bridge, peering across the East River at the downtown Manhattan skyline. And though it's been in business since 1977, owner Michael "Buzzy" O'Keeffe has been vigilant about always serving top-notch, luxurious food with inventive tweaks, like grilled dorade filet with artichoke puree and verjus vinaigrette, and locally produced foie gras, where the richness is expertly balanced by an apple-cider reduction.