Dining in New York this past year was better than ever. We were introduced to a number of new restaurants that exceeded all expectations and some more venues made a few twists that breathed new life into the restaurants. The New York Times recently published an article that I thought would be great to share, outlining the New York’s top restaurants of 2015. Below are some of my favorite places to dine in the Big Apple. 

1) Shuko

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Source: Eater

Shuko, with its slow-rolling music and moody lighting, is a cocktail bar with an incredible atmosphere. You will be treated to a procession of small plates of elegant Japanese foods that make this place when of the best sushi bars in the area. While some dishes will impress you with just their simplicity alone, there are others, such as the spicy tuna hand roll with pickled Thai chiles, that will aim to blow out all of your circuits. The chefs and partners spent years studying under Masa Takayama, and there years learning there have prepared them well, as they may now be able to surpass the master. 

2) Via Carota

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Source: Eater

Jody Williams and Rita Sodi, the chefs and owners, know the proper times to respect Italian tradition and when to give it a slight twist. Via Carota serves up delicious food in the West Village and no matter what you order, you will not be disappointed. The pasta is supple and never over-sauced. They experiment with vegetables, and it always seems to pay off. Williams is a seasoned flea-market scavenger; she knows how to capture the rustic Italian lifestyle. 

3) Gabriel Kreuther

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Source: Eater

Gabriel Kreutzer is in a mildly eccentric class of its own. It pays homage to Alsace where you can eat rustic tartes flambeés and liverwurst in the lounge or be treated to high-end precision in the dining room. The food is so extraordinary that it is hard to resist, even for those who shy away from fanciness. This restaurant is certainly a welcomed addition to the fine dining scene on the Upper East side. 

4) Santina

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Source: Eater

Inside this glass-box building you will find an Italian seaside vacation that never ends. From the potted palm trees to the servers’ outfits to the cheerfully colored glazed terra cotta, you will be tasting summer all year round. The fish and vegetables always remain a top choice, along with chiles, herbs and citrus. The dishes are all fresh and energizing. A night at Santina is sure to lift your mood. 

5) Upland

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Source: Battery Park TV

The chef, Justin Smillie, goes back to the roots of California cuisine, mixing both Italian tradition and American free-for-all innovation, creating a truly crowd-pleasing restaurant. The wine list, which spans the globe, actually makes its strongest case with its stash of American bottles. The food at Upland is certainly worth getting excited about.