Pic courtesy of Telepan
Telepan, a delicious little seasonal-American restaurant near Columbus Circle, helped rescue this formerly restaurant-challenged neighborhood from perpetual humiliation when it opened four short years ago. Telepan’s menu telepathically taps into basic cravings and creates new ones, with dishes like smoked corn with grits souffle and corn agnolotti, or house-smoked trout with oniony sour cream. Lunch is a joyful surprise here too, with more locals than suits in attendance—although the restaurant could no doubt benefit from a few more execs expensing wine-soaked lunches these days.
Telepan. 72 W. 69th St. between Columbus Ave. and Central Park West; (212) 580-4300.
Prices/Features: MOD, VGT (See Welcome to Salmaland for key to letter abbreviations.)