5 Ninth Ave., 212-929-9460, 5ninth.com 
Once the home of Nelson Sullivan, a video artist who documented the lives of art-world superstars, drag queens and unknown New Yorkers alike, the circa-1848 row house at 5 Ninth Avenue is now known as the A-list dining mecca that put Asian-fusion maven Zak Pelaccio on the map. "All in all, this is a building that comes from an era when New York was messy, gritty and creative," says restaurateur Joel Michel of the building he and partner Vincent Seufert lovingly restored five years ago. Though they dropped the Asian fare following Pelaccio's 2007 departure, 5 Ninth's current market-based New American menu features delectable creations like cauliflower soup with honey crisp apples, pan-seared cod in a Riesling sauce with baby brussels sprouts, and braised short rib with mushroom ragout. Ask for one of the front two booths in the second-floor dining room facing Ninth Avenue and finish your meal with a spicy bourbon vanilla milk shake. If you establish yourself as a regular, Michel might even invite you upstairs to his velvet-boothed third-floor bar, which is reserved for friends and neighbors and even private parties. You can also check out the duo's newest spot, 10 Downing Food & Wine, in the West Village. —Michael Slenske

11 of 11