Eating out in New York is more than just a ‘thing to do.’  Eating out is closer to a ritual which New Yorkers partake of almost religiously. With that in mind, here are a few of New York’s best restaurants to make your eating out moments even more rewarding.

Aldea

• Aldea is a Portuguese restaurant in the Gramercy/Flatiron section on 17th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. Aldea is a low-key vehicle for one of New York’s most original chefs, George Mendes.  Don’t let the minimalist environment fool you; the food is anything but simple. Try a complicated starter of coconut curry broth leading up to tender baby cuttlefish with sea beans, bonito flakes and mint. Even more known Portuguese fare gets a haute spin at Aldea. (212) 675-7223.

Brooklyn Fare

• Brooklyn Fare is a 5,000-square-foot retail gourmet grocery which includes everything a well-stocked shop would carry plus a menu of ready-made foods created by Bouley protégé Cesar Ramirez,  including sushi, sandwiches and take-home meals. Brooklyn Fare is located in Brooklyn Heights on Schermerhorn Street at Hoyt St. (718) 243-0050.

Minetta Tavern

• Minetta Tavern has been restored with loving care and made into what might be called the first iconic restaurant of post-millennial New York.  The place is a-buzz with people who must be as drawn by the happy atmosphere as the food, which is impressive. Try the incredible blackened veal chops surrounded by crisp sweetbread nuggets. Aside from the Black Label burger at $26, the prices here are reasonable. However the burger is worth every penny, being as tender and fatty as foie gras. Check it out at 113 MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village. (212) 475-3850.

Aldea