Clay

"If you’re not comfortable with the sort of outdoor dining spaces that are pretty much fully enclosed cabins, you’ll appreciate how Clay leaves one wall on their setup completely open. Head to this Harlem spot for perfectly al dente garganelli and confit duck that you’ll want to pick up like a turkey leg." - team infatuation

"What It Is: An American restaurant in Harlem Perfect For: Date Night, Dinner With The Parents Clay is a grown up-feeling New American/farm-to-table restaurant in Harlem, and it’s a place that does everything pretty well. There are nice salads, satisfying pastas (we particularly liked the garganelli with kale and sausage), and well-executed entrees like a duck leg confit. They also have an extensive wine list, good cocktails, and very friendly service. And the space is nice too - it feels sort of like the earth-toned living room of a successful person on a TV show. If you’re uptown and looking for somewhere new to try, definitely add Clay to your list. The Verdict: It’s been around for over a year, so it won’t make the Hit List, but we’ll be adding it to other guides." - hannah albertine, bryan kim, katherine lewin, hillary reinsberg, chris stang, matt tervooren

"This American restaurant in Harlem has an extensive wine list, and like Tannat, it’s run by a husband-and-wife team. The wines are from all over the world with a focus on Spain and South America, and the list is curated by Gabriela Davogustto, who Goler says has an incredible palate. “You can find well-known producers as well as tiny farmers,” she says. Gabriela’s husband Gustavo oversees the kitchen. “I’d recommend going in with friends and having all the appetizers,” she says. “The menu is so good, and I always go for their steak tartare with celery root chips.”" - amber gibson

"Between the perfectly al dente garganelli and the confit duck that you’ll want to pick up like a turkey leg at Medieval Times, Clay is a fantastic place to impress someone. They recently launched outdoor dining with some new summer specials like heirloom tomato and watermelon salad, as well as all-day brunch on Sundays. Clay is also running takeout and delivery through their website in case you’d rather eat elsewhere." - hannah albertine

"When you can make a same-day reservation on a Saturday somewhere, it usually isn’t the best sign. But we’ve done this at Clay, and Clay is a legitimately great restaurant. It’s an upscale spot in Harlem that isn’t too formal, with a menu of things like pork belly, confit duck leg, and a short rib bucatini worth a long subway ride. Bring a date, and stop by Wednesday through Saturday, so you can eat in the downstairs dining room." - bryan kim, chris stang