COTE New York City

Cote is on West 22nd Street, a five-minute walk from the Flatiron Building. The menu focuses on Korean grill fusion, and the venue holds a Michelin star.

The room runs smart and elegant, but the focus remains on the high-heat tableside grilling that defines the dinner. While many restaurants in this district aim for a quiet, white-tablecloth register, this kitchen embraces the noise and intensity of the fire. Choosing to dine here is a rejection of the more subdued, formal grill rooms nearby; you come for the energy of a room where the cooking is as much a spectacle as it is a meal. The momentum inside this dining room makes it the superior choice for those who prefer dinner with an edge.