A running list, in the order they came to mind, of favorite restaurants:
Coco Pazzo, La Esquina, Raoul's, Chin Chin, Rosa Mexicano (East Side), Orsay, E.A.T., Pastis, Balthazar, Matsuri, Ye Waverly Inn, Francisco's Centro Vasco, Indochine, El Teddy's, Cafe Cluny, Carlyle Hotel (Bemelman's Bar), P.J. Clarke's, Serafina, La Lunchonette, Cafe Boulud, Freeman's, Sant Ambroeus, Rickshaw Dumpling, Shake Shack, Blue Smoke, Bar Pitti, Kelley & Ping, Nobu and Nobu Next Door, Odeon.
[more]Kate & Andy Spade
Murray Hill
Murray Hill is a small residential neighborhood whose good side is blocks of former carriage houses from the 20th century and whose bad side is lackluster post-war apartment buildings. Here you could have discovered an interesting apartment ten years ago; what remains today are lots of large residential buildings without charm or doormen, and local services that cater mostly to residents: small grocery stores, hardware stores, non-remarkable restaurants, and nail salons.