Villard Michel Richard (CLOSED)

Call it a New York homecoming. After a stint at midtown's Chateau France in 1974, French heavyweight Michel Richard left the city, opening lauded spots in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. The James Beard Award–winning toque has swept back into town, bringing his modern French fare to the historic Villard Mansion. The 110-seat space—decorated with gilded walls and framed mirrors—possesses a split personality: On one side is a casual eatery serving bistro fare like roasted chicken and lobster burgers; on the other, a tasting-menu restaurant. Open for dinner only, the dining room showcases Gallic dishes with a global twist, including Colorado lamb with jalapeño-cumin sauce.