Per Se

Photo: Courtesy of Per Se

Despite these tough economic times, the über-pricey Per Se came in first for Top Food in the just-released 2009 New York City Restaurants guide, followed by Le Bernardin, Daniel (last year’s victor), Jean Georges and Sushi Yasuda. This is Per Se’s debut in the No. 1 slot after five years in the top three, and it also finished first in the Top Service category.

There were upsets in the world of cheap eats too, with first-time winners – all from Brooklyn – in three hotly contested categories: Top Burger went to DuMont, Top Pizza to Lucali and Top BBQ to Fette Sau. To help cost-conscious diners, the new guide lists four pages of Best Buys, including bargain prix fixe meals at many of the city’s most revered restaurants, such as Jean Georges and Le Cirque. In addition, there are 648 restaurants reviewed at which dinner costs less than $30, and lunch is likely to come in under $20.

The Survey also found that 38% of New Yorkers report eating out less in response to the economic downturn. But Tim Zagat remains optimistic about the future of the city’s dining: “Restaurants are clearly feeling the pinch from the economic crisis. But in the long run they will weather this storm, just as they did after 1987’s Black Monday and 2001’s 9/11. The culinary revolution that began two generations ago and the demographic changes underlying it are now part of our culture. While we foresee some hard times, New York is likely to remain the world’s leading restaurant city.”