Le Cirque

Long Live He Who Survived the '80s: Sirio Maccioni is revered by foodies, chefs, nostalgia freaks, and service industry types alike. Then why the long face, or the solemn renovation a couple years back? Does it still have the magic of the original? Sometimes. Old school aesthetic touches remain (i.e. guys can't enter the dining room without a jacket, although there's now a bar/lounge to stop into if you're sans-stodge), new school touches still being worked out, day by day. Rule of thumb: go with the failsafe stuff, and you—like the legions of New Yorkers who have gone before you—won't regret it.