Pearl Oyster Bar   

Rebecca Charles opened this little clam shack -- which is named for her grandmother Pearle (sic) -- in 1997 and quickly turned it into a West Village institution. Legendary for its food as well as the inevitable wait in line to get in, Pearl Oyster Bar is a cherished slice of New England life right here in the Big Apple. It invariably shows up on every venerable 'where to eat now' or 'best of' list for any number of its old-fashioned items. The lobster roll and oyster po'boy have been duking it out for years to gain the coveted title of most beloved dish. Oysters come chilled or fried, the clam chowder is silky with bacon bits and the crisp shoestring fries provide a perfect accompaniment. The Maine lobster (a nod to the region in which Charles practiced her craft for years) and shrimp cocktail also draw raves. But just because the seafood steals all of the attention, doesn't mean that you won't gleefully eat every crumb of the blueberry crumble pie. -- Ashley Lederer