Tim and Nina Zagat, whose eponymous ratings guide started in 1979 as a two-page typed list of New York restaurants, are putting their baby on the market. Insiders peg the company’s worth at $200 million; the Times thinks the brand will prove attractive to companies like AT&T, who could use it to build exclusive mobile phone content. more ›

During the last several years, a clear trend has emerged, and it's becoming a hard and fast rule in the city. It starts when adventurous nightlife-seekers set their sights on an out-of-the-way or underdeveloped area where the bars and clubs give them the freedom to cut loose. Capitalizing on the scene, a handful of restaurateurs then set up shop to nourish the now hungry hordes. And finally, as more restaurants with more offerings take root, people recognize the viability of the neighborhood as a place to live and work. more ›

The 2006 Zagat guide to New York City restaurants comes out today. First, the stats: Over 30,000 people surveyed 2,003 restaurants. The average meal cost in New York is $37.61, making it the most expensive in the U.S. The most popular restaurant list looks quite a bit like last year's: Gramercy Tavern, Union Square Cafe, and Babbo knocking Daniel out of it's previous number three slot. Top food rankings go to Le Bernadin, Daniel, and per se (which got the top ranking for service), while three Brooklyn restaurants, Tempo, Stone Park Cafe, and Applewood, made it into the top end of the newcomers' list. more ›