Thanks to actor Robert DeNiro’s efforts, New York’s Tribeca (Triangle below Canal Street) neighborhood has flourished over the last decade. The light-flooded, spacious Tribeca Grill is one such example, drawing an eclectic crowd of upscale Upper East Siders and downtown hipsters to a part of town that in the past saw more stray dogs than people. DeNiro, along with restaurateur Drew Nieporent, unveiled Tribeca Grill in 1990 and the ample restaurant, boasting exposed brick walls and soaring windows, has been a roaring success, with a slew of celebrity investors, from Sean Penn to Mikhail Baryshnikov. As the name suggests, the hearty menu specializes in grilled meats and seafood, and includes succulent short ribs with foie gras ravioli, scallops with corn risotto, and halibut topped with sage butter. The cuisine is matched by the people-watching, and on any given night you may spot anyone from Meryl Streep to DeNiro himself.