We've eaten at all sorts of excellent restaurants in the city this year, but what were the dishes that truly stood out? Here are my best bites of 2011. More

Served cold, the tapioca sets itself apart from the usual combination of creamy coconut milk and tiny tapioca bubbles with the addition of mint—a finely chopped flurry mixed into the bowl. More

In the great quadrumverate of Japanese noodles—that would be ramen, udon, soba, and somen—New York is sorely lacking in the latter two. At least, we were lacking in the latter two. Cocoron, a new-ish soba joint in the Lower East Side has brought it, and man, is it good. More

At Cocoron, the cozy bar seats are perfect for the single diner. Pick the ones along Delancey Street; the corner seat allows the best view of front row kitchen action. More