The spelling may be British, but this New York restaurant on the waterfront in picturesque South Street Seaport is unmistakably American. The dining room extends out over the East River, offering glittering views of the Brooklyn Bridge, and New York City’s iconic skyline. This is an ideal spot for private parties, receptions and romantic evenings for two. It’s really all about the vistas here (the clientele is mostly tourists who wind up here after a day shopping on seaport) and Harbour Lights is one of the few restaurants in the city that affords such a breathtaking postcard-worthy backdrop.

The Menu: First courses focus on seafood, with a raw bar that offers fresh, sea-salty oysters and meaty shrimp, among others. After that, your biggest challenge is choosing which direction to go: monkfish fricassee or the pasta special like lobster Ravioli? Soy & honey-grilled tuna steak or pan-roasted pork chops? And the sides, which include buttermilk whipped potatoes and garlic and herb roasted risotto, make deciding especially difficult.

The Must-Have: At this restaurant, the absolute must-have is not a particular dish, but a particular table. Dining out on the deck with panoramic vistas makes a filet and lobster tail surf-and-turf even more enjoyable, or a shared dish of Seafood Royal (clams, oysters, shrimp, lobster, smoked salmon and tuna tartar) all the more romantic.