: Istana straddles the lobby of the New York Palace hotel with graceful arches and easy chairs. Executive chef James Staiano's contemporary American menu includes starters like a bowl of onion soup with Comté cheese and sourdough, or grilled baby lamb chops with fava beans and pommery mustard. For an entrée, try his signature pan-seared John Dory with braised lentils and English peas; sauté of Maine lobster accompanied by a shallot-wine reduction, summer corn, sugar snap peas and truffle ragoût; or the roasted Colorado rack of lamb with escarole and fava bean ragoût and black olive mashed potato.

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