We all love lists that wrap up the year, and if you’re epicurious, this one’s for you: Frank Bruni, the New York Times’ food critic, has released his 10 best new restaurants of 2008 in New York City, along with his 10 favorite dishes. It seems that as the economy slid, New York chefs took their A-game to unprecedented levels, hitting discerning diners in the sweet spot between runaway imagination and good sense. Here’s hoping they continue going for it in 2009. The lists follow:

The Best New restaurants of 2008

1. MOMOFUKU KO
2. CORTON
3. (TIE) SCARPETTA
3. (TIE) CONVIVIO
5. DOVETAIL
6. MATSUGEN
7. ADOUR ALAIN DUCASSE
8. BAR BOULUD
9. ALLEGRETTI
10. MIA DONA

The Best New Restaurant Dishes of 2008

MOMOFUKU KO’S FROZEN FOIE GRAS

PERBACCO’S ROLLED PASTA WITH TRUFFLED ZABAGLIONE

TOM: TUESDAY DINNER’S CRISPY PORK TROTTER

GOTTINO’S WALNUT PESTO

TERROIR’S PORK BLADE STEAK

CONVIVIO’S PECORINO POTATOES

BAR BOULUD’S CROQUES-MONSIEUR AND -MADAME

CORTON’S CARAMEL BRIOCHE

ADOUR ALAIN DUCASSE’S CONTEMPORARY VACHERIN

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/31/dining/31year.html?_r=1