The New York Times resident food critic, Frank Bruni, recently listed the citys 10 Best New Restaurants for 2008.

And it is interesting to note that even the Big Apples top 10 eateries are catching onto the global want for casual food at cash-friendly prices. Phrases such as big flavors and big portions at accessible prices, keep popping up throughout Mr. Brunis reviews.

Coming out tops is Momofuko Ko – a 12-seater sushi-counter restaurant under direction of chef David Chang. According to Bruni, Momofuko Ko is noteworthy for the intense, revelatory pleasures of its partly Asian, partly French, wholly inventive food, adding that food such as this, might cost twice as much in a more formal environment.

The third place is tied by two Italian-styled restaurants, namely Scarpetta and Convivio. The former is praised for its wine list that can be navigated without financial ruin, while the latter gets a thumbs-up for outstanding dishes at a fair enough price.

The 8th placed Bar Boulud continues a trajectory of ever-more-casual restaurants, while number 10, Mia Dona, is described as being sensitive to budget-conscious times.

Reuters also reports that a worldwide tendency to eat at home is putting even more pressure on the restaurant industry, with many US restaurants already showing a 20% decline in turnover. Consumers are also expected to be more selective when dining out this year, seeking options that offer the best value for money.

Are local restaurants catching on to this phenomenon? Most of the top restaurants in South Africa are still pretty formal in their approach to both food and decor, and not necessarily the cheapest eats in town. But it would be interesting to watch the local restaurant scene over the next year, to see whether attitudes (and menus) are being adjusted.