Foodies visiting NYC and looking for mid-priced meals

My husband and I are going to NYC in early October for 2 days. We are looking for delicious food! We are staying at the Smyth and aren't interested in fancy restaurants, but more casual mid-priced places. I'd love a place with craft cocktails and he'd love a place with a great beer list, but excellent food are more important! We aren't picky and eat almost any cuisine, but would prefer a place with reservations. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Also is Morgan's BBQ worth it, especially since John Avila has left?

My husband loves hot dogs (i.e. we waited for 3 hrs at Hot Doug's in Chicago), is Crif dogs worth it?