One of the greatest joys of living in New York City is experiencing its culinary range — and your post-commencement meal is no exception, because food is best eaten surrounded by loved ones. These four recommendations near NYU balance several considerations: popular, but not impossible to snag a reservation a week out; upscale, but not exorbitantly expensive nor fussy; adventurous, but approachable enough so younger siblings won’t be munching on fries the whole night; and above all, filled with really, really great food — no buts.

Saperavi | $$

245 E. 14th St.

Ask a waiter about the wine list, and you’ll see how much pride members of Saperavi’s Georgian staff hold for their home cuisine. While the tri-state area is home to the nation’s largest Georgian population, Saperavi — named for the red wine grape that produces some of the country’s most prized wines — remains surprisingly under the radar. But the restaurant, whose East Village location is a few blocks from several NYU dorms, has undeniable star quality — and that starts with the adjaruli khachapuri ($18). Great for a large party, the platter-sized bread boat is stuffed with cheese that gets browned in the oven, blowtorched tableside and stretched as high as servers’ arms can reach. But Georgian food is more than just cheese and bread: Saperavi’s vegetable-based dishes are addictively flavorful, best displayed through the assorted pkhali ($25) — a range of small bites, from sweet beets minced and shaped into a ball to peppers stuffed with a creamy walnut sauce. Make sure to also order one of the traditional stews and some dumplings known as khinkali, which are stuffed with cheese and either vegetables or meat.

Nubiani | $$$

315 Fifth Ave., third floor

Korean barbecue is always a hit, and Nubiani’s is my favorite in the city. Its Koreatown location is a quick NQRW subway ride from the 14th Street-Union Square station, where you’ll find one of the neighborhood’s most elegant yet simple selections of unlimited banchan — think thinly sliced, ponzu-marinated onions, mashed sweet potato in a sweet syrup and a spicy mound of scallion strips that cut through the richness of the meat. For ease, order a set or two depending on your party size. The Beef Large package ($255) and Nubiani package ($230) each serve roughly three to five people, the latter of which includes cuts of both beef and pork. Enjoy your meat, grilled tableside by staff, with wasabi, flaky salt or ssamjang — a fermented soybean paste. Nubiani also offers several entrees, like traditional cold buckwheat noodles ($22) with Korean pear and a refreshing beef broth. If your family is heading back to the NYU area after dinner, consider taking the roughly one-mile stroll down Broadway to walk off the hearty meal.

Crevette | $$$$

10 Downing St.

If the strategically placed white butcher paper covering the equally white tablecloths at Crevette are any indication, this tapas-style seafood restaurant’s attention to detail makes every bite worth savoring. Crevette, the French word for “shrimp,” draws from the Spanish and French coasts in its airy, mid-century modern space just south of Washington Square Park. The deep-fried cod cheeks appetizer ($14) — a Basque delicacy — is finished with heavy helpings of jamon iberico, while the Spanish tortilla ($25) — a thick omelet with potato chunks and olive oil — is accompanied by spongy morel mushrooms. My favorite dish is the agnolotti ($32): delicate, sweet crab-stuffed pasta with fresh English peas and basil, on a bed of bright green pea puree. Most portions are small, but Crevette also has multiple shareable entrees and sides, which you and your family can enjoy in one of the cushioned booths underneath a large colorful, coastal oil painting. Finish the night with the seasonal two-tiered tres leches cake ($16), filled with a layer of tender rhubarb chunks and topped with a floral, slightly salty chamomile cream and a tangy, bright pink rhubarb sauce.

Union Square Cafe | $$$$

101 E. 19th St.

After recently celebrating its 40-year anniversary, Union Square Cafe remains an iconic lower Manhattan staple — and its personable hospitality and beautiful wooden interior undoubtedly make it one of the city’s best celebratory venues. The New American spot just off Park Avenue by renowned restaurateur Danny Meyer has a menu that, upon first glance, appears relatively cut-and-dry. But there are no uninteresting bites at Union Square Cafe, as even the most seemingly simple dishes have refined twists. Browse through the exciting cocktail list — for a zero-proof option, try the Cachumber Cooler ($14) with jalapeño and lime — before ordering enough duck liver profiteroles ($6) for everyone to have at least one. These cream puff-like pastries are the ideal starter, with a sweet rhubarb mostarda that balances the savory duck liver. Don’t miss the house favorite charred broccoli ($21), served with mint, pomegranate seeds, candied pecans and a bed of tart yogurt, or the agnolotti al limone ($36 for a large size) stuffed with sheep’s milk ricotta — one of my favorite pastas in the city.