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Café K is so named not because it’s kosher (which it is), but because of its origins here on Brooklyn's Avenue K. During the day the staff does a bustling take-out business with sandwiches, sushi rolls, and coffee drinks, but more substantial menu options for lunch or dinner are light and satisfying. This kosher, dairy- and meat-free restaurant focuses on salads, fish, and pasta. The limited but fresh catch is served simply—grilled, with salt and pepper, and an optional squeeze of lemon. Most seafood entrees are accompanied by potatoes, split in half and grilled, and an Israeli salad of chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, and red onions. It’s not unusual for young moms to pace the aisles between tables to quiet a fussy baby, or for observant Jewish patrons to rise and recite prayers aloud. — Kara Newman

Grilled tilapia, $17.95; pasta with vodka sauce, $13.99; hot chocolate cake, $7.50; apple mango pie, $4.99