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This fuss-free luncheonette has been adhering to its cutesy “no soy, no foam, no pretense” motto since 1976. Seating is restricted to either a counter or two small tables; the menu is likewise limited: comfort-food standards like egg sandwiches, egg creams, and a simple grilled cheese (as far as the cheese goes, it’s American, cream, or bust). Knickknacks abound—from vintage soda bottles to black-and-white family photos and from old advertisements to newspaper clippings. As classic jazz plays on the radio and neighbors drop in to schmooze with the owner, you’ll quickly forget that some of the most coveted tables in town are literally just up the street. — Anja Mutić

Grilled cheese sandwich, $3.50; old-fashioned egg cream, $1.50; tuna melt, $4.75