1. 1. Pie

   124 Fourth Ave., nr. 12th St; 212-475-4977. 1542 Second Ave., nr. 80th St.; 212-517-5017

   They do breakfast pies and dessert pies, but garlicky marinara is best, snipped to order and priced by the pound.

2. 2. Pinch

   416 Park Ave. S., nr. 29th St.; 212-686-5222

   Pizza by the inch—from 4 to 36—with toppings like Thai chilies and chicken cracklings.

3. 3. Palà

   198 Allen St., nr. Stanton St.; 212-614-7252

   Baked-to-order pies take about twenty minutes, but individual slices carved off premade oblongs are heat-and-eat.

4. 4. Zest

   1441 Broadway, nr. 41st St.; 212-398-9378

   The whole-wheat-and-flax-crusted rendition at this upscale Times Square takeout goes for around $5.50 a half-pound, in combinations like miso-marinated tofu, summer squash, and Japanese eggplant.

5. 5. Whole Foods

   Time Warner Center and Union Square locations

   Not one to miss a trend, the “natural foods” market has dutifully jumped on the weigh-and-pay bandwagon.

Related:

• Archive: “Food Features”
• Articles by Robin Raisfeld | Rob Patronite
• Table of Contents: March 27, 2006 issue of New York | Subscribe!