1. 1. The Spotted Pig

   314 W. 11th St., at Greenwich St.; 212-620-0393

   It’s elbow-throwing-room-only at dinnertime, but (comparatively) mellow during the day.

2. 2. Fatty Crab

   643 Hudson St., nr. Horatio St.; 212-352-3590

   Spend more than you can afford at Jeffrey, then calm your nerves with some deep-fried hunks of “fatty duck” or the man-versus-beast slopfest known as the Chili Crab.

3. 3. August

   359 Bleecker St., nr. W. 10th St.; 212-929-4774

   Delicious regional European fare like Spanish salt-cod fritters, Alsatian tarte flambée, and a not-so-Euro burger.

4. 4. Barbuto

   775 Washington St., at W. 12th St.; 212-924-9700

   Tuck into a rustic pizza or some spaghetti carbonara, then waddle back to the meatpacking district for more shopping.

5. 5. Cafe Cluny

   284 W. 12th St., at W. 4th st.; 212-255-6900

   Like her casually stylish Odeon and Café Luxembourg, Lynn Wagenknecht’s new hot spot, situated on one of the West Village’s most charming blocks, specializes in a distinctly New York brand of French-American fare.

Related:

• Archive: “Food Features”
• Articles by Robin Raisfeld | Rob Patronite
• Table of Contents: Dec 11, 2006 issue of New York | Subscribe!