New York Magazine

Cheaper Southern Italian spinoff of Peasant, pronounced ah-BEETS, as in pizza.

Open for breakfast (“prosciutto Benedict”) and lunch (Kobe burger)—dinner coming soon.

Before New York was a town with a panino in every presser, there was 'ino.

The panini kings at 'ino have brought Italian-style small plates dining to the Lower East Side. 

This vegetarian cafe has a mellow vibe that would be right at home on the West Coast.

A capable kitchen nearly upstages the big-name acts on stage.

The adjacent café to the Here Arts Center is under the culinary jurisdiction of Jimmy Carbone, an East Village fixture who runs the cozy rathskeller Jimmy’s No. 43.

Restaurateur Stephane Dorian opens a casual restaurant with a market-driven, Mediterranean-inspired menu.

Bouley leaves his Tribeca comfort zone for this West Soho space, where he’s planning a production kitchen, a retail market, and a yet-to-be-named casual restaurant.

The tapas and main dishes at this hip, earthy Spanish joint may be lackluster, but 1492 does have its strengths.

A modest size, a stark decor, and a menu by Masato Shimizu, the talented young sushi chef who formerly worked at Jewel Bako.

Laptop-wielding East Villagers enjoy this coffeehouse’s strong coffee, light fare, complimentary wi-fi, and relaxed “living room” vibe.

Filling $1 slices with the overall flavor of cafeteria school lunch.

Comfort food in a chic setting is the underlying concept at this chaotic but ultimately charming eatery.

Small space, big flavors. 26 Seats boosts bistro fare with just the right accents.

The mustard-and-orange plaid wallpaper may harken back to the sixties, but the menu favors luxe updates of fifties comfort food alongside familiar global dishes.

The quaint townhouse exterior of this New American Meatpacking staple disguises a three trendy floors of action.

Perfect for people who can’t decide what to eat, this clean-lined tapas joint has seafood, burgers, and homemade pasta with a mellow, date-friendly ambience.

Need a companion in the wee hours? Ignore the tipsy tarts outside, and have the French apple one with vanilla ice cream instead.

The coffee beans are from Irving Farm and the pastries from Sage American.

A dim sum brunch, where the food can be awe-inspiring, the prices comically modest, and no party is too large or too loud.

As often happens in growth markets, employees with big plans of their own abscond with trade secrets.

Melissa Fox is a master of the empanada art, and plies her trade at her hacienda-away-from-home A Casa Fox.

Chef Missy Robbins from Chicago’s Spiaggia now helms the Modern Italian restaurant originally opened by original chef and Boulud alum Andrew Carmellini.

French waiters, French knick-knacks, and best of all, straightforward French cooking.