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 Keith McNally’s (Balthazar, Schiller’s, etc) take on a Roman pizzeria and trattoria. The wood-fired oven produces slightly charred thin crust pies, featuring a lot of interesting toppings. Also on the menu: several antipasti platters and other entrees (roasted fish, hanger steak). Like all McNally ventures, Pulino’s highlights specialty cocktails and a big, lively bar.
212-226-1966
282 Bowery, at Houston
Hours: brteakfast daily 830am-1130am; lunch Monday-Friday noon-5pm; dinner daily 6pm-midnight; weekend brunch 10am-4pm
Web site
Delivery 11am-11pm
 
 The guys behind the defunct “Superdive” in the East Village say Imperial Tavern is a “cross between the Ear Inn and Minetta Tavern. In the casual bar room up front and a more formal dining room in the back, Imperial Tavern is offering a “foodie stoner” menu, consisting of dishes like bbq ribs, roasted bone marrow and mac and cheese.
212-473-3535
161 Ludlow Street, near Stanton
Hours: tba
No online menu yet.
 Toronto’s superstar chef, Susur Lee, opened this high end Asian fusion and sushi restaurant in the Thompson LES Hotel in 2008. The food blogs have had Shang on their “death watch” list for many months. Lee has said his first U.S. venture was a victim of the economic downturn and of unsophisticated diners.
187 Orchard, near Stanton
212-260-7900
Hours Mon, 6pm-11pm; Tue-Thu, 6pm-midnight; Fri-Sun 6pm-1am
Shang Terrace (weather permitting): open for breakfast, lunch, dinner
Web site
Reservations
 The beloved Greek diner on the Eastern end of Grand Street acts as a second dining room for residents of the cooperatives, parishioners at St. Mary’s Church and other locals. The proprietors, Nodas and Mike, do, in fact, know everyone’s name. Delivery is lightning fast.
500 Grand Street, at Willett
212-533-2415
Hours Mon-Fri: 6am-6:30pm Sat: 6am-4pm Sun: 8am-4pm
Menu
A new sushi restaurant on Orchard Street also offers cooked entrees, including soba and hibachi dinners.
198A Orchard Street
212-388-0899
Hours: tbd
Menu
Delivery
 There’s always lots of kvetching about Yonah Schimmel, “not what it used to be.” But they’re still doing what they’ve done since 1910 — churning out soft, handmade knishes — 14 varieties to suit every taste.
137 East Houston, near 1st Avenue
212-477-2858
Hours Sun-Thu, 9am-7pm; Fri-Sat, 9am-10pm
Web site
 The bar next to “Fat Baby” is a sleek, dimly lit hideaway offering Vietnamese-inspired appetizers.The space is available for parties and other special events. Happy hour features their signature “lychee martinis” for $5 every night until 10pm.
110 Rivington, near Essex
212-614-2494
Hours Sun-Wed, 5pm-2am; Thu-Sat, 5pm-4am
Web site
 The dumpling debate rages on, but a lot of people think Vanessa’s offers some of the best in the hood. Have them on a plate for $2.50 or in soup for $3. The place is almost always packed. You’ll have to fight for a table. Better yet: get takeout.
118 Eldridge, near Broome
212-625-8008
Hours 730am-1030pm
Menu
 A fixture on Rivington Street, Tiny’s Giant Sandwich Shop recently changed ownership but this unpretentious place remains a neighborhood favorite.
129 Rivington, at Norfolk
212.982.1690
Hours Noon-10pm
Menu
Delivery
 Sure, Keith McNally’s hot spot on Rivington Street attracts a bridge and tunnel crowd, but the staff goes to great lengths to treat the locals well. If Todd is behind the bar, you can be assured of a perfectly prepared cocktail. The French bistro-ish menu includes many crowd pleasers, including a very decent steak frites, a well-prepared roast chicken and french onion soup. Avoid the crushing crowds, and go for lunch.
131 Rivington, at Norfolk
Hours Mon-Wed, 11am-1am; Thu, 11am-2am; Fri-Sat, 10am-3am; Sun, 10am-1am
Web site
Delivery, wi-fi
 Named after the pub in London where Jack the Ripper met his victims, Ten Bells is an all-organic wine bar on Broome Street with a small selection of cheeses, oysters and other small plates. It’s a nice place to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon. Cash only.
247 Broome Street
212-228-4450
Hours Mon-Fri, 5pm-1am; Sat, 3pm-2am; Sun, 3pm-1am
Web site
 A brick oven produces crispy, thin crust pizza at this spot on the corner of Clinton and Rivington. San Marzano takes a lot of pride in sourcing high quality toppings.
71 Clinton, at Rivington
212-228-5060
Sun-Thu, 11:30am-midnight; Fri-Sat, 11:30am-2am
Web site
 A sometimes rowdy Irish theme bar with a fairly substantial menu (burgers, pizza, wings, etc), a large patio in the back and a few pool tables.
191 Orchard, near Houston
212-228-9888
Hours Mon-Fri, noon-4am; Sat-Sun, 11am-4am
Web site
 Sammy’s has been serving (un)healthy portions of shmaltz and schtick at the same location on Chrystie Street for more than 30 years. The broiled steak will set you back $35-40 bucks, but your serving will be “Flintstones” huge (hanging over the plate) and perfectly prepared. There’s usually entertainment (think Borscht Belt humor and accordion music).
157 Chrystie, near Delancey
212-673-0330
Hours Sun-Thu, 4pm-9:30pm; Fri-Sat, 4pm-11pm
Menu
 A place that takes its coffee seriously and offers a diverse cafe menu including dishes like jerk pork ribs, a lobster roll and bouillabaisse. The espresso bar is open during the day. Heartier fare is only available at dinner time.
8 Rivington, near Bowery
212-777-2177
Hours: Dinner Tue-Sat: 5pm-11pm Espresso Bar Tue-Sun: 8am-4pm
Menu
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