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 Banh mi, delicious authentic pho and other Vietnamese specialties, in fancier digs than you’ll find a few blocks to the west in Chinatown proper.
85 Orchard Street, near Broome
212-226-3700
Open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week
Web site
Delivery
Cusine: Italian
Address: 98 Rivington St./map
Phone: 212-614-0473
Hours: Mon-Fri, noon-1am; Sat-Sun, noon-3am
Menu/web site
Reservations: no
Delivery: no
This wine bar at the corner of Rivington and Ludlow streets, one of the Lower East Side’s best places to watch the world go by, is an ideal location to spend a lazy afternoon, especially in the warm weather months. There’s sidewalk seating and a dining room that’s open to the street, providing a European feel as you sip a glass of wine and nibble from a cheese and charcuterie plate. The panini is excellent, and the pastas are very decent. Brunch is a standout; the brisket and fried eggs is a personal favorite.
 The sliver of a restaurant on Ludlow Street with a cozy backyard offers creative versions of Neopolitan street food. The menu features such items as fried rice balls, fried artichokes and lamb meatballs. There are also a variety of simply prepared pasta and meat dishes, plus a Monday night special (spaghetti and meatballs and unlimited sangria for $20).
173 Ludlow, near Houston
212-353-3353
Hours Mon-Thu, 5pm-11pm; Fri, 5pm-midnight; Sat, noon-midnight; Sun, noon-11pm
Web site
Reservations
FEATURES: outdoor dining, weekend brunch
 Tre draws its culinary inspiration from Naples, where owner/chef Gino Piscopo was born. The intimate little restaurant with a charming backyard seems a bit out of place on rowdy Ludlow Street. But once inside, you’ll be transported. The service is warm and the food well prepared. There’s a nice selection of pastas and small plates, such as fried rice balls and fried artichokes.
173 Ludlow, near Houston
212-353-3353
Web site
Reservations
FEATURES
Outdoor dining, weekend brunch
 Zucco passed away in early 2010 but his charming little diner on Orchard Street lives on. All the classics are here: steak in a red wine sauce, duck confit, salad nicoise, onion soup, etc. There’s a single table outside and a cozy dining room.
188 Orchard, near Houston
212-677-5200
Mon-Sat, noon-midnight; Sun, 11am-11pm
Menu
 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
 The build-your-own meatball sensation on Stanton Street. Pick a meatball from column a (beef, pork, chicken, vegetable) with a sauce from column b. The DIY theme continues on the dessert menu: ice cream sandwiches featuring several flavors and cookie combinations.
84 Stanton, near Allen
212-982-8895
Open daily noon-4am
Web site
 Located in an appealing corner spot on Orchard Street, Little Giant serves a homey, locally sourced, seasonal menu. Brunch is very popular.
85 Orchard, at Broome
212-226-5047
Open Mon-Thu, 11:30am-11pm; Fri, 11:30am-midnight; Sat, 10am-4pm and 6pm-midnight; Sun, 10am-4pm and 6pm-10pm
Web site
 A French bistro with Brazilian and African accents, a laid back vibe and a party atmosphere in the late evenings. The grilled steak marinated in spices from the Ivory Coast, a Brazilian seafood stew and the lamb shank tajine are among the best options.
37 Canal, at Ludlow
212-777-7518
Open Sun-Thu, 8am-2am; Fri-Sat, 8am-4am.
Web site
 A German couple, Amrei Schmitt-Fumian and David Wiesner, patterned this hidden gem on the memorable island restaurants frequented on their many trips to southern Italy. The cozy osteria serves homey dishes fusing Italian, European and American sensibilities. The bartenders are extremely warm. The garden in the back is enchanting. Good for big groups. This place becomes quite “sceney” on weekend evenings.
100 Forsyth, near Broome
212-625-3444
Sun-Thu, 6pm-11pm; Fri-Sat, 6pm-midnight
Web site
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