breakfast

The Lower East Side's brunch mecca, serving up delectable pancakes and perfect biscuits. The wait to get in on weekends (and many weekdays) is ridiculously long. Your best best: going for dinner. Don't miss the fried chicken! 4 Clinton Street,...

Like the sign inside says, Carmine Morales has been "serving real Lower East Siders since 1976."  The Classic Coffee Shop is only open weekdays. The menu is super-basic: egg sandwiches, grilled cheese, pb&j, cold cuts. But the price is...

The white picket fence signals your arrival at the LES's New Orleans-style sandwich shop. Owner Din Yates offers a half dozen or so made-to-order creations. There's fried chicken on a biscuit, pulled pork, delicious oyster and shrimp po' boys,...

In the former home of the legendary Garden Cafeteria, this old-school Cantonese restaurant does a reasonably decent job with dim sum, barbecued meats and seafood dishes. The price is right. Downside: they don't deliver. 165 East Broadway, at Rutgers 212-780-0238 Hours: 7am-11pm Menu

Chief Curmudgeon Kenny Shopsin serves up a few hundred (no, that's not a typo) wacky items in his little corner of the Essex Market. Ignore his profane rants and occasional temper tantrums while slurping down one of 54 "made...

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,...

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...

Bright, friendly coffee shop on Orchard with a good selection of teas, salads and sandwiches. They recently began offering a full dinner menu, with table service after 6pm, as well as wine and beer. 88 Orchard, at Broome 212-228-8880 Mon.-Thurs. 7:30-11PM, Fri....

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...

Gussied up diner serving a global menu, but excelling at Mediterranean specialties like falafel and seafood herime. Very friendly service. Wi/fi service not always reliable. 189 East Broadway (at Jefferson) 212-387-0366 Hours: Mon-Fri, 8am-10:30pm; Sat-Sun, 8:30am-10:30pm Menu Delivery, wi-fi