Ask Me About My Invisible Friends

Some favorite downtown/midtown spots for good food on little cash…

88 Palace - Dim Sum. Broadway between Market and Forsythe Streets. (2nd floor). (212) 941-8886   

Bao Noodles - Pho. Second Ave. between 22nd and 23rd Streets. (212) 725-7770

Bubby’s -  Comfort food. Hudson Street and N. Moore Street. (212) 219-0666

Cafe Colonial - Brazilian. Elizabeth Street and Houston. (212) 274-0044

Caracas -  Arepas. 7th Street between First Avenue and Avenue A. (212) 228-5062

Chennai Garden - Vegetarian South Indian (also Kosher). Lunch buffet. Closed Monday. E 27th between Park and Lexington Aves. (212) 689-1999  

Clinton Street Baking Company - Comfort food. Clinton Street between Houston and Stanton Street. (646) 602-6263

Decibel - Sake. 9th Street and Second Ave. (Downstairs). (212) 979-2733

Essex - Brunch. $15 includes three drinks. Corner of Essex and Rivington Streets. (212) 533-9616

Frank - Italian. Second Avenue between 4th and 5th. (212) 420-0202

Frankies Sputino 17 - Italian. Brunch. Clinton Street between Houston and Stanton. (212) 253-2303

Grand Sichuan International - Chinese. St. Marks Place and Third Avenue. (212) 529-4800

Great Jones Cafe - Burgers. Brunch. Bloody Marys. Great Jones Street between Lafayette and Bowery. (212) 674-9304

Hasaki - Sushi. 9th Street and Third Avenue. (212) 473-3327

Joe’s Shanghai - Chinese. Soup dumplings. Shanghai noodles. Scallion pancake. Pell near Bowery. (212) 233-8888

Kate’s Joint - Vegetarian. Vegan. Corner of Avenue B and 4th Street. (212) 777-7059

Kitchenette - Comfort food. Chambers between W. Broadway and Greenwich Street. (212) 267-6740

Lombardi’s - Pizza. Skip delivery and eat in. Spring Street between Mulberry and Mott Streets. (212) 941-7994

Mama’s Food Shop - Comfort food. 3rd Street between Aves. A and B. (212) 777-4425  

Max - Italian. Fresh pasta. Avenue B between 3rd and 4th Streets. (212) 539-0111

Meskel - Ethiopian. 3rd Street between Aves. A and B. (212) 254-2411  

Momofuku - Noodles. Pork buns. First Avenue between 10th and 11th. (212) 475-7899   

Nicky’s Vietnamese Sandwiches - Vietnamese sandwiches. 2nd Street between Aves. A and B. (212) 388-1088

Pongal - South Indian. Lexington Ave. between 27th and 28th; also UES location. (212) 696-9458

Shake Shack - Burgers. Shakes. Madison Sqaure Park (Madison and 23rd). (212) 889-6600  

Snack Dragon Taco Shack - Tacos. 3rd Street between Aves A and B.  

Soba-Ya - Japanese. Noodles. 9th Street between Second and Third Avenues. (212) 533-6966

Supper - Italian. 2nd Street between Aves. A and B. (212) 477-7600

Takahachi - Sushi. Avenue A between 5th and 6th Streets. (212) 505-6524   

Yama - Sushi. W. Houston and LaGuardia Place. (212) 674-0935 or Carmine Street and Bleeker Street. (212) 989-9330

I Asked For Scrambled

Luke Chueh, 2003