New York City New York City Soho and Tribeca Food

Ruben's Empanadas, 505 Broome St. These doughy delights come with tons of different meat, poultry, seafood, and vegetarian fillings. For dessert, try an apple empanada or a guava and cheese empanada ($2.25). Don't miss happy hour, when you can get an the empanada of your choice and wine or beer ($7). Empanadas $4-4.50. Dessert empanadas $2.25. Coffee drinks $1.50-3.50. Wine and beer $5. Open M-F 9am-10:30pm, Sa 9am-10pm, Su 10am-7pm. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.
Bubby's, 120 Hudson St. (www.bubbys.com), Everything you love about the classic American diner: the late hours, the comfort food, etc., except at Bubby's you know that ice cream in your milkshake is homemade using local, fresh ingredients, and the beef for your burger was raised ethically just across the river at Brooklyn's Heritage Foods. Bubby's advice to “save room for pie” (apple, cherry, peanut butter, key lime, and others) should most definitely be heeded. Appetizers $9-12. Entree salads $17-24. Burgers and sandwiches $15-17. Entrees $17-23. Wine $9-10. Beer $5-8. Mixed drinks $10-13. Desserts $2.50-7. Open M 8am-midnight, Tu-Su 24hr. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.
Columbine, 229 W. Broadway (www.columbine229.com), For tasty treats in Tribeca, step into this charming little sandwich- and coffeeshop. Columbine's Jerk Chicken Sandwich ($8) with mango-cilantro relish will add some spice to your day, and the LA COLOMBE espresso will wake you up in no time. The enormous, freshly baked cookies in a variety of flavors will make the perfect dessert or snack. Bakery $2-3.50. Coffee drinks $2-4.50. Soup $5-6.75. Salads and sandwiches $4.50-9.50. Open M-F 8am-6pm. Takes credit cards.
Antique Garage, 41 Mercer St. (www.antiquegaragesoho.com), True to its name, the Antique Garage is located in a former garage filled with, you guessed it, antiques! A red sofa here, a maritime painting there, a smattering of incongruous lighting fixtures scattered around the general premises. The food happens to be of the Mediterranean variety; if you find yourself unable to choose an appetizer, go for the mixed mezze platter ($24-28), which includes humus, tzatziki, circassian chicken, eggplant salad, shepherd salad, and borek. The grilled halloumi cheese salad ($16-18) is beyond delicious. At the end of your meal, the check will be delivered to you in a special antique tin. Appetizers $8-28. Salads $12-20. Entrees $18-28. Sandwiches $10-20. Wine $10-12. Beer $8. Open M-Th noon-11pm, F noon-midnight, Sa 11am-midnight, Su 11am-11pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.
Cubana Cafe, 110 Thompson St. (www.cubanacafeelchulo.com), The walls of this Cuban/Brazilian eatery are painted in the pink, blue, and yellow hues you think of when you visualize Havana. They also hold messages such as “No Cerveza, No Trabajar” and display pictures of children crowded around antique Buicks. Try the palomilla (pounded sirloin marinated in orange, lime, and rosemary, served with onions, rice and beans, $15) or the ensalada de aguacate (avocado, shrimp, mango, and mixed greens, $9). A mango martini ($8) will complement either. Who really needs an excuse for a mango martini? Quesadillas $8-9.50. Sandwiches $4-9.50. Salads $6.50-9. Soup $4.50-7. Entrees $11-16.50. Breakfast $6.50-9. Wine and beer $6.50. Mixed drinks $7-11. Open daily 11:30am-11:30pm. Does not take credit cards. No wheelchair access.
Kelley and Ping Asian Grocery and Noodle Shop, 127 Greene St. (www.kelleyandping.com), Meticulous pyramids of cans of curry paste, jars of exotic loose teas, and rows of terra cotta warriors surround you when you nibble your pan-Asian noodles at the wooden tables of Kelley and Ping. With dishes such as Pad Thai ($8.50-$11), Korean “twice fried” chicken ($14), and Malaysian curried noodles ($10.50-$13), your meal can be a culinary journey through the Asian continent. Load up on cookies and candies ($0.25) for dessert or a snack later. Appetizers $4-14. Lunch boxes $8.50. Soups $8-13. Noodles $11-14. Entrees $13-18. Beer $6. Wine $7. Open daily 11:30am-5pm and 5:30-11pm. Does not take credit cards. No wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.
Jean Claude, 137 Sullivan St. (www.jeanclauderestaurant.com), The chefs at this charming French restaurant devote equal energy on aesthetic and gastronomic aspects of their creations. The menu includes roasted codfish ($18) with roasted potato puree, tomato and caper salpicon, and ginger aromatic sauce and sauteed skate ($17) with couscous, Portobello mushroom, Italian capers, and balsamic vinaigrette. It may be advisable to avoid the vegetarian platter ($15); the portions are meager, though it is very pretty. Appetizers $7-15. Entrees $15-23. Wine $7-10. Prix-fixe (M-Th 6pm-7:30pm) $25. Open M-Th 5:30pm-11pm, F-Su 5:30pm-11:30pm. Does not take credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.
Lupe's East LA Kitchen, 110 6th Ave. (www.lupeskitchen.com), Lupe's offers a Mexican menu that makes an exceptional effort at accommodating vegetarians: they even make tamales with red chili filling ($10.25) and spinach and cheese enchiladas ($10.25). But do not despair, meat eaters; you can have your tamales filled with chicken ($11) and your enchiladas made with beef ($10). Weekend brunch is an exciting time at Lupes, with some offerings that are more “East LA” such as the banana pancakes ($6.50), and others that are south-of-the-border-style such as the chile relleno burrito ($9). Appetizers $1.50-5. Entrees $9-14. Salads $3.25-8.25. Lunch entrees $7-11. Desserts $1.75-3. Margaritas $6. Mojitos $7. Beer $5. Open M-Tu 11:30am-11pm, W-Sa 11:30am-midnight, Su 11:30am-11pm. Does not take credit cards. No wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.
Saluggi's, 325 Church St. An old-fashioned New York pizza joint, complete with checkered tablecloths and indoor street lamps. The fruit of their brick oven can be either menu-prescripted, as in the Blue (gorgonzola, walnuts, mozzarella, and caramelized onions; $14-21) or customized using a list of ingredients that includes all of the usual suspects as well as such innovative toppings as almonds and capicola ($2-3 per topping). Even vegans can enjoy their delicious daiya cheese pizza. A comprehensive assortment of subs, pasta, and other entrees is also available. Appetizers $4-13. Entrees $14-18. Pizza $12-25. Subs $7-12. Beer $5-6. Wine $6-7. Open M-Sa 11am-10pm, Su 11am-7pm. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.