New York City New York City Greenwich Village Food

Caffe Dante, 79 MacDougal St. (www.caffe-dante.com), Caffe Dante's Italian ambience has been attracting the Village's artists, intellectuals, and other passersby since 1915. After almost a century, national pride is evident in the Italian-themed murals lining the walls and the old Italian photographs mounted next to them. And of course, there's the food: the entree menu includes a wide range of panini; the dessert selection mixes Italian pastries with always-popular gelato; and the bar is well-stocked with vino. Come to soak up the sunshine in outdoor seating during good weather, to warm up during winter, or to unwind at night. Entrees $7-12. Desserts $3-7. Gelato $7.75. Hot drinks $1.50-5. Open daily 10am-2am. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has air conditioning. Has outdoor seating.
Creperie, 112 MacDougall St. (www.creperienyc.com), It's easy to miss Creperie—a small hole in the wall with bright yellow-red walls and just two small counters along the side—but that's no excuse. One of Greenwich Village's best takeout options has a huge menu that belies its tiny size. Every crepe you've ever imagined is available here, from veggie options, with fillings like sautéed mushrooms, to sweet and fruity ones of sugar and lemon, baked apple, blueberry and banana, to the heavy-hitting savory classics of smoked turkey, or sautéed chicken. Cap it off with a chocolate dessert filling or just knock yourself out and ascend to heaven with a chocolate brownie, chocolate fudge, ice cream, banana, and whipped cream treat. Yes, that's one crepe. Veggie crepes $7-9, sweet and fruity crepes $4-8, savory crepes $7-11, chocolate crepes $7-11. Open M-Sa 9am-3am, Su 9am-2am. Does not take credit cards. Wheelchair access.
Mamoun's Falafel, 119 MacDougall St. (www.mamouns.com), Mamoun's has been supplying Village crowds with delicious Middle Eastern for four decades—all with barely enough room to fit a few tables and the lines constantly arriving for some of the city's most renowned falafel and shawarma dishes. Sandwiches and platters stuffed with baba ghanoush, tabbouleh, and kebab go for relatively cheap prices. You can add some flavor with some of Mamoun's own hot sauce ($3.50 per bottle). Sandwiches $2.50-5. Platters $5-10. Open daily 11am-5pm. Does not take credit cards. Wheelchair access.
French Roast, 78 W. 11th St. at 6th Ave. (www.frenchroastny.com/downtown), A vision of Paris in downtown Manhattan, the French Roast Cafe mimics the look and feel of a French cafe right down to the circular outdoor tables. Gallic memorabilia lines the walls, and the menu follows suit with dishes like ratatouille, croques monsieur, and sautéed spinach. In a trans-European spirit, a wide range of pastas and gelato are also available. And best of all, the cafe never sleeps: its 24/7 schedule makes the cafe both a nightspot and an ideal, caffeine-laden hangover center. Coffees $2-5. Entrees $11-20. Open 24hr. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Has internet. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
Bleecker Street Pizza, 69 7th Ave. (at Bleecker St.) (www.bleeckerstreetpizza.com), Jimmy Kimmel, Regis Philbin, and the Food Network have all sung the praises of this celebrated Village eatery. But the hurried servers, long lines, and plain tables mark it as a regular no-frills pizzeria peddling a simply excellent product. Crowds of returning addicts testify to its power—just watch for the small red building on the corner of Seventh Ave. and Bleecker, enter, and never forget it again. Slices $2.50-3.25. Whole pizza $17.50-22. Toppings $0.75 each. Heroes $7-8. Sandwiches $5-6. Open M-F 10am-2am, Sa 10am-5am, Su 10am-2:30am. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has outdoor seating.
Faela Cubana, 543 LaGuardia Pl. (www.faelacubana.com), Faela Cubana is worth entering just for its look alone: exuberant murals depicting Havana street scenes line the walls, while an etching of Pele by the door lies just below a signed Pele jersey. It's a good introduction to the menu itself, which boasts an eclectic mix of Brazilian and Cuban items. Entrees include picadillo habana (ground turkey), “Castro's lechour,” (pulled pork), and frango i parema (Brazilian-style half-chicken). For breakfast, you can try the favela eggs or go Caribbean with simple Cuban eggs. Wash it down with a healthy sampling from the large Sangria jug on the counter. Sandwiches $8-12. Entrees $11-20. Open daily 9am-11:30pm. Does not take credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has air conditioning. Has outdoor seating.
Bamboleo, 170 Bleecker St. (at Sullivan St.) This exuberant cantina is boldly decorated and has a menu to justify it. Dozens of chimichangas, enchiladas, burritos, and tacos can be had for affordable prices, making this one of Greenwich Village's main destinations for genuine Mexican deliciousness. And nothing goes with enchiladas (or constant futbol on TV) like sangria, mojitos, margaritas, and tequilas, all of them cheaper here than at many other eateries of its kind. Tacos $2.50-4. Soups $4-5. Entrees $8.50-11. Lunch special $8. Drinks $6-10. Open M-Th noon-midnight, F-Sa noon-1am, Su noon-11pm. Lunch special M-F noon-3pm. Happy hour daily 3-7pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.
Meskerem, 124 MacDougall St. The steep staircase leading down to this low-lying restaurant looks treacherous, but it's more than worth it. Forget utensils: like any genuine Ethopian restaurant worth its alech, Meskerem provides you with more than enough imbeche (a spongy type of bread) to scoop up bite-size portions of its delicious entrees. Though meat is the star here—try the shro wat, ground chicken in barbeque sauce, or the goven beswegu, prime beef with garlic—Meskerem offers a range of veggie options for herbivores (like lentils in garlic and olive oil). Entrees $8-14. Open daily 11:30am-11:30pm. Lunch special M-F 11:30am-3:30pm. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has air conditioning.
Quantum Leap, 226 Thompson St. (http://quantumleaprestaurant.com">http://quantumleaprestaurant.com'>http://quantumleaprestaurant.com), Quantum Leap has been feeding the vegetarian hordes of Greenwich Village and NYU since 1974, and it's not showing any signs of slowing. This is your first stop for barbecue vegan chicken, Zen platters, quinoa bowls, and, of course, the mandated veggie burgers. There's also an enticing selection of homemade desserts. Get semi-meaty with their salmon and dangerous with their ales and wines. Entrees $8-11. Open M-F 11:30am-11pm, Sa 11am-11pm, Su 11am-10pm. Does not take credit cards. No wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has air conditioning.
Magnolia Bakery, W 11th St. and Bleecker St. (magnoliabakery.com), Immortalized in “Lazy Sunday” and Sex and the City, the Magnolia has been drawing massive crowds into its tiny space for years, making it a West Village landmark. A teeming variety of freshly made cupcakes are the main highlights, with flavors ranging from ginger to pecan to peach, but a slew of other near-orgasmic pastry options make this a must-visit if you're in the neighborhood. Cupcakes $2.50-4. Other pastries $3-7. Open M-Th 9am-11:30pm, F-Sa 9am-12:30am, Su 9am-11:30pm. Does not take credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has air conditioning.