New York City New York City East Village Food

Veselka, 144 2nd Ave., at E. 9th St. (www.veselka.com), What began in 1954 as a candy shop in the middle of the East Village's Ukrainian community is now a bustling Eastern European delicatessen that somehow escapes dive-delidom (although the prices are more than reasonable). Signs in capital letters behind the counter loudly advertise specialties: cold borscht ($3.50-$4.75) and seasonal pierogies ($7-$11.50). The menu contains classic American food, but US-style lunch and dinner entrees (marinated chicken breast $13), but you might have more fun by focusing on Ukrainian ones such as Ola's Famous Veal Goulash ($15). Entrees $7-15. Soup $3.50-4.75. Sides $3.50. Pastries $0.75-4.75. Breakfast $4-12. Beer $3-6.25. Wine $7-8. Open 24hr. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
Zum Schneider, 107 Ave. C, at 7th St. (www.zumschneider.com), Authentic Germans serving authentic German food and authentic German beers either outside on blue-and-white checkered tablecloths or inside under a brick arch and model trees. The Wiener Schnitzel ($18) is always a good choice, and vegetarians palates will be delighted by the Käsespätzle (homemade spaetzle with cheese and caramelized onion, sans bacon, $15). A good solid Bavarian beer choice is the Hacker Pschorr ($4/$5/$10). Prost! Salads $6-8. Appetizers $3-11. Entrees $14-98. Brunch $8-11. Beer $3-$8. Wine $6-$10. Open M-Th 5pm-2am, F 4pm-4am, Sa 1pm-4am; Su 1pm-2am. Does not take credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
Organic Grill, 123 1st Ave. (www.theorganicgrill.com), If you are not already a vegan or vegetarian, this restaurant may convert you. It's not all soy burgers and salads either, though both are delicious here. Entrees such as the vegan pierogies served in a creamy, cashew sour cream sauce prove that vegans really do have more fun. The party doesn't stop with the entrees either. House-made vegan and raw organic post-meal treats include apple-berry crisps, chocolate cheesecake, and peanut-butter cream pie ($6). Appetizers $7-10. Entrees $10.25-17. Salads $7-12. Sandwiches $9-10. Brunch $4-11.50. Smoothies $6-7.50. Desserts $3-8. Coffee drinks $3-6. Beer $6-8. Wine $7-8. Open M-Th noon-10pm, F noon-11pm, Sa 10am-11pm, Su 10am-10pm. Takes credit cards. Has internet. Serves alcohol.
The Bean, 49½ 1st Ave., on 3rd St. (www.thebeancoffeeandtea.com), A colorful coffee shop with a slew of creative sandwich options ($6-7). The brie and apple on pecan raisin bread is one of the most deliciously unique. You may decide to skip straight to dessert, however, when you see the mammoth cupcakes ($4) in such tempting flavors as Snickers, Oreo, and peanut butter cup. The shop takes care of vegan customers with vegan cupcakes ($3.50) and loaves ($3) as well. Baked goods $3-7. Hot drinks $1.50-4.35. Frozen drinks $2-4.50. Open daily 7am-2am. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Has internet.
Veniero's, 342 E. 11th St., between 1st and 2nd Ave. (www.veniorospastry.com), If you care about cannoli, if you treasure a tart, if you itch for Italian ice and gelato, please, please, please make a stop at Veniero's. Hundreds of irresistible pastries line up before your eyes, and handmade Italian ice and gelato in the back of the store. Have no doubt that this will be some of the best pastry you have ever lusted after—the Veniero family has had about 116 years of practice making it. Pastries $2.25-4.75. Cakes $13-40. Cookies $13-$16 per lb. Coffee and tea $1.50-4.50. Gelato and Italian ice from $2.50. Open M-Th 8am-midnight, F-Sa 8am-1am, Su 8am-midnight. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access.
Mudspot, 307 E. 9th St., between 1st and 2nd Ave. (www.mudtruck.com), A cool indie atmosphere and all-purpose menu with everything from fancy coffee and tea drinks ($1.50-5) to pastries ($2-5) to full sandwiches ($8) and salads ($8-12) make this a popular hangout at all hours of the day and night. The guacamole and chips ($8) is just one of several options to satisfy those late-night munchies. Coffee and tea drinks $1.50-5. Pastries $2-5. Breakfast $4.50-10. Sandwiches $8. Salads $8-13. Desserts $7-8. Beer $5. Wine $6-8. Open M-F 8:30am-midnight, Sa-Su 8am-midnight. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.
Spice Cove, 326 E. 6th St., between 1st and 2nd Ave. Some of the hottest Vindaloo curry in the East Village comes out of this Indian treasure. You can try the famous fiery curry with vegetables, chicken, lamb or beef. If spicy is not your cup of lassi, try the coconut-flavored Malai curry instead. You may be skeptical of an Indian restaurant without a lunch buffet, but the lunch special, which includes soup, an appetizer, an entree, and naan ($6-$7, Tu-Su 12:30-4:30pm) is a steal of a feast. Dinner specials are also available ($14-18). Appetizers $5-8. Salads $5-9. Entrees $9-18. Dessert $3. Beer $3.50-6. Wine $5-6. Open M 4:30-11pm, Tu-Th 12:30-11pm, F-Sa 12:30-11:30pm, Su 12:30-11pm; Lunch special 12:30-4:30pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.
Yaffa Cafe, 97 St. Mark's Place. (www.yaffacafe.com), The decorator of this fine establishment may have been having an identity crisis. At least five different styles of wallpaper cover the walls, several strings of colored lights, and an entire plastic produce section hang from the ceilings, and Colonial, Southeast Asian, and Roman centurion figurines fill up space not taken up by the leopard-spotted booths and sparkly tables. The food is vegetarian and health food-centric, with several chicken, turkey, and seafood options mixed in. Start with a Middle Eastern Platter (hummus, tahini, baba ganoush, $9), then progress to a stir fry (vegetable $10, shrimp $14, chicken $12) or a pasta dish ($10-14). Salads $9-12. Sandwiches, wraps, and burgers $5-10. Appetizers $5-10. Entrees $10-15. Desserts $5.25. Wine $8. Open 24hr. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
Pommes Frites, 123 2nd Ave. (www.pommesfrites.ws), A little Belgian cottage peddling that most European of all snacks, French fries and mayo! And not just plain mayo either. Oh no, they have honey mustard mayo, pesto mayo, roasted garlic mayo, wasabi mayo, Vietnamese pineapple mayo..they ought to call this place the Mayo Clinic. Other condiments include cheese sauce, ketchup, and mustard if you are boring. Regular $4.50. Large $6.25. Double $7.75. Sauces $1 each. Combo of 3 sauces $2.50. Ketchup, especial, frite sauce, vinegar, Tabasco, yellow mustard, chopped raw onion free. Open M-Th 11:30am-1am, F-Sa 11:30am-3:30am, Su 11:30am-1am. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Has outdoor seating.
Moishe's Bake Shop, 115 2nd Ave., between E. 6th and 7th St. You'll find warm pastries sold by even warmer people at this 40-year-old kosher bake shop. If you're lucky, you may even get to meet the jolly Moishe himself. At $0.75, the bagels and bialys have to be some of the cheapest in Manhattan, and Moishe cuts a special deal on a cinnamon or cheese danish with coffee ($2). Try one of four flavors of Hamentashen—they're not just for Purim! ($1-2.50). If you really want to indulge, the matzah-style thin, crispy sugar kichel is superb (2 for $5). Coffee $0.50. Bagels and bialys $0.75. Rugelach $13 per lb. Hamentaschen $1-2.50. Babkas and sugar kitchel 2 for $5. Open M-Th 7am-9pm, F 7am-1hr. before sundown, Su 7am-9pm. Does not take credit cards. Wheelchair access.
Westville East, 173 Ave. A, at E 11th St. (www.westvillenyc.com), A little piece of the Wild West in the middle of the East Village. You can get a 12 oz. char-grilled Newport steak ($17) if you're feeling very West Texas, or stick with the baked challah bread French toast ($9) if you're feeling more New York. Yes, it's a rare establishment that offers both the Hebrew National Hot Dog ($2.50-8) and grilled pork chop ($13). Whichever you choose, a piece of blueberry or apple pie ($5, a la mode no extra charge) will be the perfect way to end your meal. Appetizers $5-10. Salads $6-10.50. Entrees $12-18. Burgers $7.50-11. Hot dogs, and sausages $2.50-10. Desserts $3-6. Brunch $2.50-10. Wine $7-$8.50. Open M-F 11:30am-11pm; Sa-Su 10am-11pm. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has outdoor seating.
Frank, 88 2nd Ave. (www.frankrestaurant.com), At Frank, you can dine on spaghetti ($10) and bruschetta ($3 per piece) amid a hodgepodge of china and black and white pictures of other people's family. Almost every recipe has been contributed by some mysterious family member (“Uncle Tony's Gnocchi,” “Grandma Carmella's tomato and meat gravy,'” etc.) They may not be your Uncle Tony or Grandma Carmella, but they have come up with some delicious recipes, whoever they are. Pasta $10-13. Appetizers $3-13. Entrees $15-18. Sandwiches $10-14. Breakfast $7-11. Desserts $9. Beer $6-16. Open M-Th 10:30am-1am, F-Sa 10:30am-2am, Su 10:30am-midnight. Does not take credit cards. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
Cafecito, 185 Ave. C, between 11th and 12th St. (www.cafecitonyc.com), Feasting on Playa Varadero (boniato hash, bollos, avocado, mixed greens, black beans and white rice, $12), sipping a café con leche ($2.75), and listening to smooth salsa beats amid yellow walls and festive cushions, you may think that you stepped into a little Cuban cafe. If you really want to party Havana-style, stop in anytime Monday or Tuesday night when drinks are $5 each and appetizers are half off. The crispy empanadas ($7.25) border on addictive. Appetizers $4.50-$11. Sandwiches $9-11. Entrees $12-15. Soups and salads $4-14. Open M-W 11am-11pm, Th 11am-noon, F-Sa 11am-2am, Su 11am-11pm. Does not take credit cards. No wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.
Pinisi Cafe and Bakery, 128 E. 4th St., between 1st and 2nd Ave. (www.pinisibakerynyc.com), Lovers of sweets flock to this tiny neighborhood bakery for a slice of its delicious cakes ($5) or a gourmet cupcake. The most popular is the Red Velvet, followed closesly by the Lavender. Individually, these little pieces of frosted perfection are $3 each, but you should probably just buy a dozen, when they drop by 50¢. You can never have too many cupcakes, right? Cupcakes $3. Cake slices $5. Cookies $0.50. Rugelach $2.50. Coffee and tea $1.50-3. Open daily 7am-11pm. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access.
Cucina de Pesce, 87 E. 4th St., between 2nd and 3rd Ave. (www.cucinadepesce.com), Pasta or fish? Pasta or fish? Should I have the pumpkin ravioli ($11) or the monk fish in lobster sauce ($14)? Such will be your struggle when you dine at this Italian eatery. If you can't make up your mind, you can have pasta and fish—just order the seafood lasagna ($14) or the linguini with shrimp and calamari ($15). Problem solved! Only American Express accepted. Appetizers $7-10. Pasta $10-15. Meat $12-19. Fish $14-19. Open M-Th 3:30-11pm, F-Sa 3:30pm-midnight, Su 3:30-11pm. No wheelchair access. Serves alcohol.