Pizzeria$$financial-districtMon-Sun 11:00-22:00
Pizzeria Libretto University on University Avenue is the downtown business-lunch branch of the AVPN-certified Neapolitan chain, vegan and gluten-free pizzas.
Signature: Margherita, Vegan and gluten-free pies
Order: The Margherita or the Diavola with hot calabrese salami.
Tip: Lunch the easier walk-in. The downtown crowd thins after 14:00.
Italian$$little-italyDaily 09:00-02:00
Cafe Diplomatico on College Street is Little Italy's reference patio room since 1968, wood-fired pizza and veal sandwiches with the city's longest-running.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, Veal sandwich
Order: The veal sandwich and an espresso at the patio bar.
Tip: Patio seats fill by 18:00 in summer. Inside booths take walk-ins year-round; the espresso bar opens at 09:00.
Pizzeria$little-italyTue-Sat 11:00-22:00
Bitondo Pizzeria on Clinton Street has run a Little Italy storefront since 1960, panzerotti and meatball sandwiches with hot sauce and sweet peppers.
Signature: Panzerotti, Meatball sandwich
Order: The panzerotti, folded over and fried with mozzarella and tomato.
Tip: Cash only. Closed Sundays and Mondays. The tiny room seats six; most customers eat on the curb.
Italian$$$$yorkvilleDaily 17:30-22:30
Sotto Sotto on Avenue Road has run Roman-style Italian below street level in Yorkville since 1993, chef Massimo Renzi's fresh pasta in an exposed-brick room.
Signature: Fresh pasta, Veal piccata
Order: A handmade pasta of the day and the veal piccata.
Tip: Drake's photo hangs on the wall and he eats here. Book ahead; the room seats 50 tightly.
French bistro$$$distillery-districtMon-Thu 11:30-22:00, Fri-Sat 11:30-23:00, Sun 10:00-22:00
Cluny on Tank House Lane is the King Street Food Co.'s French bistro in the Distillery District since 2014, steak frites and an attached boulangerie.
Signature: Steak frites, Plateau de fruits de mer
Order: The steak frites and a glass from the all-French list.
Tip: The patio runs onto cobblestones in summer. Sister boulangerie next door for takeout viennoiserie.
Modern Mexican$$$distillery-districtSun-Thu 11:30-23:00, Fri-Sat 11:30-00:00
El Catrin on Tank House Lane in the Distillery District runs Mexican tapas with Canada's largest mezcal and tequila collection, plus a Sergio Sanchez mural.
Signature: Tapas-style Mexican plates, Mezcal flights
Order: The cochinita pibil tacos and a flight of mezcal espadin.
Tip: The 400-seat patio is the largest in the Distillery District. Brunch service Saturday and Sunday.