Caribbean$$east-villageMon 12:00-16:00, Mon 17:00-23:00, Tue 12:00-16:00, Tue 17:00-23:00, Wed 12:00-16:00, Wed 17:00-23:00, Thu 12:00-16:00, Thu 17:00-23:00, Fri 12:00-16:00, Fri 17:00-00:00, Sat 12:00-16:00, Sat 17:00-00:00, Sun 11:00-16:00, Sun 17:00-23:00
Miss Lily's on Houston Street has run Jamaican island food in SoHo, New York City since 2010. Jerk chicken from the wood smoker, daiquiris from the back bar.
Signature: Jerk chicken, Curry goat
Order: Jerk chicken, rice and peas, fried plantains.
Tip: DJ nights run loud past 22:00. Brunch is the calmer service if you want to talk.
Japanese Izakaya$$$lower-east-sideMon-Thu 17:30-22:00, Fri-Sat 17:30-23:00, Sun 17:30-22:00
Yopparai on Clinton Street runs the Lower East Side's most serious sake bar in New York City. 70 by-the-cup sakes, izakaya snacks, 25 covers.
Signature: Sashimi platter, Sake flight
Order: Sake flight of three small cups and the daily sashimi.
Tip: Sake flights run with three-paragraph notes per pour. Bring patience and a friend who reads.
Greek$$lower-east-sideMon 12:00-23:00, Tue-Sat 12:00-00:00, Sun 12:00-23:00
Kiki's on Division Street has poured retsina and grilled lamb chops in the Lower East Side, New York City since 2014. Priced at $$. Kitchen leans greek.
Signature: Lamb chops, Saganaki
Order: Lamb chops, saganaki, peasant salad.
Tip: Walk in at 17:30 or 22:00 for the only two short waits. The garden out back is the prize.
Sichuan$$east-villageMon-Tue 11:30-22:00, Wed-Sun 11:30-01:00
Han Dynasty's East Village outpost runs Chengdu-style numbing-spicy Sichuan in New York City. The dan dan and the dry pot are the room's calibration plates.
Signature: Dan dan noodles, Dry pot fish
Order: Dan dan noodles, dry pot fish, cucumber salad to cool.
Tip: The spice scale runs 1 to 10; the menu says 7 is hot, the kitchen means it. Start at 5.
Italian$$lower-east-sideFri-Sat 17:00-23:00, Sun-Thu 17:00-22:00
Spaghetti Incident on Eldridge runs a 30-seat pasta room in the Lower East Side, New York City. Order the spaghetti alla chitarra cacio e pepe.
Signature: Cacio e pepe, Spaghetti vongole
Order: Spaghetti alla chitarra cacio e pepe.
Tip: BYOB nights save the bill significantly. Reservations are easy if you sit at 18:00.
Taqueria$chelseaMon-Sat 11:00-22:00, Sun 11:00-21:00
Los Tacos No.1 in Chelsea Market has run Tijuana-style hand-pressed tortillas in New York City since 2013. Priced at $. Kitchen leans taqueria.
Signature: Adobada taco, Carne asada
Order: Adobada al pastor, three tacos with pineapple.
Tip: Order at the till, eat standing at the counter. The Hudson Yards outpost is less crowded for the same taco.