Benny's Burritos

Benny's Burritos - 93 Avenue A (6th Street) (US-Mexican)
A small cafe offering a wide range of Mexican entrees - including nachos, quesidillas, tacos and enchiladas - as well as their namesake burritos. The options at Benny's are impressive, with fillings ranging from shrimp to chicken to soy. (Alternative diners take note - Benny's is very veg-friendly, offering both soy cheese and tofu sour cream for no extra cost.)

Portions are hearty. Prices are Village standard, running from $7.25 to $13 (for a burrito with the works.) The taste itself runs neck and neck with Chipotle - neither is transcendant, but the grub is good and satisfying enough for a quick bite.

A Salt and Battery

A Salt and Battery - 80 Second Avenue (British) (Second location at 112 Greenwich Avenue)
An English fish n' chips shop near the heart of St. Marks. I haven't had entrees there - my main attraction to this place is their infamous deep fried Mars Bar dessert. Yes, you heard right. A deep fried Mars Bar. Around Easter, they also have deep fried Cadbury Eggs. Extremely unhealthy, but quite yummy. Not Asian, but definitely a must-try.

Zip Burger

Zip Burger - 300 E. 52nd Street (1st/2nd Avenue)
A hip looking burger shop located in midtown east. The menu offers a full array of gourmet options - including sourdough bread, whole wheat buns, and a nice choice of "extras" (such as roasted peppers and grilled mushrooms.) The veggie burger is tasty - made from a combination of lentils, barley and vegetables. (A word of warning - the texture is mushy, and liable to fall apart in your hands!) A good burger - but the prices made me nostalgic for a Chinatown Banh Mi. $5.00 and up for a patty? Now that's just wrong!!!

Say Cheese

Say Cheese - 649 9th Avenue (45/46th) - American Comfort Food
A cute little establishment, specializing in Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. Tasty, and sure to bring back warm memories of childhood, they even have soy cheese options – perfect for vegans in the group. A fun Hell’s Kitchen stop (much better than neighboring Bali Nusa.)

Panini Tost Cafe

Panini Tost Cafe - 589 1st Avenue (Sandwiches)
Not Asian, but one of the few places in my work area that I was able to find a Cubano sandwich. Not bad - don't know if it was authentic, but they were nice.

Chipotle

Chipotle - 150 E. 52nd Street (Lexington and 3rd) (and a host of other locations) (American-Mexican)
A popular Mexican chain, located at branches throughout the city. The philosophy at Chipotle is simple - specializing in customizable burritos, served at a fast food pace (lines are long, but tend to move quick.)

While not gourmet, the result isn't bad: enormous burritos - packed with chicken, beef and veggie versions -at a relatively cheap $6.00 and up per serving.

Okay, they're not authentic - but these babies do taste good, and they'll fill you up for hours!

Katz's Deli

Katz's Delicatessan - 205 E. Houston Street (Ludlow)
A good old fashioned Jewish Deli, practically unchanged from the days of the great Depression - even down to the ticket method of payment. (The routine is part of the charm. Various lines are formed at the counter - with different queues for hot dogs, sandwiches, egg creams or other. Customers receive a ticket at the entrance, marked manually with the prices of every order. The spirit is self-serve: grab your food, grab a table - hold onto your ticket, and pay on the way out.) Used in the famous "When Harry Met Sally" scene, Katz's is full of Kitch...not to mention Kugel, Latkes, Matzo Balls and more. The hotdogs at Katz's are good. Rumor has it that the pastrami is heavenly. You'll have to discover that one for yourself - at $12 a plate (and my pescetarian status) - that's one item I didn't try.

Subway

Subway (American)
A well known fast-food chain, offering a range of heros...from chicken and ham to roast beef. Though a true review would be out of place, it's worth noting that the Veggie Delight Sandwich isn't half bad--especially with a wrap--offering hungry pedestrians a decent quick-bite option...definitely a few steps up from McDonalds!

Viva Herbal Pizzeria/Cafe Viva

Viva Herbal Pizzeria - 179 2nd Avenue (11th/12th Street)(Pizza)
Cafe Viva - 2578 Broadway (97th Street)

A small Italian franchise specializing in organic, vegetarian/vegan versions of all the classics - including Stromboli, Calzones, Ravioli and Gourmet Pizza. Made with whole wheat, spelt and even corn meal crusts, the slices look particularly good. Heavily layered, versions include Il Fiore (grilled eggplant, onions and roasted pepper) and Canja (made with Hempseed Needs, Miso Tofu, and Basil). On my visit, I tried the Zen Vegan - made with Green Tea Miso-Tofu, Shittake Mushroom and Sundried Tomato. Though beautiful, the taste was bland - impacting only minimally on my taste buds, despite an impressive range of ingredients. Dessert--a small chocolate snowball--was equally plain, and chewy (with only the slightest hint of sugar.) In both cases, better versions could have been had at Whole Earth Bakery. That's too bad - 'cause I'd been looking forward to trying the ravioli!

S'Mac

S’Mac – 345 E. 12^th Street (1^st and 2^nd Avenues)
Decked in bright oranges and yellows, this new eatery follows in the footsteps of neighboring Otafuku – focusing on one menu item, though with a strikingly American focus. Located in the East Village, the specialty at S’Mac is Macaroni and Cheese, served in a variety of flavors. There are ten basic themes on the menu – from American Style to 4 Cheese or Cajun. Build your own options are also available, featuring optional ingredients from breadcrumbs, to meats and veggies. Though service can be somewhat slow, the dishes are satisfying. While not as stick to the ribs cheesy as Kraft, S’Mac offers a great trip down memory lane, which can be fun now and then. Now, where did I put that Okonomiyaki?

Zen Burger

Zen Burger - 465 Lexington Avenue (between 45th and 46th) (Veggie)
While *some* people have knocked this place as just another fast food joint, I have to say that I like it for what it is - a decent spot in midtown that offers good ole junk food - vegan/veggie style. Yup, at Zen Burger you can get veggie burgers (of course), as well as "chicken fingers", fries, and soft serve vegan ice cream. If you feeling like going just a little more healthy, there are wraps too...with fillings such as thai veggie and faux tuna. Call me low brow, but I like the place. It's a fun change of pace, the idea is great...and it's a hell of alot closer during the week than Brooklyn or any of the usual veggie joints in the village. If there's any negative to the place, it's that there really aren't many vegan options...just the Thai Wrap, the ice cream, and one or two other items. But at least they're identified (with a little V on the menu), and that's a decent start right there...

Zen Burger, I like your style - even if I ending up indulging only occasionally!

Tiny's Giant Sandwich Shop

Tiny's Giant Sandwich Shop - 129 Rivington Street (off Norfolk) (Vegetarian-Friendly)
Located on the corner of Rivington and Norfolk - a cute little joint serving a variety of classic sandwiches, with alternative veggie versions. The menu range is impressive, offering competant omni/veggie versions of chicken parmesan, BLTs, ham and swiss, and even grilled chicken po' boy (vegetarian - but unfortunately not vegan.) The veggie burger--known as Big Mack Daddy-- is particularly noteworthy, offering real comfort food flavor and feel...with a solid tasty bun, and just a hint of smoky aroma. Like most veggie burgers, BMD does tend towards mushiness, with a general inability to hold together after the first few bites (an ailment that I like to call TMB - the Too Mushy Blues.) Prices are good - especially for the area - with half size sandwich options starting around $4.50. Is Tiny's worth a special trip? Maybe not - but the food is competant, and solidly tasty. So if you're in the neighborhood, give it a shot. Whether you're vegetarian or carnivorous, there's plenty to choose from.

Slice

Slice, The Perfect Food - 1413 2nd Avenue (73rd/74th) (Pizza)

A little pizza shop on the upper eastside, selling up slices with a twist - fresh/organic ingredients...and lots and lots of options. The menu offers plenty of premade variations - from plain (the simpleton) to Barbeque Chicken or Taste of India (chickpeas, tomatoes and onions.) Customers can also mix n' match with different toppings, crusts and cheese (they're very vegan friendly at Slice, offering up both soy and vegan-cheese as alternative toppings. There's even lactose free parmasan at the counter!) The vibe is friendly - complete with the (occasional) free sample. Now, this ain't your Grandma's pizza pie - made from honey whole wheat crust, spelt or rice, the crusts are wafer thin, and best described as crackers. They're also somewhat weak, and hard to handle with the toppings that go on some of the slices. (I had a few collapse in my lap.) Though the slices run towards small--and look something like school cafeteria pizza--they are tasty, and surprisingly filling. (Some of them are also cut up into neat little sub-triangles, which just looks cute.)

The downside? The cost is...er...upper eastside compatible, running up to $6.00 for a single slice. Really not quite worth the full bang for your buck. (My neighborhood joint Nicky's makes a slammin' good slice--about the size of a small horse--for $4.50.) And that's a shame, 'cause Slice is a neat concept. If only more pizza shops offered soy cheese alternatives!

Peanut Butter & Co.

Peanut Butter and Co - 240 Sullivan Street (off Bleeker)
Recently, my culinary whims have been steering me towards specialty shoppes - novelty establishments with one or two items on the menu (both Asian and American). A surprising number of such places exist in New York, fetishing comfort foods such as:

Okonomiyaki's (Otafuku)
Macaroni and Cheese (S'Mac)
Grilled Cheese Sandwichs (Say Cheese)

Located in the West Village, PB&C continues the trend - offering a million and one ways to make that American culinary staple, the peanut butter sandwich. Pricier than your mother's PB, the $6 - $7 items on the menu run from classic sandwiches, to Fluffernutters with marshmellow fluff. Other artery clogging offerings include peanut butter with chocolate, jelly or nutella - on a variety of breads from bagel to wheat (vegan options available.) The service is pleasant -and though expensive, these munchies are filling - having ordered the cookie dough sandwich, I found it tasty - but too rich to eat more than half.

Given the cost, places such as Peanut Butter & Co. are destined to remain novelty acts. Good for one evening out on the town, but unlikely to garner repeat business. Still - its a cute idea...nicely presented. Besides, any place offering a menu item called "The Elvis" wins a spot in my memory book - for creativity at least.