Union Square

Bite

1 Bite This outpost of the superb Lafayette Street sandwich-and-coffee shop offers stylish digs and a price-slashed breakfast. Early and late risers can enjoy the $3 Nutella-and-banana ciabatta panino, served from 8:30am on. The delicious, crusty hero-size sandwich is full of melty Nutella and hot, ripe bananas. An extra $1 gets you a strong cup of joe. 211 E 14th St between Second and Third Aves (212-677-3123)

2 Whole Foods Whole Foods Most people don’t go to the prepared-foods section of Whole Foods looking for bargains. Imagine our surprise, then, when we found a killer breakfast sandwich for $2.99. The one with a thick egg patty, turkey sausage and cheddar on a Balthazar brioche bun is a filling steal. For a change of pace, try the buttery, pepper-laden grits—$1.25 for a cup, $1.99 for a pint. 4 Union Sq South between Broadway and University Pl (212-673-5388)

Lunch

3 Barocco Serene, whitewashed Barocco offers a taste of civility in hectic Union Square. For $7.50, an enormous serving of the pasta with chicken—a penne casserole studded with bits of white meat and oozing with Asiago and Swiss cheeses—is the ultimate comfort food. 42 Union Sq East between 16th and 17th Sts (212-254-6777)

4 Chickpea Don’t bother choosing between the shawarma and the falafel: The “shawafel” pita combines your choice of chicken or turkey shawarma (try the latter) with herb-laden, bright-green falafel, chopped salad, hummus, tahini and hot sauce for $5.55. It pairs nicely with $1.50 house-made limonata, a refreshing lemonade spiked with fresh mint. 210 E 14th St between Second and Third Aves (212-254-9500)

5 Philly Slim's The second Philly Slim’s location serves the same ultrasatisfying, cut-above cheese steaks as the first. The Classic is just that: $6.50 for six ounces of top sirloin, fried onions and drippy Cheez Whiz on a nine-inch hoagie roll. 106 University Pl between 12th and 13th Sts (212-989-8281)

6 Vanessa's Dumplings Though this spot’s not as affordable as its Eldridge Street sister, Vanessa’s Dumplings still ups the ante on 14th Street. The beef noodle soup, with doughy noodles, rich broth, spinach and slices of braised beef, is delicious and a serious deal, at $4.99 for—get this—a quart. 220 E 14th St between Second and Third Aves (212-529-1328)

7 Zen Palate David Bouley’s bakery-market, across the street from his haute cuisine flagship, stocks a mouthwatering selection ($5–$12) of salads, pizza, pastries, quiche and unusual sandwiches—like skate wing with shallots, capers and lemon dressing ($7.50). The prices aren’t bargain-basement, but this is a relatively pain-free way to sample the recipes of a world-class chef. 130 West Broadway at Duane St (212-608-5829)

Dinner

8 Piola Head for this Italian-by-way-of-Brazil pizza chain for the wood-oven-baked 12-inch pizzas during the two-for-one happy hour (evenings 5–8). Try the $9.95 carbonara pizza with diced Parma ham, eggs and Parmesan cheese. The $5 sgroppino, a cocktail made with vodka and lemon ice cream, is equally suitable as a premeal drink or postdinner sweet. 48 E 12th St between University Pl and Broadway (212-777-7781)

9 Saigon Grill This soaring space, with its dark wood accents and leafy ferns, looks more like McNally-does-Vietnam than the affordable chain it is. The plush digs make the $10.25 xuong nuong, a large, lemongrass-scented grilled pork chop served with brown rice and a pickle salad, seem like even more of a deal. 91–93 University Pl between 11th and 12th Sts (212-982-3691)
—Gabriella Gershenson

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