Lexington Avenue and 59th Street

1 Juan Valdez Café This coffee joint sells a fine pan de bono, Colombian cheese bread, for just $1.95. Warmed up, its crunchy brown exterior surrounds a moist, chewy and mildly cheesy center. Add an iced double shot of espresso for $1.45. 140 E 57th St between Lexington and Third Aves (917-289-0981)

Lunch

2 Burke in the Box At Bloomingdales’ low-key outpost of celeb chef David Burke, $5.75 buys a refreshing, aromatic gazpacho. Save the free bag of tortilla chips for later and try the chef’s fries ($2.95) instead. 150 E 59th St between Lexington and Third Aves (212-705-3800)

3 Katagiri Japanese Grocery Mix and match a luncheon smorgasbord for unheard-of prices at this quaint market. Fresh mackerel melts in your mouth ($2.50) and chunks of panko-crusted chicken are practically creamy ($2.50 gets you about five pieces). Add some onigiri ($1.50)—triangles of sushi rice flecked with edamame or others wrapped in seaweed and filled with tuna and mayo—to complete the feast. 224 E 59th St between Second and Third Aves (212-755-3566)

Dinner

4 Yuva This Indian restaurant makes a mean chicken tikka masala—tandoor-roasted chicken in a smooth and spicy tomato sauce. The $15 tag includes heaps of basmati rice. Prices go up if you dine in, so opt for takeout and invite a friend or two over—one order is enough to share. 230 E 58th St between Second and Third Aves (212-339-0090)
—Alissa Dicker

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