Moustache

This beloved cheap-eats haven serves some of the city’s best Middle Eastern food in all three of its Manhattan locations. The original West Village dining room packs in a neighborhood crowd nightly—it’s not unlikely to see a line outside, since reservations are not taken. But it’s worth the wait. Freshly baked pitas, still puffed up with hot air when served, are perfect for scooping up the smoky baba ghanoush. Sample the ouzi—rice, chicken, vegetables and raisins cooked in delicate phyllo—and rejoice in evading Village tourists.