At Taboonette, the newly opened offshoot of Taboon in Hell's Kitchen, pita sandwiches are the focus of the menu. There are classic kebabs and chicken shawarma, but I'm partial to Baked Salmon ($8.75), a filling number that still manages to be light and fresh. More

At Amorino Gelato on University Place you'll find not one, but ten different types of hot chocolate on the menu. My personal favorite? The Hazelnut. More

It's not the most attractive of desserts, especially with that candy red cherry on top. But push aside appearances, and this Ekmek Kataifi at the relatively new Village Taverna is surprisingly good. More

At Otto there's always one dessert on the menu that isn't primarily gelato-based (though there will always be a gelato or sorbet component!). I dropped in over the weekend and was delighted to find Spiced Caramel Panna Cotta ($8) as one of the current fall offerings. More

The current seasonal special is a Fig Mousse Cake. It's pure in flavor, light and borderline foamy, topped with matching gelée. It rests on a thin cake layer that bears an uncanny resemblance to the much-loved Chinese sponge cakes. More

We loved the croissants at Mille-feuille Bakery Café when they first opened, but the more we go back, the more we're convinced this little café is truly special. More

The Adore has been around for awhile, and those familiar with this tiny French-Japanese tea salon/cafe/lunch spot tend to be loyal, myself included. All breakfast pastries and sweets are made in-house, and it's one of the few places in this city that offers a wide selection of Mariage Frerès tea. More

By all accounts El Charro serves a mean sangria and snappy margarita. We're less sure about the nachos, on the menu, perhaps, to please the kids; and the music, a mildly disconcerting medley of Three Doors Down and Stevie Nicks. But the vivid cooking and utter lack of trendiness have their own charms. El Charro is best for: a date to el país viejo. More

It only takes one visit to learn that the bulk of the business at Fredi Sandwich Bar is take-out orders and deliveries. More

While I would feel awkward going into Otto to have just vegetable side dishes ($5 each) as my entree, I've been doing this as part of my takeout meals for years. Known primarily for pasta and pizza, Otto is really best for their vegetable sides—one of my favorite parts (excluding gelato) of the menu. More