Battery Park City Specialty

Co-owned by two brothers from San Francisco—who were dismayed by the dearth of good Mexican spots in NYC—the emphasis here is on the basics: Tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and burritos-in-bowls. The ingredients are fresh and local, and the flavorings are equal parts subdued and complex. This spot is popular: There are now 8 in New York City.

This 30,000 square-foot French-style food hall offers a bustling market (divided into different “districts," from a café, to an ice cream shop, to an ample salad and prepared food section, to a fish shop, to a rotisserie chicken bar, to a section for cheese, to a candy story, etc.) and multiple restaurants. There’s Le Bar, which as its name suggests is best for a glass of wine and share plates (open until 2am), and then the gigantic Beaubourg, with views of the water and standard bistro fare. The second restaurant, L’Appart is set to open soon: It will be tiny (only 28 seats) and helmed by an El Bulli trained chef.

No matter that no more than five people can fit in Olive's at once (and that it's really easy to miss when walking by), the sandwiches, soups, and salads here are mighty: While the offerings change daily, you can always count on a pretty delicious (and hearty) turkey sandwich, or a chopped salad packed with everything you could ever want. There's now a location in Battery Park City.

Black Seed draws big crowds, which we totally get: The hand-rolled, wood-fired bagel sandwiches are actually easy to eat (they’re much smaller than their brethren), and for the most part, they’re great—particularly for those times when the only thing that will satisfy is a bagel sandwich. Favorites include: beet-cured gravlax, a basic tuna salad, Tobiko spread, and the egg salad (though it’s heavy on the dill). The original location is in Nolita, and there's another in the East Village.

This newcomer is drawing big crowds, which we totally get: The hand-rolled, wood-fired bagel sandwiches are actually easy to eat (they’re much smaller than their brethren), and for the most part, they’re great—particularly for those times when the only thing that will satisfy is a bagel sandwich. Favorites include: beet-cured gravlax, a basic tuna salad, Tobiko spread, and the egg salad (though it’s heavy on the dill). The original location is in Nolita, and one is coming in the East Village soon.