ABC Kitchen (35 E 18th St) Jean-Georges, locally sourced, American; love lunch at the bar. 

Aldo Sohm Wine Bar (151 W 51st St) Great for a light lunch

Balthazar (80 Spring St bet Broadway and Crosby) Lively French bistro

Benoit (60 W 55th St) Alain Ducasse's French bistro

Cafe Luxembourg (200 W 70th St) Small; French comfort food

Four Twenty Five (425 Park Ave) Lovely Jean-Georges restaurant

I Sodi (314 Bleeker St) Italian

Monkey Bar (60 E 54th)

Shuka (38 MacDougal St) Mediterranean

Shukette (230 9th Ave) Mediterranean (kabobs, hummus, breads)

Union Square Cafe (101 E 19th St) Also great for lunch at the bar; broccoli salad is amazing.

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I have become a big fan of banh mi. Saigon Shack (114 MacDougal St) in Manhattan and Bread and Spread in DUMBO have great sandwiches.