It was with great joy that my husband and I stumbled on Red Horse Cafe. The decorations are chill and modern without being chilly or unwelcoming; seating options include armchairs, couches, window-mounted bars with stools, and traditional cafe tables. The baristas play music at just the right volume that is cool without being obnoxious. There’s free wireless, and you can sit there for hours without anyone bothering you or without feeling like you’re hogging the space.

The coffee, of course, is superb, with every traditional espresso option as well as a myriad of teas, juices, and even wine and beer. There’s also an assortment of tasty pastries and other edibles. Budget conscious? On weekend nights from 7-10pm, selected beers and wines are two-for-one. And their hours are extensive enough to satisfy anyone’s coffee consumption schedule. It’s the kind of neighborhood cafe you’ve only dreamed about – until now.

Red Horse Cafe
497 6th Ave, Brooklyn (at 12th Street)
F/R/M to 9th Street/4th Ave
718.499.4973

Monday – Thursday: 7:00am – 10:00pm
Friday: 7:00am – midnight
Saturday: 8:00am – midnight
Sunday: 8:00am-10:00pm

Grey Dog’s sandwiches are legendary, and rightly so, with dozens of mouthwatering options for everyone, no matter your diet restrictions. They’ve brought in all the best ingredients and put them together in yummy, why-didn’t-I-think-of-that ways; one of my favorites is the apple bacon pressed sandwich with smoked cheese.

The coffee is strong and plentiful, the kind that really fuels a much-needed break with a friend or inspires for the next chapter in your novel. Or, on a cold winter’s afternoon, try out some of their spicy mulled wine. Smoothies, tea, and beer round out the drink selection.

There’s a lot of tables at Grey Dog, but if you stop by at a busy time you may have to wait around. Once you’re there, you can stay for hours. And they’re open late. Grey Dog delivers, as well, for when you need a taste of home, at home.

Update: In July 2007, Grey Dog opened a new location in the East Village! Check it out on University Place at 12th Street.

Grey Dog Cafe
33 Carmine Street (between Bleecker and Bedford Streets)
B/D/F/V or A/C/E to West 4th Street, 1 to Houston Street

90 University Place (at 12th Street)
N/R/Q/W to Union Square/14th Street

Well, when you’re ready to admit it, head down to Paul’s in the East Village for a no-frills, affordable burger with all the traditional trimmings. Paul’s is the kind of place you remember from back home – a bit like a roadside diner, filled with Americana, and serving up burgers, cheesesteak, fries, beer, and milkshakes for a great price (the burgers start at $4.20). Feeling guilty about your diet? You can order a small burger. Out with your guy? There’s a deluxe for him.

And while you’re there, enjoy it. There will always be more salads.

Paul’s
131 2nd Ave between 7th Ave and St. Mark’s
R to 8th Street, 6 to Astor Place
Cash only

With inside and outside seating, including a huge window nook, Philip Marie provides a view of Hudson Street and some excellent cuisine in the “innovative American” genre, guaranteeing both your vegetarian best friend and your meat-and-potatoes brother can happily sup together. They even serve gluten-free options for celiacs. Their brunch (accompanied by live jazz music) focuses equally on breakfast and lunch – so if you got up early and your girlfriend slept in, you can both be happy. The variety spans from salads and omelets to chicken and lobster ravioli to my favorite, a white chocolate French toast.

Philip Marie has two private rooms downstairs for more specialized events. The first is the Tasting Room, an 18th-century farmhouse kitchen that was built over and then unexpectedly unearthed a hundred years later. Up to 20 people can eat in the Tasting Room. And next door is the Wine Room, a two-person private dining room and wine cellar that started life as a door to the tunnels that led to a Speak-easy during the U.S. Prohibition in the 1920s. Be sure to ask your waiter for the full history of both rooms.

Philip Marie accepts all major credit cards. Reservations are accepted, but with a small enough crowd you can usually be seated quickly without one.

Philip Marie
569 Hudson Street at West 11th Street
A/C/E/L/1/2/3 to 14th Street
212-242-6200
Open Tuesday – Sunday
Lunch: 12pm – 4pm
Saturday & Sunday Brunch: 10am – 4pm
Dinner: 4pm – 11:30pm, till 1am Friday and Saturday

Aroma has some of the best espresso in town, as well as standard coffee and espresso drinks that look lovely and taste even better. And what girl wouldn’t love a place that includes a piece of chocolate with every coffee drink? Also on the menu are sandwiches, in half- and full-size, with choices for everyone (vegan? celiac? love meat? they’ve got you covered) and reasonable prices.

Aroma looks a lot like it’s was outfitted by IKEA – sleek and sparse decorations keep the environment fuss-free. And free wi-fi, plenty of electric outlets, lots of seats, and 24-7 service round out the mix for an altogether satisfactory hangout.

Aroma Espresso Bar
160 Wooster Street at Houston Street
B/D/F/V to Broadway/Lafayette
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week

The vibrant main dining room is cozy and warm with its red-checkered tablecloths, framed vintage French cinema posters, neighborly banquettes, charming French waitresses – and their signature onion soup, well, I’ve been to Paris and La Bonne Soupe does compare. For $15.95, dine all the pre-fix, which includes their dinner soup selection, a glass of house wine, a fresh baguette, salad (with a dressing you will want to rob right off the table) and ribbon-whipped chocolate mousse. From the Croque Monsieur with its rich béchamel, to the buttery Filet Au Poivre simmering in a fragrant cognac sauce to the Fondue au Fromage which might very well inspire ecstasy cries, or pleas for seconds – you simply won’t be disappointed.

With prompt, friendly service, downtown prices in a theater location and tender chicken sautéed in a light white wine and butter sauce (did I mention the mousse?), La Bonne Soupe offers a little bit of Paris in the heart of New York City.

La Bonne Soupe
48 West 55th Street
between 5th and 6th avenues
New York, NY 10019
212.586.7650

Stand at the Lincoln Center fountain and look across the street. See the sign for Cafe Fiorello? Good, head there.

Cafe Fiorello is a sophisticated Italian restaurant that glows with shiny dark wood paneling, lots of mirrors, and candlelight. The booths have small signs that say things like “Reserved for Renee Fleming” on the wall. The bread (divine) comes with olive oil for dipping, and if you order a Sprite, it comes in a glass carafe.

The antipasto bar greets you at the door with a colorful riot of seafood and vegetables. Also on the menu is thin-crust pizza, salads, pastas, and other Italian specialties. The food here is amazingly good, and the service matches; you’ll never go wanting, and they’ll bring you more bread if you ask.

Don’t fill up too fast, because dessert is not to be missed. The menu includes such delights as oversized cannolis, amaretto cheesecake, and homemade sorbet. My personal favorite is the chocolate mousse with whipped cream, which the server brings to the table in two big buckets and ladles out till you say “stop”. One bite and you’re in heaven.

During the afternoon you can generally walk in and get a table; however, if you plan to catch an evening performance at Lincoln Center and have dinner afterwards, you can make reservations via the phone or internet. It’s well worth the effort.

Cafe Fiorello
Weekdays, 11:30 am – 1:00 am
Saturdays, 10:00 am – 1:00 am
Sundays, 10:00 pm – 11:30 pm

1900 Broadway between 63rd and 64th Street
1 to 66th Street – Lincoln Center
212.595.5330

Jonathan Rubinstein was working as a talent agent when he realized how difficult it is to find a coffeeshop that focuses on both their atmosphere and their coffee. He opened Joe the Art of Coffee in 2002, and four years later, he’s providing coffee for David Letterman and pulling espresso shots at three successful locations in downtown Manhattan.

There’s no question that the focus is on the coffee here. The hazelnut lattes have rendered me (a confirmed coffee snob) speechless on many occasions. They are big and creamy, with just the right amount of foam, and the baristas are skilled in latte art. Joe also serves some of the best chai in town; my mother, who doesn’t like to drink anything too sweet, will request a trip to get chai when she comes to visit.

The atmosphere is quiet enough for writers and students, despite the steady stream of traffic. The music is always eclectic and at a pleasant background level, and there’s usually a pile of recent issues of the Times and some postcards for indie films.

Joe the Art of Coffee has acquired the undeniable “cool” stamp as well, and it’s not just the Letterman connection. My husband and I have personally bumped into Philip Seymour Hoffman and Jake Gyllenhaal there. And Amy Sedaris bakes the cupcakes.

One caveat: all the locations are relatively small, with about a dozen cafe tables apiece, so you may have to hover for a while to stake a claim on one. But once you’re there, you can stay for hours.

Joe the Art of Coffee
141 Waverly Place at Sixth Avenue
B/D/F/V or A/C/E to West 4th Street
Weekdays 7am-8pm
Weekends 8am-8pm
212.924.6750

9 East 13th Street between Fifth Avenue & University Place
4/5/6 or N/R to Union Square
Weekdays 7am-8pm
Weekends 8am-8pm
212.924.7400

130 Greene Street between W. Houston Street and Prince Street
In the flagship Alessi Store
R/W to Prince or B/D/F/V/6 to Broadway-Lafayette
Weekdays 7am-7pm
Saturday 8am-7pm
Sunday 8am-6pm
212.941.7330

At Red, White, & Bubbly, however, I’m in good hands. Darrin Siegfried, the operating partner, selects the wines carefully and describes them in witty layman’s terms on the tags. The staff is accommodating and refreshingly unpretentious; if you know what you want, they can help you find it, and if you don’t know what you want, they can help you figure it out. And there’s more to this store than wine – they have an excellent selection of liquors, champagnes, and all the accoutrements, all at affordable prices.

For me, Red, White, & Bubbly’s most exciting offering is Darrin’s monthly “best buy 4 pack”. Four wines (generally two red and two white) are selected and boxed and priced at 10% off, and each four-pack is about $32. The store also carries larger hand-selected sets of wines from around the world, and quantities are discounted 10-15%.

In keeping with their “fine wines, great spirits, no attitude” motto, Red, White, & Bubbly holds wine tastings on Fridays and Saturdays, with good snacks and lots of great information. It’s well worth the trip to Brooklyn.

Red, White, & Bubbly
211 5th Ave between Union St & President St
Brooklyn, NY
718-636-9463
Subway: R, M to Union Street

Risotto seems like the perfect fit, warm and creamy and hearty, and Risotteria is the perfect spot for it. With no less than thirty-six savory types of risotto, there’s something for every palate – asparagus and Spanish saffron, calamari and pesto, gruyere and green onions, even roasted leg of lamb and gorgonzola. There are extra creamy, vegetarian, and gluten-free varieties, and they are all reasonably priced between $8.50 and $14.50 for an entrée that will likely satisfy your hunger and leave enough to bring to work for lunch tomorrow.

Besides risotto, Risotteria also serves gourment salads, paninis, and thin-crust pizzas with a variety of unusual toppings. Celiacs will be happy to note that there are gluten-free versions of nearly everything on the menu – even salad dressings and beer. Whether or not you are gluten-intolerant, if you’ve still got room after your meal, try the heavenly gluten-free “fudgie” sandwich cookies, or one of the Italian espresso drinks.

Risotteria offers take-out and delivery. The café-like restaurant is small, and on cold weekend days you may be forced to wait, but it’s well worth it.

Risotteria
270 Bleecker Street at Morton Street
New York, NY
212-924-6664
Subway: B/D/F/V or A/C/E to West 4th Street