Restaurants: Zucco le French Diner

*Zucco le French Diner
LOWER EAST SIDE
188 Orchard St., nr. Houston St.
F/V to 2nd Avenue, F/JMZ to Essex Street
Mon-Sat, noon-midnight; Sun, 11am-11pm

Zucco himself is raffish and awesome. The place is tiny, cool and serves basic, rich, traditional French food all day long. You can come early(ish) for cafe au lait and a tartine, any time for an espresso, or in the evening for escargots, steak frites and a glass of wine. There are a few tasty vegetarian options, by the by, although no one who's revolted by the smell of cooking meat should attempt it. Even when the neighborhood is at its horrible worst on weekend nights, the vibe here stays good.

Restaurants: Cafe Sabarsky

Cafe Sabarsky
UPPER EAST SIDE
1048 Fifth Ave. nr. 86th St.
Subway: 4/5/6 to 86th Street

The Neue Gallery is a great museum, but Sabarsky is worth a visit no matter what. It's not just the best place for a bite around here, but one of the best in the city. The cafe is a replica of an elegant Viennese pastry shop, and the sweets are amazing. It gets crowded in the afternoons, but it's worth holding out for a table in the upstairs cafe for a coffee and a piece of strudel. It's also wonderful for breakfast, and never crowded. Plus, you can get a jump on the museum lines!

Restaurants: LEXINGTON CANDY

Lexington Candy
UPPER EAST SIDE
1226 Lexington at 83rd Street
Subway: 4/5/6 to 86th Street
An oasis of semi-normalcy on the UES, the LCS is a 20's-vintage luncheonette, a perfect spot for cinnamon toast and cocoa, or a cup of coffee or a soda between museums.
SNACKS/REST STOPS; OLD NEW YORK; BREAKFAST