1. Lil’ Frankie’s Pizza
19 First Ave., nr. 1st St.; 212-420-4900
Some of the East Village’s best brick-oven pizza, oven-baked pasta, and a great house salad.
2. Otto Enoteca Pizzeria
1 Fifth Ave., at 8th St.; 212-995-9559
The Central Village source for delectable seafood antipasti, seasonal salads, and griddled pizzas topped with everything from balsamic onions and goat cheese to meltingly soft lardo.
3. Da Ciro
229 Lexington Ave., nr. 34th St.; 212-532-1636
Cognoscenti get the dimpled, truffled-scented focaccia robiola at this Murray Hill standby.
4. Shanghai Pavilion
1378 Third Ave., nr. 78th St.; 212-585-3388
The Upper East Side isn’t hurting for Chinese takeout, but this one outcooks and outclasses the rest.
5. Ginger
1400 Fifth Ave., at 116th St.; 212-423-1111
Harlem’s pioneering “healthy Chinese” restaurant bakes its egg rolls and abstains from frying and MSG.