Le Pain Quotidien

100 Grand Street at the corner of Mercer Street in Soho (212) 625-9009. There are five other locations in New York City. Subway: J, M, Z, N, Q, R, W, 6, A, C, E to Canal Street. Monday - Friday 7:30am - 7:00pm; Saturday, Sunday 8:00am - 7:00pm. Average sandwich $8.50. Some locations are cash only.

There are many reasons to follow your nose to the Soho franchise of Le Pain Quotidien: The sandwiches, such as the brie with pecans or the jambon de Paris (imported Parisian ham with three different kinds of mustard; the organic products (olive paste, pastas and jams); the Belgian hazelnut-chocolate spread that gives Nutella a run for its money; and the breads - the shops offer large rye and wheat rounds, baguettes and a smaller round of wheat with walnuts (everything is baked at the Soho flagship). But French pastry is reason No. 1 (if you're dubious, there are two locations of the chain bakery in Paris and several in Belgium, home of chef-owner Alain Coumont). Pull up a chair at the infamous wooden communal table, because you'll need to be sitting when you take a bit of the proscuitto sandwich with seasonal melon. After a delectable sandwich and cup of soup, treat yourself to an espresso and a lemon tart to cleanse the pallet and start you afternoon off on a sweeter note.
www.painquotidien.com


Ping's Restaurant

22 Mott Street between Mosco and Pell Street (212) 602-9988. Subway: J, M, Z, N, R, Q, W, 6 to Canal Street. Monday - Thursday 10:00am - midnight; Friday, Saturday 10:00am - 2:00am; Sunday 9:00 - midnight. Average main course $11.00. AmEx, MC, V.

Winner of TONY's 2001 best Chinese award Ping has definitely made it's mark. When you sit down at Ping's, a waiter offers you a hot hand towel to clean your paws before you wrap them around the menu of exotic dishes like braised abalone, shark's fin soup and sesame-flavored jellyfish, Chef and owner Chung Ping Hui expertly cooks topflight dishes from his native Hong Kong, which highlights items which can occasionally make Westerners blanch. But you don't have to go for pig's stomach; Scallops, coated in a pungent glaze of black-pepper sauce, are simply prepare but full of flavor. As the dim-sum carts are rolled around at lunch be prepared to feast, without doing much damage to your wallet. If you know what to ask for several specialty dishes can be made on request. For those who want to steer clear of meat the vegetarian dishes offer taste sensations that garanteed to deliver.



Murray's Cheese Shop

257 Bleeker Street at Cornelia Street (212) 243-3289 Subway: A, C, E, F, to West 4th Street; 1, 9 to Christopher Street - Sheridan Square. Monday - Saturday 8:00am - 8:00pm; Sunday 9:00am - 6:00pm. All sandwiches are $5.95. AmEx, MC, V.

The late dean of downtown cheese, Murray Greenberg, would be proud of the way his shop has held up since he gave it up in 1980 after 41 years at the helm. Originally bought by Louis Tudda, an Italian immigrant, the store continued as a neighborhood legend and maintained its reputation for excellent products and service. In 1990, Tudda sold the shop to its third and current owner Robert Kaufelt, who moved in a few doors down the street. The selection of cheeses is tremendous (Daniel and Jean-Georges buy here), but not intimidating; Kaufelt is constantly behind the counter patiently fielding questions. The American and Spanish artisanal cheese varieties are impressive and their sandwiches are impeccable. Grab one and take it down the street to the park to enjoy a captivating lunch while tourist go buy on their buses wishing they were in your shoes.
www.murrayscheese.com



Moustache Cafe

90 Bedford Street between Barrow and Grove Streets (212) 229-2220. Subway: 1, 9 to Christopher Street - Sheridan Square. Noon - 11:00pm. Average main course $9.00. Cash only.

More than just affordable, tiny Moustache is one of the most enjoyable restaurants in the city. Find a seat behind one of the copper-topped tables or enjoy the garden at the West Village location. The food is Middle Eastern, and so is the staff. Order a basket of steaming hot pita ($1.00 each) and savor a melange of salads, all of which are excellent. Try the spinach-and-chickpea salad, the ultra smooth hummus topped with olive oil and ground sumac, or the tabouli - heavy on the parsley and easy on the cracked wheat, like it is back in Beirut, Amman or Damascus. Entrees include "pitzas" with a variety of toppings (the lahambajin, with highly spiced lamb, is a winner) and ouzi, a small football of pastry stuffed with basmati rice, pieces of chicken, raisins, peas and carrots. Once the food arrives you'll only thought will be scooping up the baba ganoush.