Pure Food & Wine, 54 Irving Place (btwn 17 & 18)

I was a vegetarian for a long time. Not a phase lasting a year or two, not a "sometimes" vegetarian, but a full out, ovo-lacto vegetarian. My mother did not dote on this new found obession. She made one dish for the family, and if it had meat, I could make something for myself. Unfortunately, this was in the 90's through early 2000, before vegetarian was "cool" and when there was only 1 brand of soy products that could only be found at a trip to the local health food store. I had tons of cookbooks teaching me how to compensate for the nutrients a healthy diet normally gets from meat, and I tried my hand at a lot of delicious meat substitutes. Then I went to college and started phasing back in fish, then slowly chicken, and during law school, red meat (which I still really only eat out at a restaurant or dinner parties where it's being served). I still incorporate a lot of soy into my diet (I love Smartdogs, Boca Burgers and Morningstar Farms "Sausage" Patties) and when the raw food diet hit New York City, Pure Food and Wine was something I just needed to try.

First off, the space where Pure Food & Wine is was once where I, along with Julia Roberts, used to get our hair done. Not because it was some place fancy, not because I have unruly hair, but because again, it was across the street from where my Aunt lived. So when it turned into a restaurant, we decided to check it out. It had just opened, so there were not a lot of diners in there, but I remember having red wine. I might actually have been too young to drink, but I was with my Aunt, who could be my mother, so I don't think they cared. Then the dishes came out. I loved mine. It was so creative, it was so crunchy (I hate mushy veggies) and so full of flavor. My Aunt did not. I don't know if she's been back since. I decided to return a few years later with some work-friends when the outdoor patio was open. Again, I thought my meal was delicious, I do find it's not a crowd pleaser so, don't take picky eaters here. It's also a little pricey, especially for food that isn't cook and doesn't use expensive meat products. I don't find that so awful, because at least you're putting good food into your body instead of (delicious) fried bites or (delicious) nachos.

WHAT TO BITE? Sweet Corn & Cashew Tamales with Chili Spiced Portabello, $26 and the Salted Caramel Chocolate Tart, $16

Pete's Tavern, 129 E. 18th St. (@ Irving Pl.)

I've been coming to Pete's Tavern since I can remember. My Aunt lives across the street so, when we were kids, our dining options were limited to the area near her apartment, or the area near FAO Schwartz. Pete's is where you go for a no-fuss meal, be it a pot of mussels, a burger, or my personal favorite, brunch.

I know there are a few (crazy) people out there that have a huge disdain for brunch. I am not one of them. Growing up, and still to this day, Christmas is centered around brunch. You got to have the sugary cereal, cinnamon buns and my favorite, bacon. I'm an eggs kind of girl, so a cobb salad marries those breakfast flavors and beefs it up a little bit. There is the bacon, egg and cheese, all on my plate, in a slightly different medium, but delicious all the same.

I was challenged once that Pete's Tavern didn't have a Cobb Salad. I was told I was crazy, that I was mixing up my restaurant and dismissed as not being a reliable source for food information. Well, as you can imagine, that got my goat. I immediately pulled up menupages on my iPhone and showed in big bold letters under the Brunch Menu "Pete's Cobb Salad". Pete's is unassuming. They serve consistent good food made by methods I can only imagine have been used since the place opened in 1864.

WHAT TO BITE? Pete's Cobb Salad (brunch only!), $7.95 or a charcoal grilled burger, $9.95.