EAST VILLAGE. The line out the door will show you that vegans and carnivores agree ­ Angelica Kitchen is a wonderful dining experience. Anyone worried that vegetarian fare isn't filling hasn't tried the sweet potato croquettes flavored with pecans, garlic, fennel and caraway, with an onion-dill glaze. Other filling favorites are the hot, open-faced tempeh sandwich and the "dragon bowl" composed of steamed sea veggies, rice, beans and tofu. Don't forget to save room for the delectable desserts ­ the lemon-almond torte wins raves among regulars. Cash only. Casual dress.

LOWER EAST SIDE. Most thank the stars that this Little Italy dive is open 24 hours a day! Serving a variety of Turkish dishes, Bereket is a favorite of everybody from cabbies to East Village hipsters. First-timers will probably want to try the lamb or chicken kebabs and falafels. Seasoned veterans, though, will opt for the patlican kizartma (fried eggplant and peppers), Turkish pizza or leek stew. Make sure you check out the daily specials. You wouldn't want to miss something like Wednesday's moussaka, now, would you? Reservations are not accepted. Save room for the baklava or rice pudding ­ they're always fresh. TRAIN: F to 2nd Ave

CHELSEA. This upscale Chelsea eatery brings together the spices of two continents - North America and Asia. Offering an interesting yet tasting hodgepodge of Tex-Mex and SE Asian cuisines, the Bright Food Shop draws a surprisingly large neighborhood crowd every day. Featured entrées include unique takes on seafood, fish and fowl dishes - think Vietnamese duck with taquitos or eggplant quesadilla. Make sure you bring plenty of green, as they don't accept credit cards or checks. TRAIN: C, E, F to 23rd St

UPPER EAST SIDE. Italian-American cuisine served up in a select, prestigious atmosphere. A celebrity favorite, Elio's draws folks who come here to see and be seen. When you're not counting heads and networking, you can dive into the pasta and veal parmigiana. When ordering, you can't go wrong! Reservations recommended. TRAIN: 4, 5, 6 to 86th Street.

LITTLE ITALY. Find yourself craving Ethiopian food? Well, this neat little restaurant, located just outside the cozy confines of SoHo, has just the fix you need. Ghenet offers little in the way of atmosphere, but that is not why steady crowds of people have continued to flock here over the years. You'll want to take time to savor traditional favorites like injera (a bread that's great for scooping), yebeg wot (lamb stew) and the spicy yeshiro wett, a vegetarian's dream. Reservations suggested. TRAIN: B, D, F Q to Broadway-Lafayette St; 6 to Bleecker St