NYC Restaurants

If you've never tried Frankie's Spuntino in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, now's your chance to get a taste in Midtown. The restaurant is operating a counter at the Whole Foods across from Bryant Park. The menu offers a nice assortment of fresh salads, soups, sandwiches and plates, including Frankies classic meatballs with pine nuts and raisins. We tried the soup and 1/2 sandwich combo which is a steal at $14. The escarole and cannellini bean soup is comfort food at its best. And the buffalo mozzarella, tomato and roasted red peppers on focaccia is melt-in-your mouth delicious. Eat in or take out for a picnic in the park.

- Thomas Rafael