Cafe Altro Paradiso

Located on a bright downtown corner, Altro Paradiso serves chef-owner Ignacio Mattos' light, satisfying takes on Italian cuisine: a beloved fennel salad with provolone cheese, arancini dipped in Calabrian chili oil, and house-made candele cacio e pepe, to name but a few classics. Though Altro frequently ranks among the best places to eat in New York City, it's a pretty laid-back place that tends to attract quite a few regulars from the neighborhood.