Nolita

North of Little Italy (and south of Houston Street), Nolita became cool when SoHO became synonymous with high-end stores. It has lots of restaurants and small boutiques and a different feel than SoHo, just a couple of blocks away. It's still very charming but it's also changing and becoming more clean and less alternative.

My No. 1 restaurant in the category cheap and fabulous is in Nolita. The first time I went to Cafe Habana, in 2002, it was busy but there weren't lines outside. Mind you, it doesn't have a sign, it's small, and it looks like a hole in the wall. But the food (Mexican) is really cheap and delicious. That day I had lunch a few tables away from Francis Ford Coppola, the filmmaker. I always go back!

Cafe Habana (229 Elizabeth St.)

Alternatives to Cafe Habana (when it's too crowded):

Barmarche (14 Spring St.) [Delicious brunch food]

BarBossa (232 Elizabeth St.) [It's not Brazilian but serves Brazilian-style food and caipirinha. The portions are small, so if you order feijoada, beware, it comes all in one plate]

Nolita House (47 East Houston St.) [Fun brunch with bluegrass live music. It's really about the atmosphere]

Delicatessen (54 Prince Street) [On the border of Nolita and Soho. Opened in 2008, cool decor, good food, service a little slow]