Balaboosta

214 Mulberry St.

Fortunately, we already have plans to go to there. Of particular interest to me: pickles, hummus, smoked eggplant bruschetta, falafel-wrapped meatballs, grilled calamari, brick chicken.

Peels

325 Bowery at 2nd St.

I want to go to there -- mainly for breakfast. They have a whole section on their breakfast menu called "Build-a-Biscuit." Sam Sifton says that the biscuits -- "salty, airy hosts" for delectable toppings such as sausage and pepper-jack cheese, make you want to hunt ducks.