Union Fare

A former Barnes & Noble textbook outlet is now a vast New American cafe-bar-restaurant lit by a radiant constellation of globes dangling from the high ceiling. Union Fare spans an entire block near Union Square; enter at 5 E. 17th Street for daytime coffee, pastry and sandwich breaks and at 6 E. 18th Street for dinner, although it doesn’t really matter since you can stroll all the way through. Chef Yvan Lemoine’s talent particularly shines when it comes to ricotta toast with shaved truffles and honey and the ahi tuna melt with smoked provolone. Pastry chef Thiago Silva is also one to watch—his strawberry creamsicle with shortcake streusel means this is no place to skip dessert.