The Bao
This spot on St. Marks in the East Village is home to the best soup dumplings in town.
Cava is a fast-casual chain from the D.C. area, and this is the first location in New York. At lunchtime, people line up here for bowls of fresh Mediterranean food that they order at counter, Chipotle-style. Start with some greens, or some grains (or both), and move on to toppings and sauces. Additional veggies are free of charge, and you can essentially be as healthy as you want here. Go for some lentils and super greens or do double portions of meat and have them lather on Sriracha dressing if you want to fall asleep at your desk.
