Ferdinando’s Focacceria

Areas popular with students and the hip, young crowd — the Lower East Side, East Village and Chinatown — have lots of good-value places to eat. Lunch specials and happy-hour menus are common, so consider having your main meal earlier in the day and look out for “buy one get one free” drinks deals. This 1904 bare-brick hole in the wall serves small Sicilian plates, such as vastedda sandwich and pasta with sardines.

151 Union St, Brooklyn. Small plates from $4.50.

Grand Central Oyster Bar The highlight of the food halls at Grand Central Terminal. Join commuters at the long bar and order oysters and mussels fresh from across the US.

oysterbarny.com;

mains from $11.95, oyster dishes $8 in happy hour.

Lucali This pizza joint has a queue outside the second it opens. The thin, crispy-crust pies are made with a homemade tomato base, melting mozzarella, and fresh basil leaves. lucali.com; JG Melon This bar and burger joint’s tin-pressed ceiling, wood counter and veteran staff are part of the rustic charm — and its bacon cheeseburger is one of the juiciest in town.

jgmelonnyc.com;

$11.25. pizza from $24. burgers from

Katz’s Delicatessen Of the few remaining Jewish delis in the Lower East Side, Katz’s is the best to order pickles, knackwurst, salami and beef brisket.