Blue 9 Burger
92 3rd Ave (bet 12th & 13th St); 212-979-0053
Blue 9 is the first New York version of the California-style hamburger. Modeled on the California burger chain In-n-Out, the objective is as simple as the menu: fresh, classic burgers, shakes and fries that are not frozen and mass-produced. The house burger is a miserly $3.90, the fries are hand cut and the shakes are extra-thick. The décor is nostalgic and warm, and the NYU crowd and Union Square locals always come back for seconds.

F&B Gudt Food
269 W. 23rd St (7th & 8th Ave); 646-486-4441
F&B stands for Frites and Beignets, the fresh, clean and efficient answer to European-style fast food located conveniently in Chelsea. It is a little pricey, but the quality of this Belgian/German/Austrian/Scandinavian street Eurofare is worth it. A dozen types of hot dogs encompass the menu, the “Great Dane” and the “Sea Dog” are top choices. Vegetarian versions of many dogs rival the omnivorous originals. Unique imported ketchups and mustards round out the wiener experience and even wines and champagne are on the menu.

Grilled Cheese
168 Ludlow St (bet Stanton & Houston St); 212-982-6600
This is not your grandmother's grilled cheese sandwich. Instead, owner John Behrens has critically updated the old classic, grilling sandwiches with a touch of olive oil with black-olive and basil pesto as sauces and spreads. For his vegan sandwiches, hummus is a flavorful alternative to mayonnaise. Smoked turkey, ham, Canadian bacon, Genoa salami and whole-milk cheeses come from local gourmet and natural-foods distributors and the bread comes from a French Bakery in Brooklyn. The results are a simple and satisfying turn on an American tradition.

Mocca
1588 2nd Ave (bet 82nd & 83rd St); 212734-6470
Yorkville was formerly the largest immigrant neighborhood in North America and a home to a significant Hungarian population. With Czarda and the Red Tulip no longer operating, Mocca is now the only restaurant if its kind remaining. The dining room will take you back to early 20th century Budapest, and the entrees of goulashes, stuffed peppers, wiener schnitzel, roast duck and chicken or veal paprikash will break all nouvelle cuisine traditions, as well as sit easy on your wallet.

Peanut Butter & Co.
240 Sullivan St (bet Bleecker & 3rd St); 212-677-3995
Defying trendiness and aiming for the traditions that span generations is Peanut Butter & Co, a 7-table, kitschy eatery. The sunny yellow walls are decorated with the personal memorabilia of owner, Lee Zalben, who grinds up homemade peanut butter daily, including smooth, crunchy, cinnamon raisin swirl, white chocolate, dark chocolate and spicy. Specialties include peanut butter and cream cheese sandwiches, peanut butter BLT’s, a Fluffernutter, the Elvis (with sliced bananas, drizzled with honey) and such innovations as the Black Forest. There is also the option of saving peanut butter for dessert with milkshakes, cookies and shareable sundaes.