David Burke Kitchen

At this Soho eatery within the chic James hotel, the walls are lined with photographs of the farmers that supply the ingredients for Burke’s whimsical menu creations. Begin the meal with playful treats such as a mélange of tomato, eggplant and ricotta spooned out of a jar ($7), before moving on to seasonal dishes along the lines of truffle-laced short-rib cavatelli ($35). Or better yet, come on Saturdays when kids can snag $5 buttermilk pancakes during the poured-and-griddled-to-order weekly Pancake Social.