Savory Café, Astoria

The ingredients that make up Savory Café are simple enough: spices, seasonal ingredients, and a menu that's equal parts Southeast Asian cuisine and American diner staples. The result, however, is far from run-of-the-mill. Flavorful dishes, which the restaurant describes as "thoughtfully progressive," sail to tables for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Early risers can feast on Western stalwarts, such as a farmer's omelette, or can try out Malaysian breakfast dishes like telur, a two-egg dish served with soy sauce and pepper. During dinner hours, guests can have a two-continent feast: an appetizer of chicken satays or homestyle spring rolls precedes a pork chop sandwich or bacon cheeseburger. They can even enjoy a side of onion rings, which are what chefs use to propose to their fiancees.