Jack's Wife Freda

A SoHo institution since 2011, Jack's Wife Freda turns the childhood memories of its Israeli and South African founders into an all-day menu of bright, unfussy plates.

Husband-and-wife team Dean and Maya Jankelowitz built this Lafayette Street cafe around family recipes that trace back to Dean's South African grandparents and Maya's Israeli upbringing, folding in touches of New York Jewish cooking along the way. The result is a menu that moves easily from shakshuka and grilled haloumi at breakfast to heartier plates by dinner, served in a room that stays lively and full from morning coffee through last call.

Best for: All-day brunch and casual downtown dining with friends