Sami & Susu

The gist: As former colleagues at the award-winning restaurant, Maison Premiere—Amir Nathan (Via Carota) and executive chef Jordan Anderson (Olmsted)—pull inspiration from each of their own family recipes at this casual Mediterranean eatery. After originally launching as a pop-up early on in the pandemic, Sami & Susu’s Lower East Side cozy brick and mortar all-day cafe and natural wine bar officially debuted last fall. Open seven days a week, the breakfast menu starts at 8 am, lunch runs until 5 pm, and dinner service is until 10:30pm. While there, stock up on domestic and international pantry staples before grabbing some prepackaged items and baked goods for later.
The food: Breakfast items include the BEC Bureka with bacon, egg, and cheese; and a mini Tunisian baguette with tuna, harissa, soft egg, and preserved lemon. Order all-day dishes like pita sandwiches in three varieties (cauliflower, chicken, and cheeseburger); the Signature Beef Tongue Baguette; Lamb-stuffed Cabbage with pistachio and eggplant caponata; and Mom’s Chicken Soup with matzoh balls and chicken thighs. New items for dinner include Anchovies with sourdough and zhug butter; Cacio e Pepe Freekeh Risotto; Stracciatella with garlic broth, egg, and broccolini; Brook Trout with brussels sprouts and creamed leeks; and Basboosa with semolina and orange blossom. For beverages, choose from a selection of beer and natural wine.

This Mediterranean spot found a home on Orchard Street after popping up during the pandemic. In addition to pita and baguette sandwiches and a pantry shop, during Hanukkah it has large latkes with sides of crème fraiche and trout roe available.