There’s no way to go wrong at Proof, whether you’re in the mood for a croissant, a cookie or a piece of rich chocolate cake. At noon, the bakery also serves sandwiches (salami, ham and vegetarian) on satisfyingly salty stecca bread.

If you’re looking for gluten-free or vegan pastries or a place to sit awhile and recharge, Black Elephant offers all that and good coffee. This friendly space is decorated with thriving pothos plants, each with its name on a chalkboard sign: Rosa, Maria, Solange …

Wanderlust Creamery gets its name from its geography-themed flavors, inspired by places from the Pacific Northwest (Smoky Road) to Thailand (Sticky Rice + Mango). For $30, you can take “a flight around the world” and try them all.

The tiny storefront of this family-owned taco counter could be easy to miss if not for the crowd always gathered in front of it during business hours. For $3 to $7, you can buy comfort in breakfast-burrito form.

At this completely unpretentious restaurant-grocery store, you can have a complete meal of rice and two curries for $4. Everything here is vegetarian or vegan, and because it’s so affordable, you can easily end up with a table of varied breads, from crispy dosas to fat, stuffed parathas.