Many people can relate to the feeling of  standing in front of a restaurant that was recommended by a friend, and questioning your friend’s judgement. They swear the food is delicious, but the décor makes you begin to have second thoughts about their credibility. Chances are, your friend recommended this hole-in-the-wall for a reason. So stay, check it out and don’t judge a restaurant by its cover.

According to CAS junior Alexandria Casteel., Mamoun’s Falafel (22 St. Mark’s Place) falls into this hole-in-the-wall category. Located on St. Marks, which might be enough to make some customers, even college students, shy away on its own, Mamoun’s is a tiny Middle Eastern restaurant with an uninviting brown awning in the front. If you take the plunge by overlooking its appearance however, you will be pleasantly surprised to find some of the most flavorful and popular falafel around campus.

GLS sophomore Lisa Zhou suggests going to Westville (210 W. 10th St.). The West Village location is the restaurant’s original, though there are two others in the East Village and Chelsea. From the outside, the restaurant is barely noticeable, with just a plain white storefront and faded green awning. There has been scaffolding obstructing the sign for almost a year. Once inside, there is barely enough room to sit, and the décor is surprisingly sparse. Yet, with its offerings of soups, salads, vegetables and dishes of the day, there is something delicious here for everyone. Westville is a great place to go if you want healthy, no-frills dishes that don’t skimp on taste.

Patsy’s Pizzeria (2287 First Ave.) is the perfect place to go for pizza. Don’t confuse this location with any other of the Patsy’s around town; the one on First Avenue is worth the venture all the way to 118th Street. Here, the lighting is bright, almost fluorescent, and the décor plain. But, this pizzeria is still an institution. Opened in 1933, the famed Frank Sinatra was a regular. The thin-crust pizza is cooked in a coal oven, resulting in a crunchy crust with a doughy center.

Many wonderful restaurants are often simply overlooked because of their easy-to-miss exteriors. Sakagura (211 E. 43rd St.) is a wonderful Japanese restaurant-that is, if you find it. The restaurant is located inside what appears to be an office building. After going inside, you must take a left down a narrow staircase that looks like it’s leading you to hell. Once you get past this, however, the dining experience is superb. The restaurant itself is cozy and charming and the food is delicious. If you enjoy seafood, try one of their fresh fish dishes such as the silky salmon sashimi or the grilled cod steeped in sweet soy sauce. Sakagura’s homemade soba noodles, grilled Japanese eggplant and chilled tofu are equally flavorful.

Email Petra Wood at [email protected].