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FOOD HALLS AND MORE New Yorkers do love their food courts, but in Manhattan they’re filled with locally owned eateries, not chain restaurants. Across the street from Grand Central Station is

 Urbanspace Vanderbilt, with more than 15 artisanal food stalls (everything from bespoke bao to award-winning pizza). Near the High Line, Chelsea Market boasts food stands, bakeries and

purveyors of eye-popping cheeses and chocolates in a block-long building. You’ll think you’re smack in the middle of Italy at the culinary extravaganza called Eataly, with locations in the

Flatiron District and World Trade Center. Note that they can get extremely crowded at lunchtime. The go-to spot for Manhattan chefs and fresh foodies is Union Square Greenmarket on the

city’s Lower East Side. In peak season, 140 regional farmers, fishers and bakers sell their produce, baked goods, preserves, meats, seafood and cheeses here on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays

and Saturdays. Make a meal of it — with the best people-watching in Manhattan on the side.   WAYS TO SAVE: Follow the crowds to the city’s colorful food trucks. Licensed and graded by the

city (look for an “A”), they serve an ethnic smorgasbord in Midtown Manhattan, Central Park, the World Trade Center and many other places New Yorkers congregate. Then dig into an affordable

halal meal, kimchi taco, lobster roll, waffle — or just a classic New York hot dog. It doesn’t get any more local than that. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED? Booking a table is essential for the most

in-demand restaurants, for before you attend the theater and during the holiday season. Many of the best ones use the free reservation systems of OpenTable or Resy. Still having trouble

snagging a table? Try eating at an off hour (1:30 lunch, perhaps) or grabbing a stool if the restaurant has a bar. WAYS TO SAVE: Save money by having lunch, not dinner, at higher-end spots.

You’ll get to taste an acclaimed chef’s food for less — for example, at showstoppers such as Le Bernardin or Gramercy Tavern. Prix-fixe menus can also save you money, especially at lunch. Or

try breakfast; a couple of iconic restaurants offer a relatively well-priced breakfast, including Balthazar and the Mercer Kitchen.