NYC picks: Comfort foods for your soul

Peels, at 345 Bowery in Manhattan, serves up all sorts of comfort food, including the self-explanatory "Build a Biscuit" with avocado and bacon. (Feb. 22, 2012)

A blackboard lists the nightly specials at The Blue Ribbon Bakery at 35 Downing St. in Manhattan. (Feb. 22, 2012)

Blue Ribbon Bakery at 35 Downing St. in Manhattan makes its own bread sticks. (Feb. 22, 2012)

Onion soup is one of the offerings at the Blue Ribbon Bakery at 35 Downing St. in Manhattan. (Feb. 22, 2012)

Waiters prepare the tables at Blue Ribbon Bakery at 35 Downing St. in Manhattan for dinner. (Feb. 22, 2012)

A cook carries out breads fresh from the oven in the cellar at the Blue Ribbon Bakery at 35 Downing St. in Manhattan. (Feb. 22, 2012)

Fried chicken is one of the comfort food offerings at the Blue Ribbon Bakery at 35 Downing St. in Manhattan. ( Feb. 22, 2012)

A waiter prepares the tables at the Blue Ribbon Bakery at 35 Downing St. in Manhattan for the dinner rush. ( Feb. 22, 2012)

The Blue Ribbon Bakery is located at 35 Downing St. in Manhattan and serves comfort food. (Feb. 22, 2012)

The shrimp with grits is one of the offerings served at Peels, at 345 Bowery in Manhattan. (Feb. 22, 2012)

On the ground floor at Peels, at 345 Bowery in Manhattan, there is a cafe and bakery. (Feb. 22, 2012)

A customer lingers over coffee at the counter at Peels, at 345 Bowery in Manhattan, known for its comfort food. (Feb. 22, 2012)

The grilled cheese sandwich is one of the comfort food offerings served at The Breslin at 16 West 29th St. in Manhattan. (Feb. 21, 2012)

The second floor dining room at Peels, at 345 Bowery in Manhattan, is more formal than the downstairs with flowers, elegant lamps and tall ceilings. (Feb. 22, 2012)

Diners linger in the informality of the ground floor cafe and bakery at Peels, at 345 Bowery in Manhattan. (Feb. 22, 2012)

On the ground floor, there is a cafe and bakery at Peels, at 345 Bowery in Manhattan; it's a venue known for its comfort food. (Feb. 22, 2012)

Peels restaurant is located at 345 Bowery in Manhattan. (Feb. 22, 2012)

The Breslin is located at 16 West 29th St. in Manhattan. (Feb. 21, 2012)

In the kitchen, one of the chefs plates lunch offerings at The Breslin at 16 West 29th St. in Manhattan. (Feb. 21, 2012)

Comfort food is served at The Breslin at 16 West 29th St. in Manhattan. (Feb. 21, 2012)

Diners enjoy the comfort food served at The Breslin at 16 West 29th St. in Manhattan. (Feb. 21, 2012)

Diners linger over lunch in the private booths at The Breslin at 16 West 29th St. in Manhattan. (Feb. 21, 2012)

The Breslin restaurant is located at 16 West 29th St. in Manhattan. (Feb. 22, 2012)

The bar at The Breslin, at 16 West 29th St. in Manhattan, is decorated with pigs. (Feb. 22, 2012)