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I keep trying City Bakery's over and over and there's something not quite right about them. Grainy in a bad way is pretty much what I've been experiencing.

Do Ma Peche's baked to order chocolate chip cookies count on this list?

Zibetto feels more like an espresso place than a drip coffee place to me. Abraco has good coffee but it's very strong, and I think the espresso is better. Stumptown's coffee is a bit too mellow for my preference, but it tastes great. Joe the Art of Coffee is good but not memorable for whatever reason. The Mud Truck doesn't even place. Eh. I think my absolute favorite would have to be either 9th Street Espresso or Jack's Stir Brewed.

In my experience, asking a question without spending at least a little bit of time to research it yourself doesn't show respect for the community's time as a whole. Especially if the question has a yes/no or otherwise concrete answer.

When you ask your question, display the fact that you have done at least some basic research first; this will help establish that you're not being lazy, but looking for personal anecdotes, other user's experiences, trying to start a debate, whatever.

Otherwise, people will just assume you're taking a shortcut and not contributing back to the community.

Motorino does whole pies to go. If you have a little patience, you can grab a square slice at Artichoke. Vinny Vincenz also does a good square slice and a decent gas oven regular round slice.

For bagels, I haven't found a good bagel in the neighborhood but I've heard that you can get smaller, more traditional bagels at 9th Street Bakery. They boil them and then bake them, the old-fashioned way. And there's the new bagel spot on 3rd Avenue that just opened up. 81 3rd Avenue Between 11th and 12th. A friend has reported a good experience there.

For fast meals on the go, I like Baoguette, BBQ Chicken and Crif Dogs.

Don't forget Butter Lane!

This is amazing. From an eGullet post, back in the day, apparently the Shack sauce mixture is dijon mustard, yellow mustard, mayonnaise, tomato puree, onions, pickles, garlic, chipotle.

Jean Georges?

Sweet Freak has a GREAT list. I would add:

Cupcakes: 'wichcraft, Grey Dog, Sage American Kitchen (available at Dean & Deluca)

Ice box pie: Magnolia (skip the cupcakes)

Chocolate chip cookies: Jack's Stir Brewed

Sandwiche cookies: 'wichcraft, Grandaisy

Scones: Sarabeth's

Croissants: Ceci-Cela, Patisserie Claude

"Sweet" breads/loaf cakes: Abraco's olive oil cake, Balthazar's chocolate bread or fruit foccacia

Muffins: Clinton Street Baking Company

Locanda Verde: anything

NB: Payard has closed as has Batch/p*ong.

See also: http://newyork.seriouseats.com/tags/Sugar%20Rush

NB: Make sure Doughnut Plant is open when you want to go. They're open Tuesday - Sunday from 6:30am until sold out. Located on Grand STREET not Grand Avenue. Grand Avenue is in Queens.

Also they sell out of flavors towards the afternoon, so earlier is better (you didn't say if this was for lunch or dinner and on what day).

How old is the Spanish combination of chorizo and chocolate?

I'm not a fan of the Vosges bacon candy bar, but my first exposure to the Vosges combination was their special, limited edition bacon truffle (part of the Jazz collection IIRC). Heavenly, and with higher quality bacon than in the bar.

Time Out's yearly list is always better for college students than New York Mag's. NY Mag's is more about "bang for your buck" and value but "cheap eats" is the wrong label.

Have you already read through this?

Serious Eats New York Guide