Page 308 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - New York City

306  TR A VELERS ’ NEEDS

Light Meals and Snacks

You can get a snack almost anywhere and anytime in lively too. Tiny Chez Jacqueline
Manhattan. New Yorkers seem to eat endlessly – on street is also a favored Village spot. Its
corners, in bars, luncheonettes, delis, before and after work, French bistro fare and proximity
and long into the night. Casual eating in New York might to several off-Broadway theaters
make it popular with the young,
include soft pretzels or char-roasted chestnuts from a corner and international crowd for a
stand; a huge sandwich from a deli; a Greek gyro sandwich moderately priced dinner.
(roasted lamb in pita bread) from street vendors; a pre-theater In the Theater District, try
snack at a café or coffee bar; or a post-party binge at an all- the Cuban Victor’s Café. Large,
night diner or bistro. While street fare is generally cheap, the lively, and Latin, it is known for
authentic Cuban food served in
quality and culinary skills vary greatly.
giant portions at medium prices.
Chez Josephine is an exuberant
Food Halls and Markets
For New York ethnic Jewish bistro-cabaret with live jazz
With the success of Mario flavor, try Barney Greengrass, piano playing. The scene is the
Batali’s Eataly (see p125), and on the Upper West Side. In main attraction here, and
Smorgasburg, the Brookyn operation since 1929, the the French food is excellent.
food fair that debuted in 2011, “Sturgeon King” serves up lox, La Boite en Bois, small but
gourmet food halls and markets salmon, pastrami, and, of course, delightfully French, serves
are fiercly popular in New York. sturgeon. Zabar’s is a takeout delicious French bistro food and
Le District is a French-themed heaven for yuppies who put is conveniently close to Lincoln
hall in Brookfield Place (see p71), up with the crowds for superb Center. P. J. Clarke’s is a
while Chelsea Market occupies smoked fish, pickles, and salads. welcoming bar famous for its
the old Nabisco factory on the burgers; it is also an affordable
edge of the Meatpacking District. spot for a pre-theater meal.
The Pennsy opened its doors in Cafés, Bistros, Sarabeth’s, on the Upper
and Brasseries
2016 atop Manhattan’s Pen West Side, defies categorizing,
Station and offers high-end fast Cafés, bistros, and the larger but might best be dubbed a
food from famous New York brasseries have become “in” café. Breakfast or weekend
chefs. Grand Central Terminal places in New York. Try the upscale brunch is the best time to try
has a food court and gourmet Balthazar on Spring Street for waffles, French toast, pan cakes,
food market, and the Great “brilliantly faux” everything except and omelets.
Northern Food Hall in Vanderbilt the menu, which is stellar. In the The Financial District’s Les
Hall has five pavilions that offer Meat packing District, Kava Cafe Halles is about as all-out French
Nordic-inspired food. serves gourmet sandwiches and bistro as New York gets. At its
expertly prepared coffees to a late-night peak, the decibel
stylish crowd. The Café Centro, level is high, but regulars think
Delis
above Grand Central, is busy and the frites and beef dishes are
Delicatessens are a New York noisy during lunch time, and is a worth the noise and crowds.
institution, not to mention a favorite with business types. The
great source for a hefty lunch- Centro’s Provençal/Mediterranean
time sandwich. Any visitor to fare includes fish soups and some Pizzerias
the city should definitely try a succulent desserts. Caffe Reggio, Pizza is available all over
deli’s wonderful corned beef a legendary Italian café, opened New York, from street stands
and pastrami sandwiches. While in 1927 in Greenwich Village. and fast-food places that sell
Carnegie Delicatessen in the Benoit, Alain Ducasse’s casual it by the slice to a traditional
Theater District is perhaps New bistro, is a classy destination Neapolitan pizzeria.
York’s most famous deli, Katz’s offering familiar French fare to the Some pizzerias offer some-
Deli on the Lower East Side is Midtown lunch crowd. Down town, thing more. Arturo’s Pizzeria
much more authentic – and Odeon is a TriBeCa favorite for uses a coal oven for crisp, thin-
cheaper. Also deservedly popular its brasserie menu and late hours. crusted bases with the added
is Second Avenue Deli, with its Raoul’s in SoHo is a French bistro inducement of live jazz.
superb pastrami on rye. with a relaxed ambience that Motorino, with an innovative
Most deli business is takeout, keeps artists coming back for menu, is a modern take on
and, as a result, delis are bustling reli able, informal food. pizzeria and offers pizzas with
places serving huge sandwiches Elephant and Castle, a unusual toppings such as
at relatively cheap prices. Counter minimally decorated café, is a Brussels sprouts. Lombardi’s
staff are typi cally surly, but to Greenwich Village standby for oven-baked pizzas are among
many that is part of the charm soup-salad-omelet lunches. Its the finest in Manhattan. The busy
of these old-school establish- real forte is breakfast and brunch, Mezzaluna specializes in wood-
ments. Mile End provides a served in ample portions at fired, thin- crusted pizza, as does
more modern deli experience. modest prices. The bar scene is John’s Pizzeria, whose fans,

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