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UNIQUE, OFF-BEAT, or OLD SCHOOL RESTAURANTS, BARS and FOOD STORES Meatball Obsession takeout store - Sixth Avenue between 13th and 14th Streets. 
UNIQUE, OFF-BEAT, or OLD SCHOOL RESTAURANTS, BARS and FOOD STORES AFRICAN-AMERICAN "SOUL FOOD" RESTAURANTS • Amy Ruths's, 113 West 116th St. b/t Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. and Malcom X. Blvd. (since 1999) • Miss Mamie's Spoonbread Too, 366 West 110th St. near Manhattan Ave. (1950's diner decor) • Sylvia's Restaurant, 328 Malcolm X Blvd. b/t 126th and 127th Sts. (A Harlem Landmark since 1962) APPETIZING STORES "Appetizing" stores sell Jewish food, like lox, that one eats with bagels. The name, from the 1930's-40's, is fading from use.). • Russ and Daughters, 179 East Houston St. b/t Allen St. and Orchard St. - (high-end smoked fish and Jewish specialty food since since 1914). • Barney Greengrass, 541 Amsterdam Ave. b/t 86th and 87th. (smoked fish and more since 1908; cash only). BARS, HISTORIC OLD NEIGHBORHOOD (still going strong). • Arthur's Tavern (1937) - 57 Grove St. west of 7th Ave South (West Village). • Kenn's Broome St. Bar (1972) - 363 West Broadway at Broome St. (Soho). • Corner Bistro - (1920's) 331 West 4th Street at Jane St. (West Village). • Ear Inn (1817) - 326 Spring St. b/t Washington St. and Greenwich St. (West Soho). • El Quijote (1930) - 226 West 23rd St. b/t 7th-8th Avenues. (Chelsea). • Fanelli Cafe (1847) - 94 Prince St. at Mercer St. (Soho). • Jeremy's Ale House - 288 Front St. b/t Beekman and Peck Slip (ceiling decorated with hanging bras). • Landmark Tavern (1868) - 626 11th Ave at West 46th St. (Midtown West). • Marie's Crisis Cafe (1929) - 59 Grove St, west of 7th Ave. South (West Village) (piano bar). • McSorley's Old Ale House (1854) 15 East 7th St. b/t 2nd and 3rd Aves. (East Village). • Mulberry Street Bar (1908) - 176 Mulberry at Broome (Little Italy). • Old Town Bar (1882) - 45 East 18th St. b/t Broadway and Park Ave South (Union Square)(was in the opening credits of David Letterman's show). • Peter McManus Cafe (1911) - 152 7th Ave at 19th St. (Chelsea). • P.J. Clarks - (1884) - 915 3rd Ave at East 55th St. (Midtown East). • Pete's Tavern (1864) 129 East 18th St. at Irving Place (Union Square). • Walker's - 16 North Moore at Varick St. (Tribeca). • White Horse Tavern - 567 Hudson St. at West 11th St. (West Villlage). BARS ON BOATS • Frying Pan - 207 12th Ave at 26th St. on Pier 66 (May to October). • Grand Banks - Hudson River Park, Pier 25 west of North Moore St. BARS, REVOLVING - TIMES SQUARE • The View at the New York Marriott Marquis - 1535 Broadway b/t 46th and 48th St. (Times Square) (48th floor bar/ restaurant revolves 360 degrees every hour). BARS WITH A SECRET ENTRANCE (MODERN DAY SPEAKEASIES) • PDT (Please Don't Tell) - 113 St. Mark's Place b/t 1st Ave and Ave A. (East Village) (A "speakeasy": the entrance is through the Crif Dog hot dog store. Go into the phone booth and dial "1"). • La Esquina - 114 Kenmore St. at Lafayette (East Village) (there's a basement brasserie through the kitchen: call ahead). • The Blind Barber - 339 East 10th St. (Lower East Side) (The entrance is through a working barber shop). • The Back Room - 102 Norfolk St. at Delancey (Lower East Side)(Speakeasy vibe: enter through a gate that says Lower East Side Toy Company). • Death and Co. - 433 East 6th St. b/t 1st & Avenue A ( (East VIllage) (Enter off the street; resembles a dark speakeasy inside. 10 years old.) • Angel's Share - 6 Stuyvesant Street, east of 3rd Ave. (East Village) (Entrance is up the inside steps to a Japanese restaurant called Village Yokocho, then look for an unmarked door. BARS - UNIQUE • Beauty Bar - 231 East 14th St. b/t 2nd and 3rd Aves. (Bar and music in a retro beauty shop). • La Caverna - 122 Irvington Street b/t Essex and Norfolk St. (Underground cave atmosphere). • Beauty and Essex - 146 Essex Street b/t Irvington and Stanton Sts. (Enter through a small pawn shop). BEER HALLS, BEER GARDENS, AND BREWERIES • Brooklyn Brewery - 79 North 11th Street b/t Wythe St. and Berry St. (watch beer being made, too). • Reichenbach Hall - 5 West 37th St./ b/t 5th Ave and 6th Ave (Bavarian-style beer hall with giant pretzels and "shot-skis"). • Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden - 2919 24th Ave b/t 29th and 31 St Sts., Astoria, Queens (large 1/2 block biergarten with picnic tables and bratwurst; since 1910 ). • Houston Hall - 222 West Houston Street b/t Varick St. and 6th Ave. (large indoor downtown beer hall). • Coney Island Brewing Company - 1904 Surf Avenue (at West 17th Street), Coney Island (craft beer and brewery visits). CAFES - OLD SCHOOL GREENWICH VILLAGE/EAST VILLAGE • Caffe Reggio (1927) - 119 MacDougal Street b/t West 3rd St. and Minetta Lane. • Cafe Dante NYC (1915) - 79-81 MacDougal Street b/t Houston and Bleecker. • Venireo's Pasticceria & Caffe - (1894) 342 E 11th St. b/t 1st and 2nd Aves. CANDY • Dylan's Candy Bar - 1011 3rd Ave at East 60th (Upper East Side) A colorful megastore of all things candy and cupcakes. • Economy Candy - 108 Rivington Street b/t Ludlow and Essex (Lower East Side) Classic Candy bars in an old school Lower East Side authentic 50's-era setting • M&M's World - 1600 Broadway at 48th St. 3 floors of various M&M goodies and memorabilia in Times Square. • Myzel Chocolates - 140 West 55th St. b/t 6th Ave and 7th Ave. compact store with over 150 varieties of licorice. Lots of chocolate, of course, too. • The Sweet Life - 63 Hester Street b/t Essex St and Ludlow St, Lower East Side (Lots of type of gourment candies and chocolates; also dried fruits, gifts. Since 1982. CHEESECAKE • Junior's Restaurant and Bakery - 1515 Broadway, enter on 45th St. - Times Sq. (The Times Square branch). • Junior's • Eileen's Special Cheesecake - 17 Cleveland Place at Kenmare St. , NoLiTa (a downtown favorite for 35 years). CHINESE FOOD IN CHINATOWN (old fashioned restaurants) • Now Wah Tea Parlor - 13 Doyers Street near Pell St. (dim sum since 1920; as seen in Spider-Man 2). • Wo Hop - 17 Mott St. - b/t Worth and Mosco - (Cantonese since 1938; open late ). • Golden Unicorn - 18 East Broadway at Catherine St. (Giant Chinese eatery specializing in dim sum). • Great N.Y. Noodletown - 28 Bowery at Bayard St. (since 1981). CHOCOLATE DESSERTS • Max Brenner's Restaurant - 841 Broadway b/t 13th and 14th Sts. (the restaurant specailizes in chocolate desserts and gifts). COFFEE SHOPS - OLD FASHIONED, COUNTER • Eisenberg's Sandwich Shop - 174 5th Ave b/t 22nd-23rd Sts. (long counter; all -day breakfasts; since 1929). • La Bonboniere - 28 8th Ave b/t West 12th and Jane St. (from a by-gone era; sidewalk tables). • Lexington Candy Shop - 1226 Lex at 83rd St. (authentic 1929 burgers, soda and ice cream shop with 1940's decor). • The Donut Pub - 203 West 14th St. at 7th Avenue - (serving cups of Joe for 24 hours a day since 1964. • Pearl Diner - 212 Pearl St at Fletcher. (50-year old stainless steel and formica diner). • Hector's Cafe & Diner - 44 Little West 12th Street at Washington St., Meatpacking District (since 1949). • 24-Hour Lower East Side Coffee Shop - 442 East 14th St. near Avenue A (24-hour old fashioned diner food). • Broadway Restaurant - 2664 Broadway b/t 101-102nd St. (complete with "U"-shaped counter). • Tom's Restaurant - 2880 Broadway at West 112th - (the exterior was "Monk's" on Seinfeld; sit in similar booths). • B+H Dairy - 127 2nd Ave b.t East 7th and St, Marks Place. (tiny, vegetarian, and kosher since about 1940). CUBAN SANDWICHES - TIMES SQUARE • Margot Restaurant - 136 West 46th St. B/t 6th and 7th Avenues. (Inexpensive Cubano sandwiches at a small lunch counter off Times Square since 1970. CUPCAKES - BY SIDEWALK VENDING ATM MACHINE • Sprinkles - 780 Lexington b/t E 60th and E 61st Sts. (sidewalk ATM stocked 24/7 with Sprinkles cupcakes and cookies). DELI • Katz's Deli (1888) - 205 East Houston Street at Ludlow St. (Giant pricy deli sandwiches. Also famous hot dogs. Motto: "Send a salami to your boy in the Army!"). • Rupert + Jee's Hello Deli -213 W. 53rd b/t Broadway and 8th Ave. (made famous on David Letterman's show.) DINERS (Stand-alone old school diners in the shape of railroad cars) • Empire Diner - 210 Tenth Ave at 22nd St. - Chelsea (Upscale) . • Pearl Diner - 212 Pearl St at Fletcher. (50-year old stainless steel and formica diner). • The Square Diner - 33 Leonard Street at Varick St. (cash only train-car like diner). DINING WITH DOLLS - FOR GIRLS • American Girl Place - 609 Fifth Ave at 49th Street. (dine with your American Girl doll. See website for details) DRAG QUEEN DINNER SHOWS • Diva Royale Drag Queen Show - 512 West 42nd St. b/t 10th and 11th Ave. Cabaret-style drag queen show with dinner. • Lips - 227 East 56th St. b/t 3rd Ave and 2nd Ave. Drag Queen cabaret and dinner. • Lucky Cheng - 605 West 48th St. b/t West St. and 11th Ave. Drag Queen Dinner Show. As with the other two listed shows, it's big with bachelorette parties. EGG CREAM • Gem Spa - 132 2nd Ave at St. Mark's Place (newsstand that since the 1920's has also sold New York egg cream drinks. A photo of the New York Dolls outside Gem Spa is on the back cover of their first album. FOOD COURTS, MODERN • Stone Street - Between Coenties Alley and William Street. - (seasonal, outdoor picnic tables). • Eataly - 200 Fifth Ave at 23rd St. (Italian Food emporium). • Hudson Eats at Brookfield Place - World Financial Center. • Le District (French Food Hall) at Brookfield place - World Financial Center. • The Pennsy - 7th Ave and West 33rd (above Penn Station). • Plaza (Hotel) Food Hall (in basement) - 59th St. and Fifth Ave. • Gotham West (Food Hall) - 11th Ave. b/t 44th and 45th. • New World Mall - (136-20 Roosvelt Ave, Flushing, Queens) Large, Asian. • Urbanspace Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt Ave. and 45th St. near Grand Central . • Chelsea Market - 75 Ninth Ave b/t W 15h and W 16th. Sts. (Block long indoor mall with various eateries). • Essex Street Market - 120 Essex Street b/t Delancey and Irvington (70-year indoor market with food vendors). GAY AND LESBIAN BARS, LONG ESTABLISHED • Julius - 159 West 10th St. at Waverly Place (one of oldest opening gay bars in NYC; since the 50's). • The Monster - 80 Grove St at Sheridan Square (large gay bar; music and dancing). • The Cubbyhole - 281 West 12th St. near 4th St. (long established lesbian bar). • Henrietta Hudson - 438 Hudson Street at Morton St. (lesbian bar open over 25 years). HAMBURGERS NEAR TIMES SQUARE FOR THOSE ON A BUDGET • Two of the Worlds Busiest McDonalds - 220 West 42nd b/t 7th and 8th; and 1560 Broadway b/t 46th and 47th. • Schnippers - 620 Eighth Ave at 41st St. (Inexpensive hamburgers and milkshakes near Times Square). • Steak and Shake - 1695 Broadway b/t W 53rd and W 54th (part of a chain). HAMBURGER RESTAURANT (INEXPENSIVE) WITH A "SECRET" ENTRANCE, NEAR CENTRAL PARK • Burger Joint at Le Parker Meridian Hotel - 119 West 56th St b/t 6th and 7th Aves. (an inexpensive old fashioned burger joint in a fancy hotel. Enter through a curtain wall in the lobby). HOT DOGS (Mostly long-time New York institutions) • Crifs Dogs - 113 St. Marks Place b/t Ave A and 1st Ave. (relatively new hot dog shop; uses a fry-o-later to cook hot dogs). • Gray's Papaya - Broadway at 72nd St. (since 1973). • Katz's Deli - 205 East Houston St. at Ludlow (since 1888). • Nathan's Famous (The Original) - 1310 Surf Ave at Stillwell Ave., Coney Island, Brooklyn (since 1916). • Nathan's - 761 7th Ave at 50th St. (other Manhattan locations also). • Papaya King - 86th St and Third Avenue (since 1932). ICE BAR (Minus 5 degree celcius bar) • Minus 5* Ice Bar - NY Hilton - 1335 6th Ave at West 53rd St. (Like drinking in Siberia. They loan you winter coats). ICE CREAM • Serendipity 3 - 225 East 60th St. b/t 2nd and 3rd Aves. (an Andy Warhol favorite). • Big Gay Ice Cream - 61 Grove St.at 7th Ave South (other locations). • Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory - 65 Bayard St. b/t Mott and Elizabeth. • Brooklyn Farmacy & Soda Fountain - 513 Henry St. at Sackett St.(1920's ice cream parlor theme). • Lexington Candy Shop - 1226 Lexington Ave at 83rd St. (shakes, sodas, and malts). Big Gay Ice Cream Shop - Sheridan Square 
JEWISH, KITCHY (Old School) • Famous Sammy's Roumanian Restaurant - 157 Christie Street b/t Delancey and Rivington (like a bar mitzvah on acid; schmaltz (pourable chicken fat) at every table; group hora dancing; pricey). KARAOKE • Karaoke Boho 186 West 4th St. b/t Barrow and Jones (Greenwich Village) 17 private karaoke rooms • Karaoke One 17 29 West 17th St., b/t 5th and 6th Aves. Public front room, private rooms in back KNISH • Yonah Schimmell's Knish Bakery -137 East Houston Street b/t Forsyth St. and Eldridge St. (Old-world Jewish bakery-deli serving knishes, bintzes, and more. Since 1910. LEMON ICE • The Lemon Ice King of Corona - 52-02 108th St. at 52nd Ave., Corona The standard of Lemon Ice since the 1940's with over 40 flavors from peanut butter to cantaloupe. As seen on the opening credits of The King of Queens. MEATBALLS IN A CUP • Meatball Obsession (Walk-up Window) - 510 6th Ave b/t/ 13th and 14th St. (the meatballs come with a small piece of bread and tomato sauce). MOVIE THEATER EXPERIENCE (with Bar and Restaurant) (Watch the movie and enjoy dinner and have cocktails at your seat) • Alamo Drafthouse Cinema - 445 Albee Sq. West #4, Downtown Brooklyn. • iPic Movie Theater - 11 Fulton St. at Front St., South Street Seaport • Nighthawk Cinema - 136 Metropolitan Ave, Williamsburg, Brooklyn PICKLES • The Pickle Guys - 357 Grand St. at Essex St. (Sells all size cured, kosher pickles from large barrels. "Hey, we got pickles here!") PIZZA - TOP-RATED, STAND-UP, TAKE-OUT PIZZA BY THE SLICE • Joe's Pizza - 7 Carmine St. b/t 6th Ave and Bleecker St. (Greenwich Village; since 1975). • Sal and Carmine's Pizza - 2671 Broadway b/t W 101 and West 102 Sts.(Upper West Side; since 1959). • Di Fara Pizza - 1424 Avenue J (Midwood, Brooklyn) (always top-rated; $5 slices; open since 1959). • Pizza Suprema - 413 8th Ave. b/t 30-31st St. (Chelsea, near Madison Sq. Garden; since 1964). • Best Pizza - 33 Havermeyer St b/t N 7th and N 8th, Williamsburg, Brooklyn. (since 2010) • Patsy's Pizzaria - 2287 1st Ave b/t 117-118th, East Harlem (since 1933). Di Fara Pizza - 1424 Avenue J (Midwood, Brooklyn) 
RESTAURANT WITH ONE-WAY MIRROR IN THE BATHROOM • Peep Restaurant - 177 Prince St. b/t Sullivan St. and Thompson St. (This aprtly-named restaurant in Soho has a bathroom in the middle of it with a one-way mirror that you can see out of as you use it.) RICE PUDDING • Rice to Riches - 37 Spring St. b/t Mulberry and Mott St. (Many flavors in a space-age Jetson-like decor). SOUP • Grand Central Oyster Bar -89 East 42nd St in Grand Central's lower level. (Famous for red or white clam chowder). • The Original Soupman - 259 West 55th, b/t Broadway and 8th Ave. (Seinfeld's "Soup Nazi" episode was based on this walk-up store.) • Vaselka - 144 2nd Ave at East 9th Street, East Village. (24-hour Ukranian; try the split pea soup). SPICES • Kalustyan's - 123 Lexington Ave. b/t E. 28th and E. 29th Sts. (Little India spice megastore. Hundreds of varieties.) TEA CEREMONY • Urasenke Chanoyu Center (of New York) - 153 East 69th St. b/t Lex and 3rd -(Experience an authentic tea ceremony in a replica Japanese setting in a former east side stable. Reservations needed far in advance.) THEME RESTAURANTS • Brooklyn Diner - 212 West 57th St. b/t 7th Ave and Broadway(Northern Times Sq) (50's diner theme). • The Trailer Park Lounge - 271 West 23rd St. b/t 7th Ave and Broadway (Flatiron) (trailer park theme). • Lily's Victorian Establishment - 249 West 49th St. b/t 8th Ave and Broadway (Northern Times Sq.) (Victorian theme). • Tacombi - 267 Elizabeth Street just south of Houston Street (Nolita) (Mexican: a Volkswagon van is in the restaurant). • Ninja Restaurant - 25 Hudson Street (Ninja's perform while you eat in an underground "Japanese Village"). Trail Park Lounge and Grille - 271 West 23rd Street between 7th and 8th 
TOURISTY THEME RESTAURANTS iIN TIMES SQUARE • Bubba Gump Shrimp - 1501 Broadway at W 44th St. (Forrest Gump-themed). • Buca di Beppo - 1540 Broadway. Enter on 45th St. (red & white tablecloth Italian-themed). • Dave & Buster's - 234 W 42nd St. b/t 7th and 8th Aves. (arcade games themed). • Planet Hollywood - 1540 Broadway. Enter on 45th St. (Hollywood memorabilia themed). • Hard Rock Cafe - 1501 Broadway at 43rd St. (rock memorabilia themed). • Ellen's Stardust Diner -1650 Broadway at W 51st St. - (waitstaff sing on tables; 50's diner theme). 24-HOUR RESTAURANTS • Vaselka - Vaselka - 144 2nd Ave at East 9th St. ($, East Village). • L'Express - 249 Park Avenue South at East 20th St. ($$, Gramercy). • Cafeteria - 119 7th Avenue at West 17th Street. ($$, Chelsea). FAMOUS SCENES FROM MOVIES FILMED IN NYC RESTAURANTS • Bubby's Pie Company - 120 Hudson Street (Tribeca) The Devil Wears Prada Anne Hutchinson gets the boss food. • Buddakan - 75 Ninth Avenue at West 16th St. Sex and the City: The Movie Carrie and Mr. Big's rehearsal dinner was held here. • Cafe Lalo - 201 West 83rd St. b/t Broadway and Amsterdam Ave You've Got Mail Tom Hanks sits down with Meg Ryan "till her fiend arrives." • City Bakery - 3 West 18th St. b/t 5th and 6th Aves. Music and Lyrics Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore are in a scene here. • Joe's Pizza - 7 Carmine Street near 6th Ave. Spider-man 2 - Peter Parker works from here as a pizza deliverer. In the movie it was at it's old location on the corner of Carmine and Bleecker. • John's (pizza) of Bleecker St. - 278 Bleecker St at John St. Manhattan Mariel tells Woody she's going to London. • Katz's Deli - 205 East Houston St. at Ludlow St. When Harry Met Sally - Meg Ryan fakes an orgasm, then a woman says "I'll have what she had." • Lexington Ave Candy Shop - 1226 Lexington Ave at 83rd St. 3 Days of the Condor Robert Redford and Faye Dunaway filmed a scene here. • Magnolia Bakery - 401 Bleecker St. at West 11th St. Sex and the City(tv) - Carrie talks to Miranda about a crush here over cupcakes. • Russian Tea Room - 150 West 57th Street b/t 6th and 7th Tootsie Dustin Hoffman, as "Dorothy Michaels" fools his agent, Sydney Pollack. • Sardi's - 234 W 44th St. b/t 7th and 8th Aves. The Muppets Take Manhattan Kermit pretends to be a producer by putting his picture on the wall. • Serendipity 3 - 225 East 60th St. b/t 2nd and 3rd Aves. Serendipity - John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale share hot chocolate. • Tom's Restaurant - 2880 Broadway at W. 112th St. Seinfeld Where he gang talks about nothing over coffee. • 21 Club - 21 West 52nd St. b/t 5th Ave and 6th Ave. Wall Street Michael Douglas hands Charlie Sheen a million dollar check • Vaselka - 144 2nd Ave at East 9th St. Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist Michael Cera and Kat Dennings stop off at this 24-hour Ukranian restaurant on their journey. 
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