Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Flor de Mayo
CUBAN/CHINESE Cuban/Chinese cuisine
is a New York phenomenon that started in the late 1950s when
Cubans of Chinese heritage immigrated to New York after the revo-
lution. Most of the immigrants took up residence on the Upper West
Side, and Cuban/Chinese restaurants flourished. Many have disap-
peared, but the best one, Flor de Mayo, still remains and is so popu-
lar that a new branch opened further south on Amsterdam Avenue.
The kitchen excels at both sides of the massive menu, but the best
dish is the
la brasa
half-chicken lunch special—beautifully spiced
and slow-roasted until it's fork tender and falling off the bone, served
with a pile of fried rice, bounteous with roast pork, shrimp, and veg-
gies. Offered Monday through Saturday until 4:30pm, the whole
meal is $6.95, and it's enough to fortify you for the day. Service and
atmosphere are reminiscent of Chinatown: efficient and lightning-
quick. My favorite combo: the noodles-, greens-, shrimp-, and pork-
laden Chinese soup with yellow rice and black beans.
2651 Broadway (btwn 100th & 101st sts.).
&
212/663-5520
or 212/595-2525.
Reservations not accepted. Main courses $4.50-$19 (most under $10); lunch spe-
cials $5-$7 (Mon-Sat to 4:30pm). AE, MC, V ($15 minimum). Daily noon-midnight.
Subway: 1 to 103rd St. Also at 484 Amsterdam Ave. (btwn 83rd & 84th sts.).
&
212/
787-3388.
Subway: 1 to 86th St.
Finds
Good Enough to Eat
AMERICAN HOME COOK-
ING For 25 years the crowds have been lining up on weekends
outside Good Enough to Eat to experience chef/owner Carrie Levin's
incredible breakfasts. As a result, lunch and dinner have been some-
what overlooked. That's too bad, because these meals can be as great
as the breakfasts. The restaurant's cow motif and farmhouse knick-
knacks imply hearty, home-cooked food, and that's what's done best
here. Stick with the classics: meatloaf with gravy and mashed pota-
toes; turkey dinner with cranberry relish, gravy, and cornbread stuff-
ing; macaroni and cheese; griddled corn bread; Vermont spinach
salad; and the BBQ sandwich, roast chicken with barbecue sauce and
homemade potato chips. And save room for the desserts; though the
selection is often overwhelming, I can never resist the coconut cake.
This is food you loved as a kid, which is one reason why the kids will
love it today. There are only 20 tables here, so expect a wait on week-
ends during the day or for dinner after six.
483 Amsterdam Ave. (btwn 83rd and 84th sts.).
&
212/496-0163.
www.good
enoughtoeat.com. Breakfast $5.25-$12; lunch $8.50-$15; dinner $8.50-$23 (most
under $18). AE, MC, V. Breakfast Mon-Fri 8:30am-4pm, Sat-Sun 9am-4pm; lunch
Mon noon-4pm, Tues-Fri 11:30am-4pm; dinner Mon-Thurs & Sun 5:30-10:30pm,
Fri-Sat 5:30-11pm. Subway: 1 to 86th St.
Kids
Finds
