Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Clear the Gauloise smoke from your eyes and blink twice if you think you're in Paris:
bistro-esque Gitane has that kind of louche vibe,
mon amour
. This is a classic see-and-be-
seen haunt, popular with salad-picking models and the odd Hollywood regular. Join the
beautiful and their
mignons
for a fashionable nibble on the likes of blueberry and almond
friands or Moroccan couscous with organic chicken.
(
212-334-9552;
www.cafegitanenyc.com
;
242 Mott St, at Prince St; mains $14-16;
8:30am-midnight Sun-Thu, to 12:30am Fri & Sat;
N/R to Prince St, 6
to Spring St)
18
Nyonya
$$
MALAYSIAN
Take your palate to steamy Melaka at this bustling, cash-only temple to Chinese-Malay
nyonya
cuisine. Savor the sweet, the sour, and the spicy in classics like pungent
kangkung
belacan
(sautéed water spinach spiked with spicy Malaysian shrimp paste); rich beef ran-
dang, and refreshing
rojak
(savory fruit salad tossed in a piquant tamarind dressing). Ve-
getarians should go warned: there's not much on the menu for you.
(
212-334-3669; 199
Grand St, btwn Mott & Mulberry Sts; mains $7-24;
11am-late;
N/Q/R, J/Z, 6 to Canal Street, B/D to Grand St)
19
Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
$
Chinatown's favorite ice-cream peddler keeps it local with flavors like green tea, ginger,
durian and lychee sorbet. If you're feeling reckless, try the zen butter (creamy peanut but-
ter ice cream laced with toasted sesame seeds). The Factory also sells ridiculously cute
trademark T-shirts with an ice cream-slurping happy dragon on them.
(
ICE CREAM
212-608-4170;
www.chinatownicecreamfactory.com
;
65 Bayard St; scoop $4;
11am-10pm;
;
N/Q/R, J/Z, 6 to Canal St)
Top Tip
