Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
CUPCAKE CAFÉ
545 Ninth Ave St between 40th and 41st sts. Subway A, C, E to 42nd St. Mon-Sat 8am-7pm, Sun
9am-7pm.
MAP
The coffee and cupcakes are impeccable at this shabby chic café; their artful designs
look almost too nice to eat.
GAZALA'S PLACE
709 Ninth Ave, between 48th and 49th sts. Subway C, E to 50th St. Mon-Thurs & Sun 11am-10.30pm,
Fri & Sat 11am-11.30pm.
MAP
Supposedly the only Druze (a Middle Eastern sect) restaurant in the States - besides the
outpost at 380 Columbus Ave on the UWS -
Gazala's
serves a full lunch and dinner
menu, but is best-known for its flaky
bourekas
($8), giant stuffed savoury pastries.
MARGON
136 W 46th St, between Sixth and Seventh aves. Subway B, D, F, M to 47-50th sts-Rockefeller Center,
N, Q, R to 49th St. 212 354 5013. Mon-Fri 6am-5pm, Sat 7am-3pm.
MAP
This narrow Cuban lunch counter is nearly always packed, but the jostling is worth it;
savoury Cuban sandwiches ($9 with rice and beans), garlicky
pernil
(roast pork; Wed
special, $10) and brightly seasoned octopus salad ($11.50) top the choices.
RESTAURANTS
THE BURGER JOINT
119 W 56th St between Sixth and Seventh aves, in Le Parker Meridien. Subway F, N, Q, R to 57th St.
212 708 7414. Mon-Thurs & Sun 11am-11.30pm, Fri & Sat 11am to midnight.
MAP
The secret has long been out on the retro hamburger stand hidden in a swish Midtown
hotel. Good for late-night eating (burgers around $8); you might have to wait for a table,
though.
CHEZ NAPOLEON
365 W 50th St between Eighth and Ninth aves. Subway C, E to 50th St.
212 265 6980. Mon-Fri
noon-2pm & 5-9.30pm, Sat 5-9.30pm.
MAP
One of several highly authentic Gallic eateries that sprung up around here in the 1940s
and 1950s,
Chez Napoleon
, a friendly, family-run bistro, is kind of stuck in a time warp
- in a good way. There's a good-value prix-fixe ($32), and the wines are well priced.
DON ANTONIO BY STARITA
309 W 50th St between Eighth and Ninth aves. Subway C, E to 50th St. 646 719 1043,
www.donantoniopizza.com
.
Mon-Thurs 11.30am-11pm, Fri & Sat 11.30am-midnight, Sun
11.30am-10.30pm.
MAP
The progeny of two celebrated Neopolitan pizza mavens, busy
Don Antonio
showcases a
few different styles of pie; traditional margheritas ($12) share the menu with the signa-
