Eat Globally in Local Manhattan

by Hilary Hughes

Tuesday February 7, 2006

VYNL
754 9th Ave. (between W. 50th & 51st)
Hours:
Mon.-Wed.: 11a.m.-11p.m.
Thu.-Fri.: 11a.m.-12 a.m.
Sat.: 4pm-12 a.m.
Sun.: 4pm-11 p.m.
Brunch Sat.-Sun.: 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Instead of braving the tourist-infested sidewalks of Times Square for some pre- or post-show dining, head west of Broadway for a swanky little spot that promises an excellent, eclectic menu and a vibrant atmosphere guaranteed to stimulate conversation. VYNL, located on 9th Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets, is a small restaurant with a diner feel that’s plastered with old records and other relics from pop music history, including a Cher-themed ladies room and vintage posters on the walls. VYNL boasts a menu that includes everything from an all day breakfast spread and comfort food staples to Asian-fusion cuisine and vegetarian dishes. The bacon cheeseburger and fries hit the spot if you’re in the mood for a meal to bust the seams, and the sesame chicken with peanut sauce is a favorite. My friend and I found that we were too stuffed from dinner to indulge in the enticing dessert menu, but I would strongly recommend giving it a good perusal. The service was friendly and timely, and we were seated right away on a Friday night. If you’re in Midtown and are looking for an affordable menu that’s guaranteed to please, be sure to check out VYNL for a frills-free, fun and filling dining experience.

Ferrara Café
195 Grand St. (between Mulberry St. and Mott St.)
Hours:
Sun.-Fri.: 8a.m.-12a.m.
Sat.: 8a.m.-1a.m.
www.Ferraracafe.com

Providing dessert lovers with sinfully rich delicacies for over one hundred years, the Ferrara Café is a landmark of Little Italy. After a day of shopping on Canal Street or enjoying a three course meal at one of Mulberry Street’s eateries, dessert at Ferrara is the perfect way to end your evening. The pastry counter at Ferrara showcases the specialties of the house: tiramisu made that day and perfectly packaged to take home, cannolis in a variety of flavors, "lobster tails" filled with Bavarian cream, chocolate cheminees, cream puffs and an assortment of tarts and cakes. There are also miniatures of several of the specialty pastries if the decadence of the larger version makes your teeth hurt just from thinking about it. Surprisingly, these trademark treats are as pleasing at the register as they are on the plate: the tiramisu is less than $4, and the rest of the pastries run in the same price range. Little Italy may be somewhat of a trek from Bronxville, but there’s no excuse to miss out on what this sweet spot has to offer the next time you’re downtown.

Havana Central
22 E. 17th St. (between 5th Ave. and Broadway)
Hours:
Mon.-Sat.: 11a.m.-10p.m.
Sun.: 12p.m.-9p.m.
www.havanacentral.com

I was lucky enough to have had my first Cuban meal at Havana Central in Union Square last April, and I have returned numerous times for its comfortable surroundings and mouth-watering menu. Havana Central is famous for its mojitos, a Caribbean concoction made with light rum, lime, mint and sugar cane. The sangria and margaritas are top notch as well, and all specialty drinks can be bought individually or by the pitcher if you’re a member of a larger party. It’s the tantalizing aromas from the kitchen, though, that make dining at Havana Central a memorable experience.

I strongly recommend the maduros, or fried sweet plantains, and the classic Cuban sandwich, which comes with the best sweet potato fries I have ever had. Other dishes to drool over include Ropa Vieja, a classic Cuban dish made of beef, peppers and onions, as well as the Havana-style barbeque pork ribs.

The dessert menu offers flan, three milk cake, and churros con chocolate in addition to several other Latino and Cuban pastries.

The pricing is moderate, but from the drinks to the dessert at Havana Central, the experience is worth every penny.