Eat Here Now

When I started working at a new office in Midtown East a while back (riiiiiiight around the time posts became few and far between 'round these here blog parts), I was pumped to explore lunch options and immediately bummed by the search results.  I could either dine at restaurants requiring more time and money than I had to spare, or I could hustle through proportionately over-priced grab-and-go eateries.  But, refrigerated pre-made sandwiches?  Greasy soups that all somehow taste like chicken tinged with indeterminate seafood?  Non, merci.  Dejected, I one day ambled on side streets and avenues until I saw an awning with the words "Eat Here Now."  With no better prospect on the horizon, I figured, "Ok, awning.  If you say so."

Best awning advice I ever followed, because Eat Here Now turned out to be a reasonably priced coffee shop that gets you in and out quickly and with a smile.  Now, you might be thinking, "Fo'real?  We're talking about a tiny diner?  Lataaa," but pal, you need to kick off your shoes and relax - unless you are reading this in public, in which case, relax, but keep your shoes on.  You're not an animal.

The room is a no-frills coffee shop, and the menu is pages upon pages of straightforward (satisfying) American, Italian, and Mediterranean fare.  The real draw, however, is the people who work here.  

My first visit, I was welcomed warmly and directed to a seat.  I ordered an egg and cheese on a toasted plain bagel with decaf coffee.  The order arrived quickly, and I ate it along with the pickles that also arrived on the plate.  My second visit, I was welcomed warmly and directed to a seat.  I ordered an egg and cheese on a toasted plain bagel with decaf coffee - turns out, I am a creature of habit.  The order arrived quickly, and I ate it along with the pickles that also arrived on the plate.  My third visit, I was welcomed warmly, directed to a seat and asked, "The usual?"  In a city of so many people, in a bustling restaurant that sees crowds of locals and tourists alike, I was remembered, and I was impressed.  The order arrived quickly - this time with extra pickles.  

I have been back countless times, often alone, sometimes with friends, and a handful of lunches with my dad.  We have all been treated with kindness and consideration.  Following my dad's first visit, several people asked me to send him their regards; upon learning what I do for work, the owner put me in contact with another customer in the same field; the whole room sang "Happy Birthday" last May when a waitress noticed me putting a card in my bag.

The best part, however, is that they are this friendly to everyone.  A gentleman took a seat at the counter one day and was greeted with a flurry of "Hello, doctor" and "Good to see you, doctor."  An elderly man once asked to sit in a particular section, and the owner playfully teased that he had a crush on the much younger waitress who in turn played along by flirting.  These are small moments, but they make a big impact.

So head to Eat Here Now after a draining shopping excursion at nearby Bloomingdale's, to kick off your morning before a brisk walk through Central Park, or to escape the elements on a rainy day.  You will likely be given a plastic bag for your wet umbrella and quickly asked if you would like a hot beverage.  They're good like that.

Eat Here Now - 839 Lexington Avenue, at East 64th Street

Eisenberg's Sandwich Shop

If you heart New York, I've got a restaurant for you. It's not fancy, trendy, or swank, but it has that classic New York swagger only a joint that has been around since the Great Depression can pull off. In fact, its menu (and t-shirts) claim it has been "Raising New York's Cholesterol Since 1929." The place is Eisenberg's Sandwich Shop, and it is a diner in the Flatiron District with a chalkboard out front that reads, "You either get it, or you don't." Ain't it the troof.

A long, slim space, Eisenberg's is dominated by the counter before opening into a small dining area at the back. Two-tops line the wall opposite the counter, and patrons must be careful not to brush a diner's egg cream onto the floor as they make their way to their own table. The counter stools of course face the open grills, so if you order "The Eisen-Burger," you may watch the half-pound of freshly ground sirloin cook to perfection right before thine eyes.

Sandwiches are unsurprisingly available at the aptly named sandwich shop, and they include all the classics from peanut butter and jelly to liverwurst to a corned beef or pastrami Reuben. Soup, omelets, and platters are options as well and span Manhattan clam chowder (Friday only) to cold borscht, "The LEO" (lox, eggs, and onions) to "The Shmoopie" (egg whites, tomato, onion, and cream cheese), and chicken salad to hot brisket with gravy, mashed potatoes, and vegetables. There really aren't many shockers at this old school establishment, unless the idea of pairing tuna fish with egg salad blows your mind - and if that's the case, honeyboodle, it's time to set down the saltines and live a little.

Go to Eisenberg's Sandwich Shop with that friend who works across the street at the Flatiron Building, your neighbor who once mentioned liking fried salami, or your Nana who grew up in Brooklyn and remembers when this $2.50 knish used to cost five cents. She'll wear a fur turban throughout the meal, and you'll squabble over who gets to pay the bill - it'll be fun!

Eisenberg's Sandwich Shop - 174 Fifth Avenue, between West 22nd & 23rd Streets