i heart nyc

Blue Ribbon Manhattan

Soho | 97 Sullivan Street (bet. Spring and Prince streets) | NYC, NY | Tel 212 274 0404
Web  Blue Ribbon Restaurants

Last night a friend and I went to Blue Ribbon for dinner. We have seen rave reviews about the place and thought it was worth a try. Knowing that they can get very busy, we arrived before 7pm to be assured we got a seat without a wait. Our strategy was good because about 15 minutes after we arrived, the place was packed and had a wait. I was really looking forward to this!

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The atmosphere was very nice and basically comfortable. It was far from luxurious. The walls were painted in a warm cover and the tables covered with white butcher paper. There is a small bar in the front where you can have a drink while you wait for a table. The restaurant only has about 15 tables so I see why they fill up fast. Service was very friendly and unpretentious. We had a really nice guy as our waiter. Upon seating, we were greated with a delicious crusty loaf of bread with butter.

Elephant & Castle

Greenwich Village | 68 Greenwich Avenue | NYC, NY | Tel  1 (212) 243-1400

Subway 1, 2, 3 (14th Street) | 1 (Christopher Street) | A, B,C, D, E, F (West 4th)

Web Elephant & Castle  (the websight also has menus)

Once upon a time I was a young guy living who left a small rural town in New York State and moved to New York City to claim my independence. Back then (in the early 80's) I was poor and made about $145 a week which was about $112 a week take home. Of course, my rent was only $225 a month but I still I had to be careful with my bucks.

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For 25 years I often passed Elephant and Castle but never stopped to eat. I wasn't sure what type of food they served. I remember thinking it was a brunch or sandwich place or maybe an Indian inspired restaurant. Years later I always stopped to read the menu and as my income went up, the prices never seemed expensive. Unfortunately I was always on my way to somewhere else or not ready for a meal. 

Twenty five years later, after I moved back to NYC from California, I was strolling through The Village and I finally decided to stop at Elephant & Castle for dinner and have been pleased with every visit thereafter. How did I miss this place for 25 years? Elephant & Castle is not the type of place where you find tourists or "fashionistas", but just local people having a real good meal.