The brown paper is now down from the windows and the name is on the glass.
Through the winter steam, a bleary peek inside. Green plants, squiggly lamps, big coffee cups. No greasy burgers or onion rings worthy of being smuggled into a coffin. As far as I can tell.
This is one big heartbreaker. I prefer the paper in the windows. I teach at the New School, and I miss the weekly Tuesday night attitude I'd get from the surly Joe's waitress as she would reluctantly give me a large tea to go. When I was in the hospital for a couple of weeks roughly 7 years ago (St. Vincent's, sigh), Joe's grilled cheese and greasy onion rings cheered up many a day, a respite from the dreary hospital food.
ReplyDeleteO No!
ReplyDeleteo sh*t
ReplyDeleteWe could say why o why...
ReplyDeleteon the other hand, they may have good coffee, but on the other hand, it will be three times what a cup o' Joe Jr. coffee used ta cost... why o why!
i had an hour to kill today near Union Square and thought i'd get a cup of coffee. no diners anywhere. just Starbucks and some very upscale cafes. i'm not above it, but there's something about Starbucks--i just can't do it.
ReplyDeletei wandered into Tarralucci Something or Other, and wandered right out again. i considered Pain Something, not Quotidian, the other Pain Something. couldn't make myself go inside, so loud and crowded, with music and people on phones.
i stood in the cold for awhile.
every day, there are fewer and fewer places left to go where you can kill an hour, in peace, at a counter with a book and a cheap cup of coffee.
"Pain Something" — ha!
ReplyDeleteJoe Junior on Third Avenue at 16th Street is still hanging on.
do you know the Pain i mean? i think they specialize in soup.
ReplyDelete@Jeremiah Moss: The next time you're in the neighborhood, try the Hollywood Diner @16th and 6th. My only complaint with them is that they ripped out the single booths in the middle a few years ago, but the staff is friendly and the counter's decent. Let's support the places that are left!
ReplyDeleteAu Bon Pain? They have soup...more Au Bon Pain in the Necque...
ReplyDeleteI'm so tired of stupid dumb jock bars like 13th Step or pwecious widdle coffee bars for twinkies like this taking the place of great eating places like the Telephone (best chicken pot pie in the WORLD!) and Joe Jr.'s, who in my year of torture working at the New School did much to ease my fury with their fabulous burgers and egg creams...
sorry, i was thinking Pain a Manger--but it's Pret a Manger. i think i like Pain a Manger better.
ReplyDeleteMarty, Hollywood Diner is a good choice. thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeletehow can i visit new york w/out stop off places? i get tired walking/shopping. used to have a soup @ ginos but thats gone, its not a coffe shop but it was homey. or the little diner across from barneys. someone please check out east harlem. there was a coffee shop 40 yrs in business called judys. (lex/99th-100th east side) of street). i would stop in the bitter cold on the way back to the guest house on lex/101st. the interior had not been changed. the menu hadnt been changed in 40yrs & it looked like the menus were from that time! a domicano place w/great roasted chicken & soup. so tiny but so cozy. & cheap! china town has many funky diners. there was a nice hispanic one on e/14th between 1st & A in the E.V. i hope hells kitchen still has its coffee shops. no one keeps it real anymore.
ReplyDeleteto continue my post: starbucks is for airports. & im not impressed w/their coffee. & starbuck is world wide. theyre in every mall down in mexico. its a STATUS symbol!! & the coffees the same price. same menu. & the same kids sit there. on cell phones. w/lap tops. i would'nt be caught dead there.
ReplyDeleteto comment a third time (JM, thanks): these old diners are like a blank canvas. you go in, you eat, relax, read what ever. the new gentrified places are all about "concept" that means "someone's" design, music, & tricky dicky menu is in your face! not homey, not about YOU the customer. lts all about "how can we be zippy cool what ever..." i admire creativity but this is condesending. i dont need to be entertained. i dont want a constant relationship w/concept. this may appeal to someone who fell off a turnip truck. someone who thinks disney world is the ultimate destination. or just in awe of new york or any major city & there looking for kicks. (or young people who need to be cool, or people yearning for chic, style). i myself dont need kicks. i want to be left the fXXk alone. im tired of concept, whether its au natural, new age or what ever. i want regular. i dont need a story that your coffee is cruelty free, i dont want your LYRICS over a speaker in my ear. i want a cup of coffee & i want to read the new york post, write in my note book, yes its about ME. i like MYSELF better than i like you, mr "corporate concept". i have my own creativity. i left gourmet garage on park/e.96st. as they refused to lower the music. i walked one block to lexington/96th to key food. yes its pedestrian, but infinitly more luxurious! (regular is the new chic, repeat after me....): low music, no lines, same products, some almost 1/2 price, fast checkout. & they delieved the bags in 5 minutes! (my grandma would shop @key food when we lived in brooklyn). gourmet garage had long lines, blasting folk music, attitude. & you had to wait till the next day to get your food?? all this for good lighting? dont insult me. bring back diners & supermarkets!!
ReplyDeleteGramercy Diner (3rd/E. 17th) is still an okay choice too... ;-0
ReplyDeleteAlso try Di Roberti's on 1st Ave. in the afternoons, it's usually not crowded and they are always happy to see their regulars...you can read as long as you like. (Beats Taralucci Yoga Queen across the street.)
Did we spy you there a few Sundays ago?!