Margon is an old-school Cuban restaurant, and you can find it at 136 W. 46th St.
Back in 2008, Getty Rivas told me how his father came from the Dominican Republic and first worked in the restaurant as a dishwasher. In 1987, after Margon had moved into its current spot, a former go-go bar, Mr. Rivas took over.
The hopping little place continues to be managed and staffed completely by the Rivas family--"aunts, uncles, cousins..."--17 family members in total. They have since added their own Dominican flavors to the Cuban dishes.
You can sit at the small lunch counter at the front, or head to the steam tables in back. Take an orange tray and the server fills your plates with beans, rice, plantains, roast chicken, beef stew.
They also make Cubano sandwiches and a deliciously frothy morir sonando, which tastes like a creamsicle and means "to die dreaming."
Margon is located in one of a cluster of small buildings that hark back to an older Times Square and an older city. They look out of place, just a block off the tourist-clogged corpo-Disneyland of glass towers and Brobdingnagian TV screens. It is a relief to arrive here. It feels like an oasis.
It's a place of second-story businesses. I am partial to the jumble of signage outside the barber shop. You can also sell your gold and diamonds.
Margon is literally the only thing I miss about the time when I used to work in Times Square.
ReplyDeleteMargon has THE BEST Cuban sandwich I have ever had, anywhere. I try to find any excuse to go here. Long may they run! The idea of go-go dancers flailing around in that tiny space is a little terrifying.
ReplyDeletePark Italian is also a good bet if you want to venture half a block past 6th avenue. Run by the same family for 20+ years
ReplyDeleteMargon is the best. I stopped working in NYC for a couple of years and it was the ONLY thing I missed. Food is great, its reasonable. Mmmmmmmm just thinking about it. Definetely getting some for lunch next week (BTW, 1 meal can last you 2 or 3 days)
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