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| Grit is Good: Return to ‘70s New York
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March 11, 2009
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Elaine’s
1703 2nd Ave. (@88th St.)
Upper East Side 212.534.8103
Providing the backdrop for scenes In Woody Allen's 1979 movie, Manhattan, and a shout-out in Billy Joel's hit, "Big Shot,” are only a few of this saloon-style Italian resto’s brushes with fame since its early ‘60s debut. Today, that iconic yellow awning is still a beacon to the high-brow, and proprietor Elaine Kaufman's client list reads like a who's who of entertainment and media. Expect celeb regulars like the aforementioned Allen (with Soon-Yi in tow, natch), news personalities, and politicians. A shadowy, wooded bar attracts UES yuppies, many of whom may be wearing the same corduroy blazers they sported in the ‘70s, while frosted glass windows protect the cave-like interior from the camera's glare. Walls, awash with a mish-mash of memorabilia, add to the casual feel. Elaine's is more about the scene than the food. Just don't look askance at one of her regulars, or tough-as-nails Kaufman will toss you faster than you can slice your pricey veal chop.
Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal St. (W. 3rd & Bleecker Sts.)
Greenwich Village 212.475.3850
Is it any coincidence that this old-school relic is the biggest (re)opening this season? Historic 72-year-old Minetta Tavern’s may have been overhauled by Keith McNally, but purists will be pleased to know that his historically-sensitive makeover preserved the murals, celebrity caricatures, tin ceiling, and bric-a-brac that for decades have infused this one-time speakeasy with ramshackle charm. A favorite stomping ground of literary giants like Hemingway and Ezra Pound, Minetta can also be seen in all its gritty glory in the movie Sleepers. Its location, near Minetta Lane, is also where Sidney Lumet’s genius film, Serpico (a sobering peek into the chaos of Seventies NYC), was shot. Minetta Tavern now serves brasserie fare, thanks to chefs hailing from Balthazar and Pastis, and Pat La Frieda’s much-hyped Black Label Burger ($26) will be a featured selection at this updated, yet still solidly old-school favorite.
Gene’s Restaurant
73 W. 11th St. (5th & 6th Aves.)
Greenwich Village 212.675.2048
Ever wonder where those naughty bohemians of Greenwich Village used to hang? Well, they’re still here—albeit with a little more gray hair—at Gene’s Restaurant, where the Italianate murals on the wall don’t exactly ji
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