Cafe Classico$$$$$

Since 1994, Cafe Classico has been providing Manhattan businesses and tourists alike, a place where one can get large portions of kosher cuisine for reasonable Manhattan prices. For lunch, the restaurant’s staff is quick to get out dozens of lunch orders for nearby businesses as well as take care of the patrons who come in for lunch meetings or shopping breaks. They are just blocks away from Central Park, Carnegie Hall, MOMA, Trump Tower and all Fifth Avenue stores.

For the evening hours, Cafe Classico morphs into a romantic and elegant venue. With soft Italian or French music playing in the background, it’s a perfect spot for a date or an ideal locale for that after-work escape. Whether for lunch or dinner, prime seats are the ones near the window where you can overlook the busy Fifty-Seventh Street filled with people walking to their next destination. A sense of calmness falls over you since you know you’re relaxed and ready for a fantastic meal.

They have a large and varied menu, so there something for everyone. A great way to start is with their Tomato Mushroom Barley Soup—it’s slightly spicy with lots of flavor and the soft barley and creamy tomato make a great combination. The crunchy and sweet cole slaw is out of this world, with pineapple being the secret ingredient. The restaurant is known for their “Sandwich Board” with dozens of selections of over-sized sandwiches and burgers. In fact, the owners are very passionate about their sandwiches. Each sandwich gets special attention down to the right bread going with the right meat. For entrees, the juicy Saffron Chicken with grilled tomato, wild rice and Israeli salad is highly recommended. All their steaks are of first grade quality and can be paired with several of their fines wines, including some from California and France. For the non-drinkers, they also have a non-dairy milk shake and recently added a sushi bar to the restaurant, with an authentic sushi chef from Japan.

City-wide delivery and fine corporate and social catering are also a big part of their business. Private parties such as Sheva Brachos and birthdays parties are welcomed and encouraged.

Hide

Avocado and Mesclun Salad—Sliced avocados on a bed of mesclun greens, crisp romaine and vegetables

Roasted Turkey and Peppers Sandwich—Oven roasted turkey breast and roasted peppers, arugula with creamy honey-mustard on French baguette

Grilled Salmon—Served with rice, roasted red skin potato and chef’s choice of vegetables

Linguini Alla Bolognese—Linguini pasta topped with Classico’s delicious meat sauce

Beef Kebob—Two skewers of lean ground beef grilled; served with rice, Israeli salad and grilled tomatoes

Chicken Scarpariello—Chicken breast sautéed in olive oil with garlic, balsamic vinegar and white wine