It was going to be a perfect day in Manhattan. My ship, the MSC Poesia, was docked at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal, only a short walk to Broadway and Times Square. Past the tiny urban oasis of the Clinton Community Garden, a newly renovated apartment building aptly named “Terrific Tenement” and an assortment of delicatessens and Irish pubs, withing ten minutes I was at the crossroads of Manhattan.
My mission was simple: sample the best Manhattan cocktail in Manhattan. Based on hearsay, i knew exactly where to go; Café Un Deux Trois. Located in what was once the lobby of the Hotel Gerard, this hundred-year old landmark has experienced the best of Broadway’s luminaries. According to manager Randy St. Louis, it was the place to be seen before going into Studio 54 in the 1970s.
The original bar is still in use, the old wood polished to a sheen and the mirrored wall behind it reflecting the gleaming crystal chandeliers in the adjacent dining room. Occupying more square footage than most neighboring eateries, lunchtime at the café attracts mostly local business people and a few wandering tourists, leaving quite a few tables unoccupied on non-matinee theatre days. The demographics change dramatically in the evening. Pre-theatre diners are followed by post-theatre cast members looking to unwind and have a late repast.
My Perfect Manhattan was as I hoped. Made with brandy instead of bourbon, it was a generous cocktail that would last through my entire meal.
Café Un Deux Trois is a wonderful place for lunch to escape from the frenetic pace of Broadway just steps away or for dinner. Whether you are headed to a Broadway play or merely want to absorb the atmosphere of a bygone era, a visit to Café Un Deux Trois will please your palate as well as your wallet. Prices are within a New York reason and the cocktails as generous as the food portions.
Located at, of course, 123 West 44th Street, Café Un Deux Trois will be a highlight of your visit to the Big Apple, no matter what the weather.
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