Meet 46th Street
Beginning with the United Nations at the East River, 46th Street goes through several costume changes before it reaches The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum on the Hudson River. Of course, food takes center stage – particularly between Eighth and Ninth Avenues, which former Mayor John Lindsay named Restaurant Row back in the early 1970s. Unfortunately, a number of restaurants have closed since then, but a few old-timers are still hanging in there: the 1982 French restaurant, Le Rivage, Joe Allen and Pergola Des Artistes, all opening their doors in the 1960s; Broadway Joe’s (Lost Gem) since 1949; and Barbetta, New York’s oldest family owned restaurant, since 1906. In addition to serving customers for generations, many of these landmarks have been immortalized over the years in movies and television.
The east side has its own share of extraordinary restaurants: the iconic Sparks Steak House; Tulsi (Lost Gem), an exceptional place for fine Indian dining; Aretsky’s Patroon, with its rooftop terrace and bar; and Vitae (Lost Gem), the youngest in the area, serving glorious food in a stunning setting. With its close proximity to the diamond district, it did not come as a total surprise to find many terrific kosher restaurants and cafes on both the east and west side including Le Marais.
Amidst these exceptional dining spots, I encountered Spiff, a contemporary men’s salon, the charming Gotham Hotel and then moving further west, I came upon two hidden gems, both on a second floor. Having noticed their signs out front, I went upstairs to find Jon Baltimore Music Company and Roberto’s Winds, two remnants of shops that were once ubiquitous in the area. Next door, I entered The Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, a grand center for worship that has been standing on 46th Street for over one hundred years.
