Grandma’s House, 27 Peck Slip, (212) 472-6362
This cozy spot, which looks more like your grandma’s kitchen than a restaurant, is a throwback to simpler times when a big meal and a hug made everything better. Or maybe old-fashioned milkshakes and mac and cheese just delude us into thinking life is great. Either way, diners can fill up on delicious food and be happy for at least one hour of their day. The restaurant, which features large portions of comfort food, is already taking orders from Seamless. Popular menu options include the aforementioned mac and cheese, Angus hamburgers—called hambiggers—and the baby back sweet ribs.
The restaurant’s décor includes curtains in the windows, a white picket fence outside and flower boxes in the dining room. I love the idea of a slice of peaceful Americana in Manhattan’s financial center. And the prices aren’t bad either. A four-cheese, four-layer grilled cheese is $7.50. Burgers and steak hero’s are around $10. Desserts begin around $2.50.
R&R Coffee, 76 Fulton, (646) 449-8908
“R&R” stands for a decades-long friendship, rest and relaxation, and is the perfect meeting spot for New Yorkers looking to sit down for a minute and share a pastry or two over great coffee. Co-owners Ron Julka and Richard Young (the R’s) have been friends for around 20 years, and they decided now was the time to open their version of the coffee shop in Lower Manhattan.
“We’re in love with the location,” Julka said. “We have tourists, residents and businesspeople, and more and more people are sticking around longer.”
The shop, a stone’s throw from the South Street Seaport and yet still close to Wall Street, features Intelligentsia beans and pastries by Ceca Cela. Coming soon are salads and sandwiches, bagels and an even greater selection of pastries and cookies.
The walls of this space are yet blank, but they’re considering looking to local artists to add splashes of color. However the coffee spot evolves, it’ll still feature friendly service and great food.
