BBE Editor's Pick

Cipriani Le Specialità

110 E. 42nd St., New York (Grand Central)

By William Sertl

It might be the most glamorous cafeteria in the world. It’s certainly the most glamorous one in New York. This chic little spot, hiding in plain sight across from Grand Central, brings more than a little Cipriani cachet—complete with signature round café tables and caramel-colored leather chairs—to what would otherwise be just a plain-old lunch hour. Start with the hot entrées on the tavola calda (maybe baked tagliardi alla bolognese or salmon with sautéed asparagus), move through the line to soups and sandwiches (panini, of course), grab a dolce and a bottle of Pellegrino and then secure a table. For breakfast, lunch or an early dinner (doors close at six), Le Specialità makes it easy to trade the brown bag for a picnic on the piazza.

menu musts*

Sandwich of the day
Baked tagliardi alla Bolognese
Penne al pesto
Prosciutto, mozzarella and basil panino
Build your own salad
*many items change daily
view full menu here

sweet seats

Squeeze around the little café tables with friends or, if solo, sit at the counter to watch the parade go by on 42nd Street.

chew on this

Preorder by phone or e-mail (aromani@cipriani.com) and skip the line—for takeout or eat-in.

hours

Mon.–Fri. 7 AM–6 PM

price range of menu items

$3.95 (small soup of the day) to $13.50 (large hot specials)

110 E. 42nd St. (between Park Ave. and Lexington Ave.; subway: 4, 5, 6, 7, S to Grand Central–42nd St.), New York, NY 10017; 212-557-5088 www.cipriani.com/locations/new-york/restaurants/la-specialita.php $