EVERY true-blooded New Yorker knows to throw out the guidebooks and the best-of issues. This is a city of secret hideaways.
Be it that dinky restaurant, beat-up bar or vintage boutique that nobody ever heard of, something that would really impress your friends or family, but you want to keep it to yourself. It gives us a sense of pride.
“Those secret spots are always the best,” says Randy Goldberg, New York editor at UrbanDaddy, which features a new restaurant/nightclub/electronic device that’s ahead of the curve, everyday on its Web site.
“It’s impossible to be everywhere in this town,” he says. “You feel like people, places, and things get forgotten or lost, so it’s fun to let that be known and bring it back out there.”
His favorite Manhattan spots? Sakagura (sashimi in an East 43rd Street office building basement), Posto (for pizza), Klimat (for Eastern European beer and people-watching) and Birdies, Grandma’s Chicken (fried chicken).
Using bright lights, threats and alcohol, The Post interrogated some plugged-in experts in various fields for their favorite secret spots. All this week, we present the picks – five days, five boroughs.
We start today with Manhattan, and the fastest Brazilian waxer in the city and the best – perhaps only – Burmese restaurant. Shhh, don’t tell anyone.
FOOD
Grotto Be careful not to fall down the steep staircase into this Mediterranean/Italian cuisine restaurant, made to look like a mini-submarine. Diners enjoy the downstairs outdoor space along with the smoked trout or the steak frites. 100 Forsyth St.; (212) 625-3444 B, D to Grand St.
Noche Mexicana Upper West Side Mexican food does not begin and end at Gabriela’s and the 96th Street taco truck. At this Amsterdam Avenue hole in the wall, the economical tostadas are a symphony of flavor. 852 Amsterdam Ave.; (212) 662-6900 1 to 103rd St.
Birdies, Grandma’s Chicken for the People In the middle of the great Korean barbecued chicken explosion of 2007, this American fried chicken place opened in the East Village. “It only has three tables, and the creamed spinach, mac-and-cheese and fried chicken are really fantastic,” says Randy Goldberg, New York editor of Urbandaddy.com. 149 First Ave.; (212) 529-2512 6 to Astor Pl, L to First Ave.
Big Enchilada This dive-y Mexican spot is “ultra affordable, unpretentious and quite delicious,” says Village Voice gossip guru Michael Musto. “Number 33 on the menu is by far the best deal – a half flame-grilled chicken with salad, rice, beans and taco shells. That doesn’t come with much ambiance – but be reasonable.” 28 E 12th St.; (212) 627-7950 L, N, Q, R, W, 4, 5, 6 to Union Square
Sakagura A hard-core sake and sashimi restaurant in a Midtown office building basement. “Lots of Japanese businessmen and the under-the-radar location give it a Tokyo-by-way-of-hidden-New-York feel,” says Urbandaddy’s Goldberg. 211 E. 43rd St.;(212) 953-7253, sakagura.com 4, 5, 6, 7, S to Grand Central
Big Nick’s Burger & Pizza Joint It might seem counterintuitive to order the chicken sandwich here, but foodie Levine swears by it. 2175 Broadway; (212) 362-9238 1 to 79th St.
Penelope This tiny blue-walled country-corner restaurant is something locals stumble upon smack in the middle of Gramercy’s sari-and-spice district. Still, everything about it is worth the trip. The inside will transport you to Mexico. The owner, Jenny Potenza, named it after her turtle, a popular animal in Feng Shui. Get the Nutella French toast, the “Sam I Am” egg dish and the killer cappuccino, served in home-style mugs. On weekends, if you don’t care to wait for a table, you can ask to sit at the bar. 159 Lexington Ave.; (212) 481-3800, http://www.penelopenyc.com 6 to 28th St
Madeline’s Café A solid salad joint. “It’s a very causal in/out place where they serve really good catering food,” says Musto. “The best deal is the three-salads for $7.99. You can put together a sensible, tasty plate of chicken with pesto salad, hearts of palm salad, and carrots and raisins salad.” How … sensible. 141 E. 56th St.; (212) 759-2071, http://www.madelinescafe.com E, V to 53rd St, 4,5,6 to 59th St
Little Italy Swarmed with pizza aficionados during lunchtime, the cheese on this pizza expands a few feet when you take a bite. The spinach slice rocks. So does the chicken, the eggplant and the white pizza. 55 W. 45th St.; (212) 730-7575, http://www.littleitalypizzany.com B, D, F, V to 47th-50th Streets, Rockefeller Center
Sutton Place fruit vendor. It’s a cornucopia. The grapes. Crunchy. The bananas. So ripe. Red apples. Divine. The plums. Addicting. Easy to bargain, but much easier at rush hour, when they’re packing up to go home. Giving this away is just not a good idea. Located on Second Ave. at 49th St. 6 to 51st Street
L. Simchick Lobel’s schmobel’s, Ottomanelli’s schmottomanelli’s. The old-school butchers know their way around a side of beef. Watch while they slice up the meat right in front you. Know-it-all wives pick up lean marinated steaks, potato gratin and beet salad to make their hardworking hubbies happy. 944 First Ave.; (212) 888-2299 E, V to 53rd Street
The Village Yogurt There’s no denying this place is a dump, with pictures of no-name celebrities on their walls. Still, the vegetable dumpling platters are outrageous and they have an extra special dressing which they won’t reveal the recipe to. Ask for extra, though, and they’re happy to give it to you. 547 Sixth Ave.; (212) 929-3752 1, 2, 3 to 14th Street
Mizu Sushi OK, fine. Flatiron dwellers know Mizu. There’s always a packed house, but somehow they manage to sit you in 10 minutes. Fresh, assorted rolls are in abundance and the eggplant yaki-nasu is perfectly grilled and sautéed in a sweet sauce that is low in fat and yummy. Cheaper than Sushi of Gary or Yama Sushi, but just as fresh. No reservations. 29 E. 20th St.; (212) 505-6688 R, W to 23rd Street
Franklin Station Café Years ago, before actress Michelle Williams ever met Heath Ledger, she lived in a TriBeCa loft, and met The Post at this café for a story on her movie, “Me Without You.” Perched by the window, the soft-spoken actress ordered a fruit tart and a coffee, while locals read the paper and didn’t even acknowledge the “Dawson’s Creek” star. Other staples on the Malaysian-French menu are the curry chicken noodles. 222 W. Broadway; (212) 274-8525, http://www.franklinstationcafe.com 1 to Franklin St
Le Bateau Ivre Meaning “drunken boat” in French, an homage to a Rimbaud poem, this chic bistro with outdoor tables bills itself as a French wine bar, with more than 250 selections. Try the wine-tasting menu (Five wines, $20; nine wines, $35), the mussels, the brie hamburger and the salad Nicoise. The adorable wait staff look immaculate in their red button-down shirts with red ties. Open till 4 a.m. every day. The later it gets, the rowdier it gets. 230 E. 51st St.; (212) 583-0579, http://www.lebateauivrenyc.com 6 to 51st St
Pick A Pita Walk into a Fashion District service entrance, go down a hallway and through a white door, and enter not a sample sale but schwarma heaven! Not only do they stuff the pitas with an overflow of meat and veggies, but the tahini sauce has a real bite. It’s kosher, too. 247 W. 38th St.; (212) 730-7482 1, 2, 3, 7, A, C, E, N, Q, R, S, W to Times Square-42nd Street
Tavern on Jane Let the losers line up at Corner Bistro across the street and help yourself to an every-bit-as-good-prolly-even-better burger at this West Village bar and grill. It’s super regular and we’ve never yet had a wait. One Sunday afternoon, we drank so many Bloody Marys we got a round on the house. 31 Eighth Ave., at Jane St.; (212-675-2526) A, C, E, L to 14th Street
China North Dumpling It’s worth the trip down to Chinatown for these fluffy, delectable dumplings. And it’s just a shork walk from the downtown courthouses for those on jury duty (and you might not even use of the small jury-duty stipend thanks to great prices. 27a Essex St.; (212) 529-2760 F to East Broadway
Londel’s Copeland’s is gone and Sylvia’s is overrated, but lesser-known Londel’s goes on. Great soul food – fried chicken, ribs, mac n’ cheese, collard greens, bread pudding and peach cobbler are all on the menu. If you’re lucky, owner Londel Davis will come over and say hello. Live jazz and R&B Friday and Saturday nights. 2620 Frederick Douglass Blvd.; (212) 234-6114, londelsrestaurant.com B, C to 135th St
Café Mingala Not only is this restaurant under the radar, Burmese food in general is – not least because, technically, Burma no longer exists. It’s now Myanmar. Try offbeat items like crispy lentil fritters, thoke salads and mango soy meat. They’ve got a huge vegetarian selection. The lunch menu on the weekends is only $5.50, cash. 1393 Second Ave.; (212) 744-8008 6 to 77th St
Alice’s Tea Cup Forget oh-so-stuffy Lady Mendl’s – this fraughtless fairy-tale tea house has three locations and a tea menu is so long that you will feel as small as Alice for a minute there. Whichever one you order – from blueberry, earl grey, mint or, even Mother-To-Be tea – it will be served in a traditional teapot with cups and a saucer, and definitely lift your spirits. 102 West 73rd St., other locations; (212) 799-3006, http://www.alicesteacup.com 1, 2, 3 to 72nd St
Society Café Be ready to meet some interesting people while sipping coffee or tea and having a slice of cake at this local spot, up by 118th Street in Harlem. Against the brick walls are library-style wooden tables that are always open for reading, writing or getting into heated conversation. There is also a private tea room in the back, but don’t say we told you. Open till midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. 2104 Frederick Douglass Blvd.; (212) 222-3323 B, C to 116th St
Blockhead’s Burrito It’s the rooftop deck, stupid. Blockhead’s provides ample space for you to stuff in a burrito or make a bigger fool of yourself on some monstrous margaritas. 499 3rd Ave.; (212) 213-3332, http://www.blockheads.com
Grom There’s nothing more satisfying than a sugar cone of ooey, gooey gelato. Now you don’t have to travel to Italy to get it. Instead, the owners of Grom in Torino, Italy, brought the ingredients to the Upper West Side. Their tagline, “Il Gelato Come Una Volta,” means “Gelato as it once was.” Flavors like Melone, Caffe, Pera and Cioccolato Extra-Noir are simply mouthwatering. Just be sure to work off the calories and walk home after. 2165 Broadway; (646) 290-7233, http://www.grom.it 1 to 79th St
Sukhadia Skip Curry Hill and head to Midtown for an authentic Indian experience. Seriously – traffic, broken air conditioning, the best Gujarati food you’ll find in the city. Sounds like India to us! The restaurant is completely vegetarian so you’ll have to branch out from chicken tikka masala. Instead, try Dal Dokhli, pieces of Indian bread soaked in a spicey curry or opt for the lunch buffet – $13 for all you can eat. And don’t leave without dessert; especially the jilabis, neon orange super-sweet Indian funnel cake. 17 W. 45th St.; (212) 395-7300, sukhadia.com/ny 7 to Fifth Ave, B, D, F, V to 47–50th Streets, Rockefeller Center
SPAS
Kropps & Bobbers This tiny, cozy and unique salon is not going to be dolling up socialites – only the rebellious Avril-Lavigne-before-she-started-to-look-like-a-socialite types. Ask for that hairdo you’ve always been craving: the spike-y purple dyed locks. Open everyday till 9 p.m. 173 Orchard St.; (212) 260-6992. F, V Second Ave/Lower East Side
Mario Badescu You know what they say, everything old is new again. People forget that the products you buy at Bendel’s actually came from this place. Hidden away on a side street, inside an old apartment building, there is no loud awning to announce this 40-year-old skincare spa. But you won’t forget it once you submit to one of the Russian facialists, $60 for 70 minutes. Be sure to ask for free samples. 320 E. 52nd St.; (212) 758-1065. 6 to 51st St.; E, V to 53rd St
Shears, Hustle & Blow Much beloved Ricky’s just opened a new salon in the back room of the Broadway outpost, about a month ago. They do quick blow-outs for $35. Blue or red highlights and extensions you actually buy at the store are $50 more. We can’t wait for Halloween. Ricky’s SoHo. 124 Crosby St.; (212) 219-9626, shearshustleandblow.com. B, D, F, V to Broadway/Lafayette; R, W to Prince St.; 6 to Bleecker St
Renew An ecological spa, known in smaller circles for employing Olga, the fastest Brazilian waxer/aesthetician in the West (she’s from Ukraine). 368 W. 46th St.; (212) 974-6600, http://www.renew-salon.com. A, C, E to 42nd St.; C, E to 50th St
Dyanna The faded awning and inauspicious side street don’t auger well, but this 25-year-old salon, operated by a Russian lady and an American lady, offers a $35 Brazilian you can write home about. The ambiance needs a little work, but that’s not what you’re there for. You’re there for the quick-and-smooth, and it’s over fast. 150 E 39th St.; (212) 213-0011, dyannasny.com. 4, 5, 6, 7, S to Grand Central/42nd St.
Graceful Services You’re going to have to walk up a few flights of stairs, but this coma-inducing massage parlor is a steal, at $60 for 60 minutes. For $80, you can get a facial with watermelon, sea salt, and ginger masks brought in from China. Open till 10 p.m. 1095 Second Ave., Second Floor; (212) 593-9904, gracefulservices.com. E, V to 53rd St.; 4, 5, 6 to 59th St
Eve This West Village salon is known for its waxing – we love you, Maya! – but it’s mani-pedis are unsung treats. If you’re in a major rush, they’ll do both hands and feet at the same time. $13 for manicure, $26 for pedicure, and you’ll get $2 off your pedicure and $1 off your manicure if you bring your own files. 400 Bleecker St.; (212) 807-8054. 1 to Christopher St
Juvenex Spa You likely won’t remember after a night in Koreatown, but five flights above 32nd Street is the city’s only 24-hour spa. This, people, is the kind of thing that makes New York New York. 25 W. 32nd St., fifth floor; (646) 733-1330, juvenexspa.com. B, D, F, N, Q, R, V, W to 34th St./Herald Sq.
Toshi Hair Mates Don’t worry about the language barrier – just bring a picture! The Japanese mini-chain – there are Midtown and East Village locations – is especially good for men’s haircuts. 114 E. 40th St; (212) 986-6380. 4, 5, 6, 7, S to Grand Central/42nd St
Avalon Salon and Day Spa Newly relocated on Christopher Street after a rent hike in their old West Fourth Street location, Avalon has “talented hairdressers and colorists and massage therapists with – hard to believe – no attitude,” says event planner Marcy Blum. “Downtown celebs are regulars, but there’s no fanfare and no vibes.” 112 Christopher St.; (212) 337-1966. 1 to Christopher St
NIGHTLIFE
Revel The hidden Meatpacking District spot may not have as much hype as SoHo House or a strict door policy like PM, but it’s just as fun and much less snotty. “When you walk in, you’re automatically outside in a back garden,” says Ungie, añkña Arthur Golden, an events promoter in New York City. “It’s great to have a drink or hang out, and because it’s behind a house, it’s a secluded area.” 10 Little West 12th St.; (212) 645-5369. A, C, E to 14th St; L to Eighth Ave.
Otto’s Shrunken Head It’s the grimiest of the grimy, the rawest of the raw, and that’s just how we like it: tiki drinks, a gnarly photo booth, porn video games and the bizarre basement-looking back room with a stage for bands. “All the people who work there rock tattoos and it’s fun seeing all the punk-rock chicks,” says Erin Behan, senior editor of Citysearch. 538 E. 14th St.; (212) 228-2240, http://www.ottosshrunkenhead.com. L to First Ave.; F to Second Ave
KGB A literary cash-only bar with red walls and eerie portraits of the dead elite located on the second floor of a townhouse, where writers unite in poetry, book and playwright circles. 85 E. Fourth St.; (212) 505-3360, http://www.kgbbar.com. 6 to Astor Pl.; N, R, W to W. Eighth St
Sullivan Room This Village club doesn’t get the press of the big 27th Street venues, but it has great music, a low cover charge and a much cooler vibe. 218 Sullivan St.; (212) 252-2151, sullivanroom.com. A, B, C, D, E, F, V to West Fourth St
Desmond’s Tavern Drunk girls in miniskirts will be waiting on line across the street to get inside hot spot PS450, but little do they know a better time awaits them at Desmond’s, the Irish pub with the green-lit awning that’s been around since 1936. Veronica Lake was a waitress there in the ’40s. 433 Park Avenue South; (212) 725-9864. http://www.desmondstavern.com. 6 to 33rd St
The Blue Seats This two-level, upscale sports bar opens tonight with 62 flat-screens and … a raw bar. The idea is to book a booth, which has five screens so sportsfreaks can watch five different games at once. The name comes Madison Square Garden, where loyal fans sit in the nosebleed blue seats. 157 LudlowSt.; (212) 614-1494; F, V to Second Avenue/Lower East Side
Decibel A sake bar that “has been around a so long people have forgotten it’s there,” says Citysearch’s Behan. “It’s not marked, you go into this tiny room and eventually they walk you to a main room and you can have some sake and edamame and dumplings.” 240 East Ninth St.; (212) 979-2733, http://www.sakebardecibal.com. 6 to Astor Pl.
Temple Bar With it’s blacked-out windows, deep armchairs and overpriced cocktails, this sophisticated place evokes invokes “Wall Street”ñ’s Bud Fox and buyouts. Go with a date. 332 Lafayette St.; (212) 925-4242. B, D, F, V to Broadway/Lafayette, 6 to Bleecker St.
Bull McCabe It’s a total dive Irish bar in front with a famous juke box, but out back there’s an utterly charmless patio. It’s not exactly an oasis, it is a welcome respite on St. Marks Place that never gets too crowded, even on Saturday night. 75 St. Marks Place; (212) 982-9895 6 to Astor Pl.
La Quinta Manhattan Normally we wouldn’t be caught dead at a La Quinta this side of I-70, but this Koreatown motel offers an underused rooftop bar – always a valuable commodity. 17 W. 32nd St.; (212) 736-1600. B, D, F, N, Q, R, W to 34th St./Herald Sq.
Manitoba’s Owner/namesake Handsome Dick Manitoba used to be the lead singer of N.Y.C. punk bar, “The Dictators.” Which means you can (more than likely) schmooze with him at the bar before you head downstairs to play some air hockey and shuffle-board bowling. 99 Avenue B; (212) 982-2511, manitobas.com. 6 to Astor Pl.
CULTURE
New York Society Library Not technically a museum, New York City’s oldest extant library is an exhibit of how the world, or at least the Upper East Side, used to be. Although it’s private, membership is a scant $150, and anyone can walk in and use the collection room on the first floor for reading, writing or just taking it all in. But proving it’s more than a relic, the place has been used by the likes of Robert Caro and recent late greats like Wendy Wasserstein and David Halberstam. 53 E. 79th St.; (212) 288-6900, nysoclib.org. 6 to 77th St.
The Virgin Mother Talk about a pregnant pause. Standing 33-feet-tall outside the Lever House restaurant, the statue is hidden between two Park Avenue buildings as discreetly as a Damian Hirst creation can be. You decide how appetizing it is. 390 Park Ave. E, V to 53rd St.
The Irish Hunger Memorial Designed by Brian Tolle, this genuine Irish hovel made from genuine Irish bog honors the one million Irish who died during the potato famine, from 1847 through 1851. When you’ve walked through and seen the film inside, honor them yourself with a picnic in nearby Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park. Located on the corner of Vesey Street and North End Avenue. 1, 2, 3, A, C to Chambers St., E to World Trade Center
The Zipper Factory The off-Broadway playhouse located in an old zipper factory (duh) gets quirky acts (starting Sept. 6 is Margaret Cho’s “The Sensuous Woman”) and is eco-friendly: Theater seats are recycled from New York City taxicabs and other cars. 336 W. 37th St.; (212) 563-0480, http://www.zippertheater.com. A, C, E to 34th St
MoMA If you want the Matisses all to yourself, the museum’s late nights are the time to do it. Enjoy live music and have a cocktail while overlooking the main lobby – without everyone bumping and grinding into you. Open till 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. The Museum of Modern Art, 11 W. 53 St.; (212) 708-9400. E, V to 53rd St
SHOPPING
Geminola This store can be “stupidly expensive, but there are finds,” says New York event planner Marcy Blum. “Vintage items refurbished with great whimsy-tulle skirts added, chopped down to be miniskirts. I’m always able to find something glam in a pinch.” We like the cowboy/brothel décor. 41 Perry St.; (212) 675 1994. 1 to Christopher St
Hippo shoes Next time you’re by Madison Square Garden, stop by this Zappos-like shoe shop, which carries designers like Irregular Choice and Jeffrey Campbell. “They have decent brands for really cheap,” says Leslie Price, editor of racked.com. “I got a pair of round toe Go Max pumps with wedge heels for $10.” 526 Seventh Ave.; (212) 730-8958. 1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, S, W to 42nd St
Antique Orange This is the place to find all the hipster T-shirts with phrases (they have more than 100), cool hip-hop attire from Da Nang and quirky designers like David & Goliath and Heatherette. They also carry a lot of old-school Yellow Rat Bastard gear. Go crazy at the 50-percent-off sales racks, which switches up from week to week. 364 Broadway; (212) 233-8700. 6, J, M, N, Q, R, W, Z to Canal St
Pippin The owner of this vintage jewelry store used to be a vendor at the Chelsea Flea Market, back when it was good. “Their shop has a great grandma parlor type of feel to it,” says Price of racked.com. “They are major thrifters. They go to estate sales, they have ’60s stuff, ’40s stuff and the prices are amazing. They have antique rings for $5. It’s impossible to go and not get something.” 112 W. 17th St.; (212) 206-0008. 1 to 18th St
Dulcinee Owner and former graphic artist Mauren Leon gets most of her vintage Chanel and Halston from Europe, and she doesn’t charge a lot of money for them. “She has a great eye for beautiful and unusual pieces,” says Price. “And she has a great selection of boots and Italian brand bags. Note: Leon is also a champion bargainer. 127 Stanton St.; (212) 253-2534. F, V to Second Ave.-Lower East Side
ODDS & ENDS
Manhattan Velo You wouldn’t know it’s name, because the sign simply says “Bicycles.” According to Michael Musto, “this place has both high end and low end contraptions – I get the low end ones; they’re stolen less frequently. Also good service and $10 flat fixing. There’s no price gouging here like at some other bike stores with actual names.” 141 E. 17th St.; (212) 253-6788, manhattanvelo.com. 4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, W to 14th St./Union Sq
Coop Village Sure you may have to put up with a shabbos elevator stopping at every floor on Friday nights, but this postwar housing development has real two-bedrooms selling for $600,000 to $700,000, East River views and garages where parking spots go for $150 a month. Grand Street and FDR Drive, coopvillage.coop F to Delancey St
The Adirondack Forget stinkpots like the Beast – this 80-foot, 1890s-style pilot schooner has been sailing New York Harbor since the fall of 1999, and has a special three-hour “all you can drink” deal for $40 to $50. Chelsea Piers, Pier 59; (646) 336-5270, sail-nyc.com. C, E to 23rd St
Morningside Park Once known as Death Park, this rocky uptown patch has curvy pathways, great monuments and Columbia University students to bat your eyes at. West 110th Street to West 123rd Steet at Morningside Avenue; (212) 937-3883; morningsidepark.org
Loews Kips Bay With 15 screens and Nathan’s hot dogs and cheese fries at the concession, it’s the cineplex that always has a screening when you want it. Bonus: Couples seating. 570 Second Ave.; (212) 447-0638. 6 to 28th or 33rd streets
Artie’s Not only do they do an impeccable job fixing shoes, they’ll take your beige designer bag and dye it black, making it hotter and sexier than it was before. Ask for the VIP card, and after six repairs or jobs, you’ll get a discount. 243 Eighth Ave., at 22nd St.; (212) 255-1451. C, E to 23rd St
Renaissance Cigar Emporium A 100-square-foot humidor welcomes you as you walk inside, where you can choose from more than 100 cigars, sit back and watch the flat-screens, play chess or chillax. No Judi Nathans here, but the Rev. Al Sharpton is a regular customer and is getting a locker there – consider it a promise or a threat. 1825 Madison Ave., between 118th and 119th streets; (212) 348-7028, http://www.renaissancecigars.com. 6, 2, 3 to 116th St