Filed under: Published travel writing | Tags: Fanelli's Cafe, New York City cafes, restaurant review
Itâs owned and operated by a guy that boxed against Joe Lewis. It was featured in State of Grace with Gary Oldman and Ed Harris. But for some reason, many New Yorkerâs donât know about Fanelliâs, even though itâs on the corner of Prince and Mercer in the middle of Soho, and itâs always full.
Thereâs a tiny little neon sign over the place. Inside, there are small tables with traditional red-checked clothes crowded into a long, narrow space. Black and white photos of boxing matches cover the wall. Across from the tables is a long bar, with stools filled with old timers, who might be Teamsters, or Mafia, polished, young executives, a few hipsters and the odd foreigner. Smoke floats to the ceiling.
This is home to the best Bloody Mary in New Yorkânot too spicy but it has a bite. Not too strong, but enough to relax you. The burgers rival any burger in the city and are cooked at medium rareâwhether you like it or not.
Their best food is a dieterâs nightmareâchicken wings and cheese sticksâand the drinks flow even more heavily. If youâre looking for something immaculate and minimalist, this ainât it. Itâs a place that you go to because itâs easy to get to. Itâs got that sense of time when cabbies in NY knew the city like the back of their hand. This is one of the places theyâd tell you to go eat. Itâs charming. Itâs not trendy, but it sure is hip.