Cafeteria   

119 7th Ave
New York, NY 10011
212-414-1717
www.cafeteria247.com

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Wait a minute, where are the trays with the little sections like in a TV dinner? And there's no lady with a hair net and big messy kitchen spoon behind the counter either. But there is comfort food served 24/7 in huge portions. Cafeteria does have the required mac and cheese, hamburgers and meatloaf, as well as upper-crusty dishes like crispy-skin Atlantic salmon with pickled beets and horseradish vinaigrette. All are served with an upscale presentation that belies the surprisingly reasonable prices. The decor is where it gets more cafeteria-like: The large room is white, with a stylishly institutional feel, and features huge glass garage doors that let in tons of light and refreshing breezes in the warmer months. Every variety of New Yorker can be found here, from executives at lunch to Soho types at night to hipsters and local Chelsea folk in the wee hours. Big bonus: They serve breakfast all day. -- Dan Glass