New Caporal Fried Chicken & Shrimp in Washington Heights was founded in 1968 and featured on its signage an adorable chicken 🐔 mascot!

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We hope you can join us for our Counter Culture: New York City’s Greatest Diners and Luncheonettes book signing & launch event at Veselka East Village

 

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Please Don’t Tell (PDT), East Village, NYC

Please Don’t Tell (PDT) is hidden behind a vintage telephone booth within the East Village hot dog shop, Crif Dogs on St Mark’s Place. 

When PDT opened in 2007, it was among the first bars inspired by the infamous Prohibition era, when bars operated in secret to avoid discovery by the law. Its unmarked entry drew in curious drinkers but it also soon became known globally for its cocktail menu using fresh ingredients & measured pours to make classic drinks like Old Fashioneds, Manhattans and Daquiries.

PDT @pdtnyc with its taxidermy-adorned walls, handful of tables and only 15 seats at the bar, is one of the bars we feature in our new book “Great Bars of New York City” which is available at your local bookseller and online worldwide.

We are excited to share a sneak peek into our new book Counter Culture: New York City’s Greatest Diners and Luncheonettes which will be released on September 15, 2026 by Prestel.

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Brooklyn Farmacy & Soda Fountain is one of the best places to enjoy a milkshake and feel like you are stepping back in times this lovingly restored 1920s apothecary

 

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Record Shop at 360 Van Brunt Street in Red Hook, Brooklyn

Record Shop at 360 Van Brunt Street in Red Hook, Brooklyn is a true NYC hidden in plain sight gem. 

It’s known by locals as equal parts community space and record store and although it’s been open for 10 years, owner Bene Coopersmith never formerly gave the shop a name, just calling it simply “Record Shop”. 

@360recordshop is one of the fabulous NYC indie record stores which we feature in our book “Vinyl NYC: 33 1/3 of the Best Record Stores Across All Five Boroughs” which is available at your local bookseller and online!

Lanza's, in the East Village, NYC

Lanza's, in the East Village, NYC, is reported to have been a favorite #Italian restaurant of the Genovese, Bonanno and Gambino crime families.  

In 1993, Woody Allen used the restaurant to film a scene for his movie "Manhattan Murder Mystery. 

We love its #vintage stained glass windows and #sign. Sadly, the restaurant has been closed for a while and its status is uncertain. Photo appears in our book "Store Front NYC: Photographs of the City's Independent Shops, Past and Present."