Bar Centrale

On our list of the best speakeasies in New York.

Up a flight of stairs between Joe Allen and Orso on Restaurant Row sits Bar Centrale, its entrance unmarked enough that a passerby would take the townhouse for a private home. The room draws off-duty Broadway actors along with the audiences who just saw their shows, especially once the curtain comes down nearby. Snacks like deviled eggs and a Maine lobster quesadilla sit alongside heartier plates such as a pulled pork sandwich or a strip steak salad, with a wine and beer list that runs from an easy glass to a serious bottle. Reservations go by phone, and only as far out as a week.