The Elgin

A block off Rockefeller Center, this Midtown tavern built a bar that runs some 30 feet, giving the room the settled feel of a place that's been there for years. The kitchen puts a spin on American standards, turning French onion soup into a burger topping and pouring a Bloody Mary heavy on horseradish. The menu also runs to heavier plates like a NY strip and a beer-braised short rib, backed by a tequila and mezcal list that runs deep. A few blocks from Times Square, it sees a steady run of pre-theater traffic before curtain.