"Stroll through the flashy chrome and neon entrance to Beginners Diner in the newly remodeled Lafayette Hotel and you’ll be transported to a retro diner experience in a gleaming vintage dining car. Chef Ted Smith has fashioned a menu full of upscale classics like duck confit hash with potatoes and peppers or country pâté with eggs, plus dinner specials such as wagyu meatloaf, chicken schnitzel, pot roast, sandwiches, and small plates. Pair your meal with a thick, creamy milkshake that comes in regular and boozy versions, and finish with a slice of tangy lemon meringue pie. The cherry on top? Beginners Diner is open 24 hours a day." - Mary Beth Abate