The Best Restaurants Near Columbia University

"There’s more to this classic diner than its feature in Seinfeld, even though the walls are covered with Kramer cutouts and other memorabilia. Since the ’40s, it’s been a quiet corner retreat for students and neighborhood folks, with high-backed red vinyl booths and $7 mimosas (or house wine). The affordable diner food usually hits the spot, and there are often just-exciting-enough weekly specials like roast leg of lamb. It’s a perfect place to sit at the counter with a book, get distracted by SVU on the TV, and drink endless coffee refills." - willa moore, sonal shah, neha talreja, will hartman