Westside Coffee Shop 2

"The 50-year-old lunch counter, Westside Coffee Shop has shuttered; it fed the neighborhood dishes like pernil, rice and black beans, or plantains and a salad. Grub Street reported it’s reopening in Ozone Park next year." - Melissa McCart

"Westside Coffee Shop is Tribeca’s best kept secret. The all-red diner on a quiet stretch of Church Street serves up some of the neighborhood’s best food, at a fraction of the price of the tweezery tasting menus and fancy steakhouses the area is known for. We like the pernil, with big slabs of dark, shiny skin, and their yellow rice and beans is comfortingly simple. Grab a chrome stool at the counter next to someone who’s deeply focused on their steamy bowl of carne de res guisado, or a table next to a group of friends who are 11 Coronas deep at 5pm on a Monday. Or, get a heavy bag of takeout, and lug it home as quickly as possible. Once you know about it, you’ll be back again and again. " - willa moore, bryan kim, molly fitzpatrick, will hartman, sonal shah

"Westside Coffee Shop is Tribeca’s best kept secret. The all-red Dominican diner on a quiet stretch of Church Street serves up some of the neighborhood’s best food—at a fraction of the price of the tweezery tasting menus and fancy steakhouses the area is known for. We like the pernil with its big slabs of dark, shiny skin, and the comfortingly simple yellow rice and red beans. Grab a chrome stool at the counter next to someone who’s deeply focused on their steamy bowl of carne de res guisado, or a table next to a group of friends who are 11 Coronas deep at 5pm on a Monday. Or get a big bag of takeout, and lug it home as quickly as possible. photo credit: Alex Staniloff photo credit: Alex Staniloff photo credit: Alex Staniloff photo credit: Alex Staniloff Food Rundown photo credit: Alex Staniloff Pernil This is a must. The pork is tender, the skin is thick and fatty and chocolate brown. Whenever it gets too rich, have a bite of rice and beans as a palate cleanser. Rice and Beans The beans are soft and saucy, the yellow rice golden and deceptively savory. A spoonful of this and you might consider taking the next spoonful outside, and feeding it to some stranger on the street. photo credit: Alex Staniloff Chicken Mofongo Soft chunks of plantain interlaced with shreds of chicken. A truly beautiful friendship. Always order the mofongo. It’s dense and deeply flavorful." - Willa Moore

"Westside Coffee Shop is a throwback to the days when Tribeca was part of the “West Side” as in “West Side Story,” and its lunch-counter layout reveals its age. It has accumulated cuisines for 60 years and more, and advertises Spanish, American, and Mexican chow on its awning — and does all of them well. Try the Cuban sandwich or the salad-topped chicken enchiladas, which are served with a separate bowl of chile guajillo." - Robert Sietsema

My favorite Dominican food in the city…order the pernil or baked chicken (better yet go with a friend and split them both). Each will come with an extremely healthy side of black or pinto beans and yellow rice. House made hot sauce will knock you over but is delicious. Get a side of fried onions as well. The place feels like it hasn’t changed interiors for 30+ years…a no frills diner type atmosphere with friendliest auntie vibes from the ladies behind the counter. An unexpected find in Tribeca!