S&P Lunch New York
1928 Lunch Counter
Eric Finkelstein and Matt Ross are the new owners/operators of S&P Sandwich Shop, opened in 1928 by Austrian Jewish immigrants Charles Schwadron and Rubin Pulver. Then, it was one of many lunch counters serving garment workers whose factories were located in the neighbourhood lofts.
For most of those workers, English was a second language, their Eastern European culture was brought almost intact to New York, lock stock, and barrel. Lunch counters such as S&P offered menus that catered to that culture.
Today S&P's menu still offers Jewish specialties like kreplach, matzoh ball soup, latkes, chopped liver, rugelach, kasha varnishkes, and so forth along with old-fashioned sandwiches like grilled cheese, tuna melt, egg / chicken / tuna salad, and chopped olives and cream cheese.
The thing is today's customers may be nothing like the originals, nearly all of whom worked nearby—even upstairs—in the schmata business, but they are still entrants in the endless parade of perhaps millions of people who have entered S&P's premises, which looks pretty much exactly now as it did when it opened, right down to its very old telephone.
The nostalgic interior is a maintained original, which partly makes S&P wonderful—diners feel they are part of the continuum, making lunch there akin to being able to step inside an Edward Hopper painting. The matzoh ball soup is on target, heavy on dill, light on the matzoh balls, and liberal with the schmaltz. A nice bowl of soup.
About this spot
Find your way with 301 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
Nice place right!? There’s so much more to discover:
Discover all other hidden gems in New York
Rainey Park
Western Queens oasis
When you step into "Rainey Park" in New York City, it feels like you have been welcomed into the shared backyard of Astoria residents. Compact & sunny!
by
Paula
Ryszkiewicz
Queens Bakehouse
New York Style patisserie
"Queens Bakehouse" in NYC was an instant hit with me. Their inventive twists on classics are what really stole my heart - the croissant loaf, for example.
by
Paula
Ryszkiewicz
Utopia
Old-fashioned breakfast
"Utopia" is my neighborhood go-to breakfast joint. It's a real old-school kind of place; I go with my newspaper and am always served well and fast.
by
Geoffrey
Dunbar
Malachy's Donegal Inn
Pint-sized Irish bar, UWS
"Malachy's Donegal Inn" is an Irish bar in New York city that's a survivor. There's an ingrained (or ingrown) sense of comfort, 'cares abandoned'...
by
Geoffrey
Dunbar
Central Park Benches
Poignant inscriptions
"Central Park Benches" in NYC (apart from their comfort) are known for their commemorative plaques. One of them is dedicated by the citizens of Liverpool...
by
Geoffrey
Dunbar
BANKSY locations New York
Contemporary street art
You can find "BANKSY in New York" in the Upper West Side. 'Boy With a Hammer' is the only one of his pieces that hasn't been 'repurposed'...
by
Geoffrey
Dunbar
Silvana
Live music, café, boutique
"Silvana" is a large cafe, boutique, shawarma and falafel bar in NYC that also offers live music performances on their downstairs stage. Great acts!
by
Geoffrey
Dunbar
Mo's Famous Burgers
Hamburger Food Truck
The menu is simple: hamburgers, French fries & toppings. No over-the-top ingredients, no superfluous adjectives, and high-value food at rock-bottom prices.
by
Geoffrey
Dunbar
Elizabeth Street Garden
Sculpture garden NoLita
"Elizabeth Street Garden" New York: formerly the site of a large, important school house, it was reclaimed in the '90s and turned into a sculpture garden.
by
Geoffrey
Dunbar
UWS Phone Booth
Last payphone booth
One block away from a 21st century LinkNYC WiFi tower on Broadway sits one of three West End Avenue working telephone 'booths', the last in NYC...
by
Geoffrey
Dunbar
Anthony & Son
Old-school sandwich shop
After, "Anthony & Son" Panini Shoppe's Italian-style super-sandwiches, no regular New York sandwich will ever taste as good again...
by
Nick
Papa
Dutch Kills
Upholding cocktail culture in Queens
"Dutch Kills" in New York isn't hiding it's one of the best bars in the city, but it isn't publicizing the fact, either. No password to enter, however!
by
Nick
Papa
Heading to New York?
301 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
Authentic Stories by Real People
Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌
... for just €9.99
Heading to New York?
✓ 0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
✓ 301 Insider Tips
✓ Escape the Crowds
✓ Find Spots nearby
✓ Authentic Stories
... for just €9.99
City guides by those who know the city in and out!
Our Locals' Favorite New York
Our team loves New York
Get to know our other Spotters from New York
As featured on:
