Classic Coffee Shop, Home of My Favorite Tuna Melt (Plus 7 Other Tuna Melts I've Eaten This Year)
- Classic Coffee Shop
Some people think I must keep up with the latest food trends and restaurant openings in New York City because I work at a a food website. To that, I say, for the most part, not really—I'd rather watch this video of a baby alpaca falling asleep on a continuous loop (a truly inspiring combination of music and film, that is). I'm not saying I don't care about anything that's new—I care if it's awesome—but I'm more interested in places that have stayed in business for years upon years/decades without the help of any Internet buzz.
Like Classic Coffee Shop. This cozy, sandwich-centric lunch counter on Hester Street has been open for 37 years. It's a 10-minute walk from my office. And I only ate there for the first time three months ago. I fail.
- Tuna melt!
Lately I've been eating tuna melts every chance I get, and Classic Coffee Shop's ($5.50) is my favorite so far. Instead of the mountainous open-face sandwiches I'm more accustomed to, this place keeps it simple: a closed sandwich made with well buttered slices of rye griddled to an even dark brown, two slices of melted cheese, and a reasonable amount of creamy tuna salad. You've got crisp, gooey, and creamy in every bite—no fork and knife required and no excess tuna splodging out the back.
