Tue 6 Oct
This was Tuesday, October 6.
A tight Tuesday — three rooms, all Manhattan, all checked at their own sites today. Two of them have never taken a booking in their lives, and the third prints 'No Reservations. Takeout Available.' on its own flagship page. None of them asks for a card.
We never hold, resell or book a table. Availability moves minute to minute, so go early rather than late.
Carnegie Deli
Midtown
The 1937 pastrami landmark on Seventh Avenue — deli mats, celebrity photos, and sandwiches stacked past the point of reason, with a cheesecake slice the size of a doorstop. Half the room eats standing at the counter, which is exactly how the room wants it.
The way in
walk in — the deli takes no reservations and opens daily from 11am to 10pm, counter or table, takeout always
Why we say so
Their own flagship page states "No Reservations. Takeout Available." with "Open daily, 11am to 10pm."
Corner Bistro
West Village
The West Village hamburger pub — long church-pew tables, a wall of dollar bills, and a beer-and-cheddar burger that outlived every trend on the block. The tag line has been the same for decades because the policy never changed.
The way in
walk in — the bistro takes no reservations at either of its rooms, first come first served, and the West Village door runs 10am to 2am Sunday through Wednesday
Why we say so
Their own site states "No reservations, walk-ins only" with West Village hours of "Sunday - Wednesday 10:00 AM - 2:00 AM".
Corner Bistro East Village
East Village
The same church-pew formula carried up to Avenue A — the onion-ring-and-beer crowd without the queue down the block, close enough to stand in for the original when the Village door is long. Same burger, same no-book rule.
The way in
walk in — no reservations, walk-ins only, and the East Village room runs 11am to midnight Sunday through Wednesday
Why we say so
Their own site states "No reservations, walk-ins only" with East Village hours of "Sunday - Wednesday 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM".
None of these work tonight? Tell us what does — $12.
Your party, your neighborhood, your hour. One person researches tonight and sends three to five rooms with the way in, under 10 minutes.
We loaded every one of these pages ourselves before writing this. Check their hours again before you put your coat on.
Tonight’s five are here.