Good Eats Near Madison Square Garden in New York City: Cafe Pom Pom

Whenever people come to New York City for the first time, it has been my observation that many of them seem let down; there is a certain expectation from the city which never seems to be met upon first flush. I guess what my mother always told me about expectations ("Don't have expectations!!") is pretty true. People expect a certain "zing!" that just isn't there; they've got the Lincoln Tunnel over on one side, they've got Applebee's over to their other side, there are people honking at them for lingering in the street, there are people pushing them from lingering on the sidewalk; people come to New York and expect a certain amount of consideration be had for them: "I'm visiting your city, dontcha know?"

While of course there is a little bit of rudeness (a little bit?) sometimes (sometimes?) form some people (some people?) in the city that never sleeps, there is also a great deal of magic and wonder to be had in unlikely sources from unlikely places that you may just totally miss on the first (or second) go around.

This should not discourage you from having a great time and being able to enjoy New York, New York in the same way that residents and neighbors do, day after day. One of the places that you'll probably miss (even if you MapQuest directions and I give you the address; it's THAT small and dwarfed by its neighbors) is the Café Pom Pom.

A tiny gourmet sandwich shop (read: DELI) that's just around the beaten path from many other well warn paths, the Café Pom Pom is the perfect exception to all the other bad experiences you may have had in New York City and is a great alternative for a McDonalds' Lunch and Starbucks coffee that you are otherwise going to get involved with if you don't make other arrangements.

in the shadow of everything; Cafe Pom Pom

Credit: Jesse Schmitt

Copyright: Jesse Schmitt