Meet Me at 59th & Lex

Bloomingdale's diner is the perfect spot for ladies who lunch. 59th & Lex appears upon first glance to be only a glorified coffee bar for a quick break from the 40% off sale. This little diner is actually so much more than your typical department store lunch counter. The sandwiches and salads are delicious and the service is sheer perfection. These ladies would expect nothing less. Named after the corner on which the original Bloomingdales stands, the name 59th & Lex has been known to confuse friends from New York. The primary fare is just what you would expect for the properly manicured - light lunches and sinfully rich desserts. Just because you're watching your waistline, it doesn't mean you can't splurge once in awhile right? After all, it is a special occasion. It's always a special occasion when you just got your hair done.

For years I have been confusing waiters with bizarre behavior like ordering too much food and picking at it in order to write reviews. On one visit, my friend and I talked over each other, asked the waiter questions, discussed our options, then shut our menus with finality. The waiter looked down at our expectant faces and held his pencil poised over the notepad, "Are you ready to order?" We blinked at eachother, "We just did." After repeating the order twice, soon our table was overflowing with plates that jutted out over the edge. The waiter said, "Your Chinese chicken salad will be right up." I looked at the already crowded table in panic, "We ordered a Chinese chicken salad???" A smile crept over his face and I realized he had totally punked me. (Elise Thompson)

« PREVIOUS