Cafe Cortadito

Secluded on a side street in Alphabet City this Cuban restaurant feels as intimate as a Havana paladar run from a private home. That's true on weekdays, at least. At brunch, when an entrée with 90 minutes of unlimited champagne mojitos is $42.95, proceedings can be raucous. The lobster benedict and other egg dishes are very good, but brunch here is more for boozing it up than relaxing with a newspaper. Dinner dates are a gentler affair; consider sharing avocado salad with watercress, tomatoes and red onions, ropa vieja with Creole sauce, sides of sweet fried plantains, and for further sweetness, rice pudding and bread pudding. Reservations are highly recommended.