Skál

Skál is at the junction of Canal and Ludlow Streets, a cool corner on Chinatown–Lower East Side border that attracts locals of all stripes. The long bar is the focus of the dining room, fashioned like a Nordic cottage with blue walls, sentimentally painted saucers and dish towels for napkins. Groups can gather around a couple of big tables, plus there's a semi-private dining room in back, just off the kitchen. Iceland is the bedrock for the cuisine, easily decipherable since the focus is on shellfish, seafood and lamb enhanced with seasonal flourishes. Where else are you going to get the chance to try fascinating, delicious Icelandic cuisine and weird cocktails without a buying a ticket to Reykjavik?