Fairfax

The West Village space that was Perla Cafe for the past year is now Fairfax, and it’s run by the same team - who also operate Fedora and Bar Sardine right across the street. The room has the same bones, but they’ve taken out most of the dining tables and replaced them with living room furniture. It’s almost like a kind of small hotel lobby.

You might end up crammed at a communal table, or eating a plate of spaghetti on your lap in a velvet armchair, so it might not be the best place for a date, but it’s a cool spot for a more easygoing get together. As for the food, we liked everything from the Cuban sandwich to the prosciutto and melon on the short and simple menu. It’ll be interesting to see how people use this place - for now, we’d come for a quick bite and glass of wine.