Republic 37 Union Sq.West (16th & 17th Sts.)
Flatiron
212.627.7172
Republic:
The nightly crowd at Republic is notably younger and livelier than many restaurants nearby, and the service is aptly suited for the attention-deficient Gen X and Gen Y. You can watch the chefs bustle or find a glass of water in front of you without seeing where it came from. The airy gray- and white-walled space offers classy versions of picnic tables in the front entryway, longer tables in the back for group sake imbibing, and tables out front for watching the weekend craze of Union Square Park without participating. They may brag about the noodles, but the entire menu is tasty and reasonably priced, and even a Starbucks addict has to agree that the $4 iced Thai coffee tops a Frappuccino any day.
