As the East Village continues to gentrify and hipper, trendier boites take over the area, Veselka is a holdout from gentler times. This Polish/Ukranian cafe on the corner of 2nd and 9th was a pleasant discovery as an NYU student, and I still like to pop by for a brunch or light lunch every now and then.
The staff are straightforward, but not to the point of being gruff, and so is the food. There aren't too many bells and whistles, allowing you to appreciate the simplicity of good, unassuming food. Although the wierd Swiss chalet decor is gone, it remains a comfortably New York style diner of the old school variety. Open 24 hours, it's an ideal spot to satisfy most cravings relatively cheaply.
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