Cafe Select

This restaurant transports you to Switzerland, in a casual, laid-back environment. Sitting on a prime stretch of Lafayette Street, it makes its presence known, as the space is fully open with no windows separating it from the world beyond. Dining tables, and their accompanying embers of lively chatter, spill out onto the sidewalk. Combined with the ambient energy of pedestrians passing through, on a block that is pedestrianized to the point that skateboarders roam it with an admirable lack of inhibition, the restaurant makes it seem as though its goal is to host anyone (as much as their capacity allows, at least) in downtown Manhattan for a dinner party. While I had little to no experience with Swiss cuisine prior to dining here, I’m excited to have more of it now.

For appetizers, I’d recommend the spring greens salad. It was simple and refreshing, with a hint of mustardy acidity, just enough to make it interesting.

For mains, I’d recommend either the bratwurst or the chicken schnitzel. The former comes with caramelized onions and spaetzel, and balances the heartiness of the meat-onion combo with toasty, lightly buttery spaetzel.

The latter is a super-thin version of chicken parm, crispy and salty, and enlivened with a generous squeeze of juice from the lemon that’s served alongside it. Spring greens, mustardy potato salad, and exceptionally spicy mustard on the side add more depth to the flavor profile. In relation to other breaded chicken classics, such as chicken parm, schnitzel the way its done at Cafe Select is a lighter, more veggie-forward alternative, perfect for springtime.

If you like Swiss or German food (like my family does) I recommend you check this place out! The service is outstanding, and the food and atmosphere are both top-notch.