scene: This place is a funny throwback; the walls are covered with an old if not pleasant mural of sunny seaside Spain; giant 20lb lobster claws dangle from the wall randomly, in case you forgot what the main attraction of this place is
sip: Red Sangria, aka Happy Juice
savor: Baked clams oreganato; lobster; shrimp with green sauce
sit: Bring anyone who can appreciate the novelty of this place, or wants a big lobster; definitely not a first date place, because you need to get down and dirty with some lobster and garlic to really understand what this place is about
spend: $$
address: 159 West 23rd Street (between 6th and 7th)
scene: it is all about the food here; all seats are situated on a wood bar around an open kitchen so that you can watch the chefs do their thang
sip: Spanish wines; cava
savor: croquettas; egg with pork belly
sit: I recommend going with only one other person, because unless you get corner seats, you sitting side by side, so it would be hard to chat with a group; this place is for serious foodies, so don't bring your picky or allergic friend
scene: Charming neighborhood vibe with colorful movie posters on the walls; not much of a nod to anything Austrian, it look like a cute Euro bistro
sip: Austrian wines, beers
savor: Shnitzel of any kind
sit: With friends; with a date for a low-key night; alone...the menu actually offers a good mix of non-scary sounding dishes if people get freaked by schnitzel and sausage, so just about anyone should be able to find something to eat
spend: $$
address: 139 Duane Street (between Church and West Broadway)