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Now a dinosaur among dozens of bars and fast-food joints in NYU country, this old-timer—a speakeasy during Prohibition and for many years home for poets and writers—still charms because of its anachronistic pleasures. First, there's the time-warp décor, featuring murals of MacDougal Street's Bohemian past along with antique photos and yellowing celebrity caricatures. Authentic New York accents emanate from the wistful locals at the bar in the front room, while the wood-paneled dining room attracts tourists, celebrating groups, and the occasional celebrity regular (like the Parker-Brodericks). The staff offers wise-cracks with old school panache, and are quick to recommend red-sauce dishes like the cheesy tortellacci (long pasta pillows stuffed with fontina and ricotta), sure to please those nostalgic for the days when pasta wasn't too pretty. And when was the last time you saw a dessert cart? Minetta's showcases gems like a sweet, crumbly fruit tart, brimming with berries and drizzled with a smooth zabaglione. Timeless, and delicious, pleasures like delicate quail risotto enriched with wild mushrooms and a meaty grilled Portobello dressed in sage and white wine would impress in any era. — Kathleen Squires

Kitchen closes at midnight, daily.

Grilled quail and wild mushroom risotto with fresh arugula, $19; homemade tortellacci with fontina, ricotta, tomato, and basil, $16