Profile

What makes a restaurant a neighborhood favorite? In the case of Out of the Kitchen, a small spot set on a picturesque, wind-swept block not far from the West Side Highway, it’s that old Manhattan mantra: location, location, location. The food—largely pre-made sandwiches, salads by the pound (broccoli and feta, three bean, Napa slaw), and a rotating dinner special of meatloaf, salmon, or chicken—is only a cut above deli fare, and what little seating exists is crowded by bakery and catering prep space. Yet this café, known for its cupcakes, enjoys a steady stream of customers, from iPod-plugged office workers coming in for their post-workout meal to daddies and daughters seeking afternoon sweets. The spot’s nothing special but enormously convenient, for strollers looking for a morning snack or a parkside pick-me-up, and for New Yorkers really eager to get out of their kitchens. — Melena Ryzik