Margon

This small Cuban cafeteria isn't much on looks, but they're friendly and they serve great, filling food. A Wednesday special, octopus salad (top photo; $8.50), soaks thin, al dente slices in a vinaigrette with pepper, onion, and green olives with pimentos. On Mondays and Thursdays, consider the surprisingly tender duo of tripe and pig's feet (bottom photo; $7), if you have a half-hour to worry away the pork from all those little bones.

Entrees are accompanied by a plateful of rice and beans wetted down with beef gravy, plus fried plantain. Wash it down with a tropical shake ($3.25) — I'm partial to the tamarind — or a morir soñando ($3.50), which blends orange juice, milk, sugar, and ice and translates literally as "to die dreaming."

Margon
136 West 46th St. (Sixth-Seventh Aves.)
212-354-5013