Specialty sandwich No. 5, rare roast beef with tomato, romaine, and horseradish sauce on a Portuguese roll ($5.95) delivered on almost every count. The sauce was little more than a lubricant, but the rare meat was piled high, the lettuce and tomato was fine, and the roll was nice and crusty. Very good deal, especially for the neighborhood.
Another lunchtime not long after, prosciutto, salami, and provolone on a Portuguese roll ($6.75) with romaine, tomato, and sundried tomato sauce, wasn't quite the match for the rare roast beef. It would have come much closer if the lettuce and tomato were included as advertised; discovered this, of course, only back at the office. Nice classical string music while I waited for my order, at least.
Crystal Café
229 West 57th St. (Seventh Ave.-Broadway)
212-246-2630
