If you’re looking for a place to kill an hour in Penn Station, you could do a lot worse than Tracks. It’s pretty well hidden—literally, it’s on the Long Island Railroad level, tucked into one of those long, faceless corridors that’s marked by grim-faced commuters rushing to catch their trains.

I wound up there when a friend and I couldn’t think of a half-way decent place to grab a drink while she was waiting for her train to Boston. I remembered Tracks, which with its glistening railroad car stainless steel exterior, always looked more inviting than I thought it would actually turn out to be.

The inside is festooned with pictures of the old Penn Station during its glory days and lots of railroad memorabilia. (By the ladies’ room, there’s a plaque that says, “please don’t flush while the train is in the station.”) The long wooden bar is crammed with drinkers, mostly guys, presumably waiting for the train home.

We snagged a booth. The waitress informed us that to keep the spot, we had to order, so we picked fried calamari. This standard bar food usually ranges from rubber band-like consistency to the texture of worn tires. Wow! Was I surprised! Lightly fried and piping hot, a heaping plateful arrived at our table. One bit told me these were tender and succulent.

Clearly, the chef has some pride in what he’s turning out. He stopped by the table to ask why we hadn’t polished off the mountain of seafood. We assured him, it was our appetites, not the quality of the food.

Tracks Bar & Grill
Penn Station
LIRR Level
New York, NY
212 244 6350

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3. Penn Station Area and Upper West Side: Pinkberry, An Expensive Addiction