justlooking said:
What I think is wrong with nominations like this is that, we're all New Yorkers. When was the last time you went to the Oyster Bar? I would think that a qunitessential New York restaurant would be a restaurant New Yorkers actually go to (and that's unique to New York in its vibe or food or something). That's part of life in New York as it's lived now. The Oyster Bar might have been quintessentially New York a hundred years ago. But now it's just a relic.
What I love about New Yorkers, is that if you ask them what restaurant is quintessentially New York, all you're going to get is a quintessential New York argument. Ask people from, say, Memphis the same question and they'll all immediately agree on one place.
When we all read the Papaya King suggestion, all of us shrugged, sighed in resignation, let out a chuckle and said to ourselves, yeah, I can sort of see that. Waiting on line, standing--we don't sit--to scarf down a few dogs, the quintessential New York food, elbow to elbow with guys that talk to themselves and bleed from open wounds--and no one blinks an eye--and ponder life all in a New York minute, then we're off.
All roads lead to Papaya King.