The B&H Dairy Luncheonette

[robert brown]

A friend of mine told me he was going to the B&H Photo-Video Store this weekend. In my sometimes-whimsical manner I asked him if he were also going to get something to eat at the B&H Dairy Luncheonette, which I though had ceased to exist some years ago. To my surprise, my friend told me this morning that he had walked past the place on Second Ave. at 7th Street on his way to see if there were still egg creams at the Gems Spa (There no longer are, for it has become another Paki newspaper and magazine store). Having spent many hours eating sour cream and berries; fruit and cheese blintzes; borscht and sour cream; and even delicious tuna sandwiches during my Bohemian youth in the 1960s, I am dying to know if anyone has eaten at the B&H lately. Of course I'll be heading down that way, hoping to relive memorable meals and noshes of my distant past and seeing if my man Neil is still behind the counter. (I figure he would only be 72 years old or so). Nonetheless if there is someone with whom I can compare notes, fire away please.

[Fat Guy]

Did your friend actually try to get an egg cream at Gem Spa? Because to the best of my recollection the last time I was in there was just a couple of years ago and it was a newsstand owned by Easterners of some kind or another but you could still get an egg cream. Or maybe I dreamed that. Around that same time I think I went to B&H and found it quite legitimate. I think that kind of food no longer tastes particularly good to me, but it seemed to be executed well.

[Steve Plotnicki]

I had had too many egg creams at Gem Spa to remember. And I ate many, many Matzoh Bries at B & H but not anywhere as many as the number of orders of the French Toast made from their one of a kind Challah with raisins. But other than going with somebody to get a challah about 3-4 years ago, I haven't eaten there in years. But they used to make some serious soups there, with potato and cabbage being my favorites.

[robert brown]

I knew I would hear from the usual suspects. Maybe we should have gone there instead last Tuesday. How many eGullets can fit at the counter?

Oh yes, anyone know where you can get a good cherry lime Rickey? I used to score that at the Gems Spa.

[Steve Plotnicki]

Eisenberg Sandwich Shop on 5th between 22nd and 23rd still makes Cherry Lime Rickeys the old fashion way. What about that old luncheonette on the corner of Lex and, what is it, 84th Street?

[Andy Lynes]

....to see if there were still egg creams at the Gems Spa (There no longer are, for it has become another Paki newspaper and magazine store).

Just so you know, Paki is a term of abuse used by racists in the UK to denote anyone of Indian origin or parentage and is roughly the equivilent to nigger.

[Fat Guy]

Is it really? Oh, I knew that. Brown, you racist pig, apologize.

The place on Lex is called Lexington Candy Shop.

[robert brown]

I apologize and deserve the bashing I got. I guess that's what happens when you spend just a bit of time in England and hear an epithet we don't use in America.

[LaurieA-B]

I enjoyed a chocolate egg cream at Gem Spa as recently as 1999.  When I worked in the East Village, one of my favorite afternoon snacks was an egg cream and some Pommes Frites, from the store on 2nd.  Gem Spa was then a magazine/newspaper store, with drinks mixed for you at the counter.

I plan to check it out when I'm in New York next month, but surely a New Yorker can visit Gem Spa and report back before then?

[Jinmyo]

I just thought to mention that "Paki" has also been a racial epithet in Canada (especially Toronto area) for about 30 years. "Towel-head" (shudder) is an equivalent for "Paki".

[Pan]

I take it, the Gem's Spa is the newsstand on the southwest corner of St. Mark's and 2nd? If so, yes, it's owned by people from the Indian subcontinent (ahem!), but the former owners taught them how to make egg creams, and they still make them. I haven't had them, but my brother likes them and gets them when he's in town.

[Steve Plotnicki]

The key to Gem Spa egg creams was the syrup. I think the name was "Red Heart" or something like that and it came from Hartford, Ct. Anyway, there are better egg creams at the newsstand/soda counter on Avenue A between 7th Street & St. Marks Place (I'm pretty sure they use that syrup,) two doors down from Leshko's. Still run by Ukrainians. I actually had one about a month ago after a big lunch at Katz's. It hit the spot. Get a large.

[Fat Guy]

Plotnicki, can you try to get us the info on that syrup? This is a whole new dimension in egg cream technology for me. I had heretofore been laboring under the illusion that Fox's U-Bet is the universally accepted only legitimate syrup for egg creams.

[wingding]

I ate at the B&H quite often in the 1970s',and took photographs of the countermen;Gus,Dave,and Leo,whose chopped herring was the best!I've gone back periodically,but the food has been white-breaded down,or my tastes have changed.The soups are all sweet and bland,and I guess the recipes have been watered down over time..

[Andy Lynes]

I apologize and deserve the bashing I got. I guess that's what happens when you spend just a bit of time in England and hear an epithet we don't use in America.

You can't be too careful around us Brits! Hope you didn't pick up anything else unpleasant whilst you were over here.

[robert brown]

Andy, I never spent enough time amongst you to develop a phony British accent. Thanks for your understanding. You're a good lad.

[tommy]

Just so you know, Paki is a term of abuse used by racists in the UK to denote anyone of Indian origin or parentage and is roughly the equivilent to nigger.

is it not also a nickname for irish Patrick's, which causes me much awkwardness at my local, which has a bartender named patrick.

[Andy Lynes]

I didn't know that! Haven't heard it used when I've been over in Northern ireland, is it a Southern thing do you think?

[tommy]

I didn't know that! Haven't heard it used when I've been over in Northern ireland, is it a Southern thing do you think?

i'll have to ask him where he's from.  just to be clear, i don't think it's spelled the same way, but obviously sounds the same way.

[Wilfrid]

I've never heard that either.  Are you getting it confused with Paddy?  That's the standard abbreviation for Irish Patricks.

[tommy]

I've never heard that either.  Are you getting it confused with Paddy?  That's the standard abbreviation for Irish Patricks.

i don't think in this case there's any confusion.  perhaps with this fellow they are, as you foreigners say, "taking the piss".  regardless, i'll ask.  but with these irish guys, it's very hard to get a straight answer.

[Ruby]

I ate at the B&H quite often in the 1970s',and took photographs of the countermen;Gus,Dave,and Leo,whose chopped herring was the best!I've gone back periodically,but the food has been white-breaded down,or my tastes have changed.The soups are all sweet and bland,and I guess the recipes have been watered down over time..

I agree with you--my taste hasn't changed but B&H has. Same cramped unkempt space but looks like different owners/staff. The vegetable soup is good and I'll usually take it out. The vibe is different now but so is everything else I guess from what is remembered in the 70s/80s.

One nice addition is they have a serious juicer in the front and you can get fresh squeezed vegie juices to wash down the blintzes or pierogi.

[eldb]

The last time I was at B&H-last year- I was a little dissapointed in the blintzes (used to eat them there every Sunday when I lived on the Bowery). But Kiev on the corner of 7th and 2nd Ave do a damn good job with the cheese blintzes evn though they have redesigned the dining room (lounge meets greek diner) and went through acouple of management changes. Check it out.