French doors open into a bright, airy space filled with white wooden booths, marble-top café tables, and a stainless-steel counter where trays of fresh muffins cool. Folksy renditions of the house specialties decorate one wall; a blackboard announcing specials resides on another. Robert DeNiro haunts this place, as do other area glitterati. You'll see why when you tuck into the Blue Monkey, a stack of blueberry-banana buttermilk pancakes. Pumpkin-crusted tofu over polenta and sautéed kale topped with roasted red-pepper sauce are served alongside hot meat-loaf sandwiches and other comfort food. Efficient, friendly service caters to your needs. Take a note from the locals, who come armed with newspapers and books and stay a while. Reservations are essential on weekends.
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