Philippe's

Established in 1908 by Frenchman Philippe Mathieu, this grand old-fashioned diner has been located at the gateway to Chinatown since the 1950s. Its specialty: the French Dipped Sandwich, a sandwich lightly soaked in meat juices and topped with beef, lamb or turkey. It's nothing gourmet, but the macaroni and potato salads, white bean and split pea soups, and apple pie are all reminiscent of the optimistic, good-naturedAmerican way of life of the fifties.