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Cordato’s

94 1/2 Greenwich St (Rector Street and Carlisle St) Transit: 1 to Rector St; R, W to Rector St; 4,5 to Broadway

(212) 233-1573

Formerly known for pizza, lap dances and prostitutes, Cordato’s now appears to have settled into a new identity as a begrimed, low-rent watering hole. If you want to see horrendous-looking semi-naked women, go next door to the Pussycat Lounge, but if you simply want to drink at a spot where there’s no chance you’ll run into someone you know, Cordato’s is your place.

New York Magazine called it the city’s best dive bar in 2006, which is preposterous, but the people at the official-periodical-of-everything-that’s-annoying-about-New-York were understandably proud of themselves for discovering it. Located behind a normal-looking, totally-serviceable deli, there’s absolutely nothing to indicate it’s lurking in the rear. Once you pass through the back door, the atmosphere completely changes, however; dirty south rap videos play on the television, the proprietor flirts/trades insults with the Puerto Rican bartender, and people stop in just long enough to order bizarre drinks. When I was there a guy asked for tequila mixed with vodka and Red Bull, which the barkeep happily whipped up for him, with ice. Later, a guy who looked like he could have been the bouncer at the Pussycat Lounge ordered three shots of Jose Cuervo, which he drank one after another, like water.