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Hours

Nearby Subway Stops

Prices

$8-$12.95

Payment Methods

Cash Only

Special Features

Breakfast

Delivery

Lunch

Take-Out

Alcohol

Beer and Wine Only

Reservations

Not Accepted

Delivery Area

Bank St. to 17th St., Seventh Ave. to West Side Hwy.

Profile

Its gritty brick exterior has earned this diner location gigs onmany Law & Order episodes, and despite the scene that swirls around it, Hector’s remains a haven for quirky characters who’ve been coming by since 1962. Old-school meatpackers, truckers, and trannies sit side by side with Johnny-come-lately club kids and construction workers all looking for cheap, solid eats at odd hours. The interior is brighter, cheerier, and roomier than you’d expect, furnished in snazzy black-and-white tiled walls, shiny stainless steel, cushioned counter stools, and spotless Formica tabletops. Though there’s not a greasy spoon in sight, the menu holds the usual truck-stop fare: Eggs, burgers, sandwiches, gyros, and hearty homespun entrées. Sandwiches are all assembled with fresh meat, thanks to meatpacking-district neighbors. Meatloaf tastes especially comforting drowned with thick brown gravy, and fries make a great companion to fountain treats such as the espresso shake, a smooth, creamy eye-opener.
— Kathleen Squires