44 1/2

When Scott Hart and Bruce Horowytz moved to Hell’s Kitchen 15 years ago, they couldn’t find a fun bar nearby, so they opened Xth Ave Lounge. Later, they thought the neighborhood lacked fine dining, so they built 44 & X. You can guess what happened this year when they wanted a local café: It’s called 44. Like 44 proper, the space is bright and modern. You can grab a seat at the bar and down a breakfast pastry or a chocolate-and-caramel tart with malted-milk-ball ice cream, or fill up on a lunch of a roasted garlic-glazed chicken breast with Swiss chard and home fries. When warmer weather arrives, you can dine in a tranquil Japanese garden.