guest reviews seleen street collins Photo by Pen Richards Seleen Street Collins (above) of Columbus is the type person who seeks out interesting food destinations when she travels. Food first, tourist stuff second. This contribution has merit for the simple reason it gives us an option and reason to avoid one of New York's biggest, worst, messy, and over-hyped touristy joints (many locations) in the big city - Nathan's, hot dogs, cousin. In New York? How to Avoid Nathan's; Search out any of 3 Gray's Papayas 18 MAY 2005 Sure, you can have many wonderful restaurant adventures in New York City, but be sure to bring along your VISA card. If you’re short on cash or time, however, there’s a better option. With pocket change and five minutes (or less, if you’re not taking ladylike bites like mine), you can down a real taste of the city at Gray’s Papaya. With three locations, Gray’s is easily accessible after you’ve worked up an appetite in Central Park, the boutiques, or a business meeting. These tiny takeouts grab you with colorful, menu-praising posters inside and out: Best Darned Frankfurter You’ll Ever Eat! Drink Papaya, Nature’s Own Revitalizer! Please Complain If Your Roll Is Not Hot and Crispy! If these testaments aren’t alluring enough to pull you inside, the temptingly smoky aroma out on the sidewalk will be. Don’t waste your time looking for a menu among all the signs on the walls; this is the kind of place where the servers and hungry customers alike want to make it snappy. (But never fear: the guys behind the counter, as proclaimed by their aprons, are all “polite New Yorkers”). The bill of fare is simply dogs and drinks, so just order the Recession Special, and you’ll be as happy as a chilly dachshund in a knitted sweater. Here’s what you’ll get: two all-beef franks—crispy yet tender, with a nice meaty tang—on rolls that are warm, flavorful, and just the right size for the slender links. The buns are sturdy enough not to get soggy from the sauerkraut, which gives the franks some bite without overwhelming their beefy flavor. The special includes an all-natural juice drink, and the namesake papaya is luscious and refreshing—not too sweet. It’s lightness makes it just the thing for sipping (or gulping) between bites. Other juice drink flavors are orange, grape, banana daiquiri, pińa colada, coconut champagne, and pineapple, and all are available by the gallon if you’re really thirsty. If you don’t need to eat on the run, stand at the window counter—which unfortunately has no stools—and watch everyone else hurry by. Your barking dogs won’t get a rest, but at least that growling stomach will hush.             Seleen Street Collins Sidebar: Gray’s Papaya, New York City Locations: Upper Manhattan, Midtown, and Greenwich Village (ask your cabbie or a passerby) Specialties: This is all they serve, so it’s all good: all-beef frankfurters topped with sauerkraut (help yourself to brown mustard or ketchup); all-natural fruit drinks (try the papaya) Price: $2.75, including tax, for the Recession Special (two loaded buns and a 14-oz juice drink) Service: Faster than a New York minute One drawback: No seating (but if you’re tired, the chow will revive you)

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