Veselka Restaurant   

144 2nd Ave
New York, NY 10003
212-228-9682
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Veselka's 24-hour kitchen is a magnet for East Village night owls looking to fill their stomachs before heading to bed. Solitary diners get comfortable at the counter, while eclectic groups fill up the tables in the large rear section, which is served by a largely Eastern European waitstaff. Bright lighting--the better to view the sprawling diner-themed mural by a longtime patron--keeps everyone awake. Polish and Ukrainian dishes such as pierogis and kielbasa share counter space with standard diner breakfast and dinner fare, including challah French toast, hearty cheddar-topped chili, a Polish "hunter's stew" called Bigos. Chilled summer soups and year-round homemade pies are a bonus, as is the always flowing hot coffee and cold Ukranian beer.