Everything looks like it's either just opened or it's just closing in Sanlitun SOHO. Trying to find new places to write about, I never know if stuff is just opening or if they're just going out of business. I never know. Everything looks kind of half renovated in this this big, surgical steel and glass maze, and I never know which direction the renovations are going in. It's a good policy when walking into a restaurant in Sanlitun SOHO to just say, "Congratulations! I'm sorry. You'll turn it around." That way you're covered. Cafe New York is new though. A friend told me about it a little while back because they serve cheap sandwiches and that's a very serious and important thing. Cheap sandwiches, coffee, chilli dogs (!), salads, fruit juices, smoothies -- it's one of those. Here's a "New York Sandwich". It's item number 1 on the menu and clocks in at 18rmb: Bread is nice. Cheese is nice. Lettuce is lettuce. Meat is ehhhh. Mustard and vinaigrette-ish type of sauce. It's alright. It's not totally bogus or anything. And it's only 18rmb. That's definitely the main thing. Menu is delineated into Sandwich, Panini, Chili Dog, Salad, and Pasta sections with a few options in each. Price range for the gamut is 18rmb to 35rmb. That's good value, I'd say. Nah, I didn't try the chilli dog. Going to come back for it. Dealing with a chilli dog is a task unto itself. But the coffee is good. "Premium Coffee", with a standard Americano only costing 12rmb. 12rmb coffee -- that's real good. There's also more frah-frah-frah types available for a modest jump up to 18rmb: Cafe Latte, Caramel Cacchiato, Caffe Mocha, Cappuccino. SmartBeijing conducted an interview with a fellow Cafe New York patron who apparently lives in the area and has been bushwhacking the menu for a bit. Exclusive.

Well, I've been coming for a few weeks now. I've been all over the menu and I'm really trying to make it work for me. I'm really trying to make it work... I don't know. The lemonade is nice. It does the job. "The lemonade is nice. It does the job." Church. *** At any rate, it's nice to pay for a coffee and a sandwich and get some change back from your Big Pink. Nice and bright environment as well. And it's got the Wifi. Delivery menu available as well if you're living or working in the area... Cafe New York is in Sanlitun Soho 8 Gongti Beilu, C3-101. Open daily from 7:30am-9pm. Delivery is 5610 3750.