Wednesday, July 11, 2012

50th & 3rd Ave [NE Corner] (2004 & 2012)

La Maganette, closed in July of 2005 after 30 years of service, was half classy Italian restaurant and half raging dance club. Downstairs, the restaurant's dedicated certain nights to mambo, meringue, salsa, reggae, hip-hop, and everything in between. [This Epinion review explains it.] "After 30 years it got old and went downhill," says one CitySearcher. Dos Caminos on 3rd ave. (the third in a popular chain of upscale Mexican restaurants) opened here in 2006.                  CLICK TO ENLARGE


La Maganette pic courtesy of B&B Alumni.

24 comments:

Unknown said...

I worked at 'la maganette' as a hat check girl,,in the 70's......loved that place..

Unknown said...

My girlfriend and I had a black tie fashion show with live entertainment February 1992, loved that place and the owners

Unknown said...

Loved going there and having their Fettucine Alfredo in the 80's. They actually used to make it at the table. Sitting outside was lovely as well.

Unknown said...

Ha! I’m a Brit who spent 6 weeks working in NYC in 1984, basically closing down our New York operation. I was living in an apartment hotel opposite and La Maganette was my go to restaurant almost every night. The staff became my best buddies over the time I was there and I too remember the table prepared Fettuccine! The guys originally thought I was from Boston (must have been my London accent!). When they found out I was from the UK they made me a free dessert every night I dined there. Great memories!!!

Anonymous said...

Period establishment. Brought authenticity to NYC on the way up. Good family.

Nate said...

I met my future wife there at a social gathering in the basement on June 12,1991.

Anonymous said...

I went one day for lunch and enjoyed the Italian food and was invited to go back on a Friday night. I didn't know there was the greatest disco/dance night. I was hooked and was a regular Friday night guy from 1996-2003. I miss that place. Never found any other place half as good as La Maganette since.

Basilio said...

La Maganette was a swinging salsa venue for Puerto Rican dancers on wednesday nights. A fabulous buffet preceded a night of dance. People came from all the city.

Unknown said...

My husband and I went there for New Years Eve in 2002 or 2003. My mom was with us from Baltimore, and my husband's Aunt and Uncle were with us from Holland. The food was great, the decorations were great and we dan ed the night away. I was sorry to just read this be ause I was hoping to go back since we moved to Connecticut last year. I had the best time there! It will stay a wonderful memory. Thank you to the owners! I hope you are healthy and safe.

Unknown said...

I loved the live salsa bands

Unknown said...

I worked there in 1990 and loved it. I was a server and worked in coat check.

Anonymous said...

Have you seen Logan Michael Vannoy song #3 here lately?

tom molnar said...

always enjoyed the souppda clams ( zuppa De clams )

Anonymous said...

My dad ran the bar there for years. His name was Tony Russo. He was the life of the party and met SO many good people. He did pass but I would love to hear stories if anyone has ❤️

Gina DeFrancesco Krosoczka said...

My grandparents went there all the time! They took me only a few times, but they seemed to know everyone who worked there! Thank you for keeping beautiful memories and places like this alive! My grandparents names' were Fred (Fernando) and Zoe Manocchi. And he was friends with every bartender he ever met, so I am sure he knew your father! (above comment)

Anonymous said...

Love going there on Wednesdays for over
20 years salsa downstairs, good food, live Latin bands and friends from all over. Birthday parties, anniversaries everything was celebrated there. We will all meet outside to park and go downstairs get stamped and park then go back outside to talk until 7pm to legally park our cars. There champagne was made on-site and very reasonably. Our table would take turns treating for that night. We all was surprised and cried when it was sold. Great memories forever. I miss you LaMagette.

Anonymous said...

I went with my parents in the early ‘70s. Cherished memories of my family, the restaurant, and pre-blandification gentrification of NYC

Anonymous said...

P.S. we went a number of times during a couple of years. There was no dancing then, no music. Just really good food and a nice atmosphere…

tom molnar said...

70's & 80.... we all loved that place .............

Anonymous said...

I worked there as a busboy in summer 1984 - I remember on my second night working there setting up a prime table in the basement club area for a “VIP” group who were suddenly calling in - eight older very well dressed dudes came in with their “daughters” (very good looking), they had coffees, cocktails and deserts and left after an hour and a half leaving behind a very generous tip

Anonymous said...

I had Louis XIII there for the first time!

Anonymous said...

Was it a disco in the 70s?

Anonymous said...

I worked nearby in the 80s and did happy hours and coworker farewell parties in the underground dance section. The place had a very mixed crowd and the music selection was basically dance. Great memories.

Anonymous said...

My wife and I had our engagement there in 1982..happy memories