Bongo (CLOSED)

Decorated entirely with vintage furniture—Eames chairs, couches that date from mid-century—Bongo has a ramshackle charm that few bar-lounges along this desolate stretch of Tenth Avenue can match. The short menu consists almost entirely of winning seafood choices, though the gooey mac-and-cheese side is a crowd-pleaser. The oyster list is surprisingly extensive for such a tiny place, and Bongo’s lobster rolls and teriyaki-glazed tuna burgers (made with freshly ground sushi-quality fish) could go fin-to-fin with offerings from more well-known, expensive joints. Still, Bongo is a bar at heart, and if it’s a quiet, relaxing meal you’re looking for, you’d best not eat at a place named after a drum.