The Elegant Algonquin Hotel

New York City at holiday time is magical. There are the Broadway lights sparkling against a winter's dark night. There's Bryant Park, agog with shoppers and skaters. 30 Rock has the magnificent tree and more skaters. Then there's the classic Algonquin Hotel, one of the city's most famous and home to literary legends.It also has one of the best dining rooms as well.

I got the chance to eat at this marvelous Beaux Arts style hotel built in 1902 and home to the famed Round Table. This was the place where famed writers such as Dorothy Parker , Alexander Woolcott, Harpo Marx and Robert Benchley spent every Wednesday exchanging sharp words over good foods and drinks. The Round Table is still there and I was privileged to eat at it . The food is just classy and elegant. No trendy dishes or wild creations. I ordered off their vegetarian menu and received portabello mushrooms in a balsamic reduction along with a vegetable Napoleon (layered veggies interspersed with mozzarella cheese). There is also a delicious penne with asparagus that is heavenly and worth trying too.

Since the hotel is only a couple of blocks away from the Theater District and Times Square, there is a prix fix theater dinner. Several of my guests ordered from it and were not disappointed. Soup du jour and Caesar salad were served in elegant bowls and plates followed by such dishes as linguine with shrimp and a fabulous crunchy chicken scallopini. Others had the pepper crusted salmon filet with ricotta gnocchis. There was an apple galette and decadent three chocolate mousse for dessert. The real stars were the cocktails, again elegant, celebrating the hotel's history (and the hotel cat Mathilda) . These were the most expensive starting at 20 dollars however the glasses that they are served in are huge.

If you're in New York for the holidays, stop at this famed hotel for at least a drink . It's like going back to a more elegant time where cocktails were had along with witty bon mots. What a perfect Christmas present for literary buffs and foodies together.