Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Greece, Japan
COLOMBIA:
Saturday 14 June (12:00 v. Greece)
Thursday 19 June (12:00 v. Côte d'Ivoire)
Tuesday 24 June (16:00 v. Japan)
Jackson Heights will be throbbing with anticipation and excitement during Colombian games, and a few places will see big gatherings in the neighborhood. Try Teatro Restaurante Boulevard (82-24 Northern Boulevard, Jackson Heights, Queens) for a full-on World Cup party in a space usually reserved for dinner theater. The food here is acceptable (the "mini" bandeja paisa is anything but mini), but the party promises to be one of the best. Many bakery cafes along Roosevelt and 37th Avenues will provide another more wholesome way to cheer on Colombia, as well as Sabor Colombiano (86-16 Queens Boulevard, Elmhurst, Queens) further afield.
CÔTE D'IVOIRE:
Saturday 14 June (21:00 v. Japan)
Thursday 19 June (12:00 v. Colombia)
Tuesday 24 June (16:00 v. Greece)
New Ivoire (76 East 119th Street, Harlem) was an amazing experience four years ago and promises to be once again. The place is full of Ivoirians even for a Manchester City match on weekends, home club of one of their stars Yaya Touré. If you want to sample the delicious meals available here, arrive well before game time, because I seriously doubt the kitchen will have any occupants after kickoff. Another place to try if you can't make it up north is Restaurant Abidjan (1136 Broadway, Bushwick, Brooklyn).
GREECE:
Saturday 14 June (12:00 v. Colombia)
Thursday 19 June (18:00 v. Japan)
Tuesday 24 June (16:00 v. Côte d'Ivoire)
Hope for good weather on Greece game days, as boisterous Athens Café (32-07 30th Avenue, Astoria, Queens) will be the spot to watch the Greeks. They have bar seating and indoor and outdoor dining. The roars are likely to be heard all the way to Manhattan if Greece can go far into the tournament. Omonia Cafe (32-30 Broadway, Astoria, Queens) won't quite offer the authenticity of its Astoria neighbor, but with screens throughout, this cafe promises to be spilling onto the pavement with fans as well.
JAPAN:
Saturday 14 June (21:00 v. Côte d'Ivoire)
Thursday 19 June (18:00 v. Greece)
Tuesday 24 June (16:00 v. Colombia)
The place I recommended in 2010 remains at the top of my list this year, at bar and karaoke spot Japas 27 (366 3rd Avenue, Midtown), which is located one floor above the Japanese restaurant called East. The setting here is intimate, but the two large flat screens and Japanese crowd promise a good setting, not to mention endless supply of snacks and beer. Many of the izakayas and ramen joints on and around Saint Marks Place in the East Village will have their televisions on, but go to the far east of the neighborhood for Sake Bar Satsko (202 East 7th Street, East Village).
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