George's at Kaufman Astoria Studios

The ghosts of W.C. Fields, Lillian Gish and Rudolph Valentino inhabit Kaufman Astoria Studios, if you believe in such things. The massive facility was a center of production during the silent-film era and churned out propaganda reels during World War II, when the military bought it. Since the 1970s, it has served as a multipurpose production studio, its commissary reserved for workers and private events. But now the dining room is open to the public, though it's not necessarily easy to find (look for the doorway by a valet parking sign). George's is relatively modest in scale, with place mats on wooden tabletops, low lighting and art deco tiling. Stills of screen greats are everywhere. The menu is retro American, with a well-crafted cocktail program fosters a low-key drinking scene for both production workers and locals, and during the hour between lunch and dinner service, a light menu is available at the bar.