Henry Westpfal & Co.

Flatiron
115 W. 25th St.
at 6th Ave.

P: 212.563.5990

A New York institution since 1874.  Specialists in sharpening knives and other cutting tools.  Where the big boys get their chef knives sharpened.

What's great:

This is one of those only-in-New-York kind of places.  They sharpen all types of knives and anything else that needs an edge including scissors and manicure tools.  The fact that they are located adjacent to Manhattan's Garment District gives a hint as to who many of their customers are.

What to avoid:

Don't go on a weekend because they are closed.  They keep Monday through Friday business hours:  9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

What to know:

They use a water method to sharpen blades, a technique they claim (and many agree) both protects the knife and gets the best result.  There's usually a 3-to-5-day turnaround.