Bill's Bar and Burger: Better than the Shack?

REVIEW

February 11, 2010


CUISINE: American (Traditional), Burgers
NEIGHBORHOOD: Chelsea, Meatpacking District, West Village

 

22 9th Ave. at 11th St.

(p) 212-414-3003

 

In a neighborhood filled with designer showrooms and fancy hotels, the popularity of Bill's Burger proves that everyone likes to dumb it down once in a while. The front room revolves around a generic bar; the back is filled with blue and white checkered-tablecloths and exposed brick. Heinz ketchup as well as both Gulden's and French's mustards adorn the tables. CONT'D

 


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Posted in FOOD on February 11, 2010 1:46pm by Jena Steinbach | 2 comments





The Harrison

REVIEW

November 10, 2009


CUISINE: American (Traditional)
NEIGHBORHOOD: Tribeca

photo: Eater.com

 

355 Greenwich at Harrison St.

(p) 212-274-9310

 

The Harrison is an okay place to take stubborn parents or grandparents if they like to spend some money for safe and conservative American plates. It is not, however, an ideal place to go for those with young and adventurous pallets.  

 

The restaurant is pretty, but a little stiff. Faux-rustic light fixtures and handsome upholstered leather booths feel like a Restoration Hardware showroom.  Dad music —Elton John, The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel — jives perfectly with the gray-haired tables.  The menu is everything Pop-Pop looks for on his Caribbean cruise. CONT'D

 


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Posted in FOOD on November 10, 2009 12:10pm by Jena Steinbach | 1 comment





Henry Public

REVIEW

November 4, 2009


CUISINE: American (Traditional)
NEIGHBORHOOD: Brooklyn Heights/DUMBO, Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens

 

329 Henry at Pacific St.

(p) 718-852-8630

 

This cozy Cobble Hill bar is modeled after an old-world Brooklyn saloon, complete with black and white photographs, chipped mirrors, and an ancient cash register. The drink menu hits on classic cocktails as well as craft beers and a selection of fine wines. A small food menu consists mostly of burgers, served with homemade pickles and a mound of salty fries. There's also a turkey leg sandwich and bone marrow appetizer for the more sophisticated set. My burger was a little overcooked and the bread had too much bite to it, but the fries and pickles were spot on. The transporting environment and lively cocktail list make Henry Public a welcome neighborhood addition.  I've heard some exciting rumors of a brunch menu and dinner expansion.

 


Posted in FOOD on November 4, 2009 1:01pm by Jena Steinbach | 0 comments





Minetta Tavern

REVIEW

November 2, 2009


CUISINE: American (Traditional), French, Steakhouse
NEIGHBORHOOD: Greenwich Village, West Village

photo: NyTimes.com

 

113 MacDougal St at Minetta Ln

(p) 212-475-3850

 

Minetta Tavern has been around for almost a century, but last spring Keith McNally turned it into a trendy steakhouse, attracting foodies and scenesters alike. Living up to its namesake, the space is very tavern-like: checkered floor, red leather booths, wooden bar, all very dark. But the McNally touch is obvious. Though not as hip as when it first opened, it's still a scene, housing models and trendy older people and loud-mouthed girlfriends from New Jersey trying to get a table. The walls are creatively littered with caricatures of strange men — regulars like 'the well dressed truck driver.'  House cocktails, like the Murray Sour (whiskey, cardamom, nectar, fresh lemon and orange) add to the overall effect of the place, and they taste pretty darn good. The bar itself is a grand beauty; rows of shiny liquor bottles and cocktail glasses line the cherry-wood shelves like something out of a Mad Men episode. CONT'D

 


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Posted in FOOD on November 2, 2009 11:43am by Jena Steinbach | 0 comments





The Standard Grill

REVIEW

October 23, 2009


CUISINE: American (New), American (Traditional)
NEIGHBORHOOD: Meatpacking District, West Village

Photo: the-feedbag.com

848 Washington at W 13th St.

(p) 212-645-4100

 

The Standard Grill, located on the first floor of Andre Balazs's Standard Hotel, has been praised for both its food and its scene. The main dining room — a grand space with high ceilings, large windows, and a floor tiled with pennies — is a sight. In terms of sheer size, the restaurant seems to have more in common with a chain like Fridays or Olive Garden than a coveted dining destination, but the high-quality food and impressive diners put any un-glamourous associations to rest. CONT'D

 


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Posted in FOOD on October 23, 2009 10:10am by Jena Steinbach | 1 comment