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 Spotted Pig

REVIEW

January 13, 2010


CUISINE: Bar Food, Burgers, English, Irish, Italian
NEIGHBORHOOD: West Village


Photo: Unbreaded.com

314 W. 11th St. at Greenwich St.

(p) 212-620-0393


While I like the atmosphere of The Spotted Pig, I don’t like the atmosphere. I like the dodgy, mis-matched, British-pub feel of the place, the obscure kitschy art, the dark woods, the beers on tap, the plants hanging in the window and the creaky staircase that leads to the second floor.  I like the idea that you could settle into a back booth on a rainy afternoon, nurse a drink, and not leave for hours.  I don’t, however, like the number of people that fill the place up, spill out the door and onto the sidewalk, sandwich themselves into windows, perch on miniature stools, wait in line for the bathroom. CONT'D

 


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Posted in FOOD on January 13, 2010 9:45am by Rachel Hochhauser | 0 comments





Five Guys

REVIEW

September 29, 2009


CUISINE: Burgers
NEIGHBORHOOD: Brooklyn Heights/DUMBO, Chelsea, Greenwich Village, Midtown, Park Slope, West Village

 

138 Montague St at Henry St 

(p) 718-797-9380

 

296 Bleecker St and Barrow St

(p) 212-367-9200

 

If Michael Pollan condoned fast food, Five Guy just might pass the test. The chain, which started in Virginia, is often compared to the West Coast favorite, In N Out, and for good reason. They both deliver soft burgers and salty fries in a paper bag, but with a healthier mission statement. There's no trans-fat and no frozen meat; they use only peanut oil and their fries are from Idaho potatos. It's high-brow fast food, and it works. CONT'D.

 


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Posted in FOOD on September 29, 2009 10:04am by Jena Steinbach | 3 comments





The Smith

REVIEW

July 23, 2009


CUISINE: American (New), American (Traditional), Burgers
NEIGHBORHOOD: East Village

 

55 3rd Avenue btwn 10th and 11th St.

(p) 212-420-9800

 

Save yourself an hour and a half, take $25 from your wallet, and give it to a homeless person. The Smith has a nice atmosphere: high ceilings, subway tiled walls, rustic sconces, wooden walls. On the downside, the space is huge, and the combination of music and chatter make it difficult to hear yourself speak. At 8 pm on a Saturday night, our party of four instantly scored a booth adjacent to the bar, yet it took nearly 15 minutes for our beers to find us. And the food was mediocre in every way. Medium rare burgers came out burnt; buns were forgettable, condiments were poor, and the "special sauce" revealed itself to be none other than russian dressing. The only thing remarkable about the plate was the $14 price tag...

 


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Posted in FOOD on July 23, 2009 9:18am by Jena Steinbach | 1 comment





Irving Mill

REVIEW

April 13, 2009


CUISINE: American (New), Burgers
NEIGHBORHOOD: East Village, Gramercy

116 E 16th st Between Union Sq East and Irving Pl

(p) 212-254-1600


Which One of the Following Does Not Belong at Guy's Night?

 

A) Salt and Pepper Pork Ribs

B) Pork Toast

C) Irving Mill Burger

D) Fries

E) Whiskey

F) Eggplant and Ricotta Bruschetta

 

After one too many "healthy" salmon dinners with Jena and Madeline, Chef Frankie and I decided that we had been spending too much time with the females of YAH, and a guy's night was long overdue.  When I  informed Jena that I was in need of some testosterone, my ever-supportive girlfriend sent me an email that said something like the following:  "Burgers and whiskey for $15 at Irving Mill-- Go there."  Like a helpless disciple, I gathered the boys, and obeyed...

 


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Posted in FOOD on April 13, 2009 11:34am by Seth | 1 comment