Edwards

If anyone has actually read more than one of these posts you'll know that I can be put in the meat and potatoes box but I'll gladly embrace it because I love me some red meat.....and especially after a long night of drinking.

Edward's Restaurant in TriBeCa is hands down the best Grilled Steak and Eggs I've ever had for brunch. Almost every time you eat steak and eggs at a restaurant you are getting sh*t a$$ grade F hanger steak but not here. The beef quality was excellent and the preparation was on point.

This neighborhood would lead one to think of trendy upscale places where you are dropping a couple hundred on brunch but Edward's is surprisingly no attitude and moderately priced. The decor is diner meets garage-esq and there is a bonus with outdoor seating. Great service and a delicious morning drink menu wrap up an all around great restaurant. My experience leaves me wanting to go back for dinner.

Edwards

136 West Broadway
New York, NY 10013-3330
(212) 233-6436

http://www.edwardsnyc.com/

Whiskey Town

Claiming to be a "True East Village Bar" is a bold statement and in nowadays you have places calling themselves "dive bars" but selling $9 beers. Seriously, there is a place in NYC that does this. Anyway, Whiskey Town lives up to it's claim in a bad a$$, blackout drunk type way.

Despite being opened on Friday the 13th (of July 2007), this place will provide plenty of luck if you are looking for a night to forget. Their philosophy is simple: well poured drinks, reasonable prices, good music, a comfortable setting and great service. One if not both of the brother owners are at Whiskey Town every night.

Just to be clear, this is not your spot to go meet the love of your life....unless of course he/she is a beer guzzler that smells like a fresh shot of whiskey. Pretty dude-heavy clientele is the result of very reasonably priced drinks with no attitude. What you will find is a FREE beer cozy with the bar logo on it. Pretty good deal in my book.

Whiskey Town
29 East 3rd Street

New York, NY 10003-8907

(212) 505-7344
http://www.whiskeytownbar.com/

Pampano

Midtown East gets a bad wrap but there are some real NYC staples in this neighborhood, assuming because of all the businesses. Regardless of reason, Pampano should be a new staple of yours. Part of the Richard Sandoval Restaurant Group, this "Modern Mexican" establishment is a great after work dinner spot or even just a happy hour drink. It is also owned by Placido Domingo (my favorite tenor).

This is no traditional Mexican as self claimed, sophisticated tropical restaurant that provides dynamic seafood from the coasts of Mexico. The decor matches the coastal vibe with huge leaf fans. After the must Guacamole, start with the Tacos de Langosta (lobster) and move into the Merluza (chilean sea bass) or the Churrasco (beef tenderloin). Absolutley delicious and the experience was compounded by excellent service.

Next time your planning a work dinner in Midtown or in the neighborhood looking for a good date spot, think of Pampano. Lastly, do whatever you can to get a table outside.




Pampano
209 East 49th Street
New York, NY 10017-1501
(212) 751-4545
www.modernmexican.com/pampano/

Scotland Yard

Most city living people are total haters on Hoboken but I assure you I am not one of them. Ever since I came to NYC I've had good friends across the river and have spent plenty of time in the Boke getting after it and Scotland Yard is one of my go-to Happy Hour spots.

Being a stones throw from the PATH would lead you to believe this bar is mobbed with people coming from the city stopping in for a beer on their way home but it's pleasingly more quiet than it's neighbors The Green Rock & Hopsons. Those places are fun too, but for the rookies.....the die hard drunks go to Scotland Yard.

I was told once that this place has beautiful bartenders on Friday happy hours but my suds slinger looked more like Al Boreland. Despite the eyesore behind the bar, our group enjoyed ourselves with inexpensive beers and good blues being played live.

So, if you find yourself on the West side of the Hudson on a weekday night, check out Scotland Yard for a good time. They make a mean Jack & Coke. This one is for you MPS.

Scotland Yard
72 Hudson Street

Hoboken, NJ 07030-5629

(201) 222-9273

http://www.scotlandyardbar.com/

Stecchino

Italian for "toothpick", Stecchino shows it's wood off all over this Hell's Kitchen (or Clinton for the people denying their Hell's Kitchen existence) restaurant. A buddy of mine Danny and his father repeated their previous successes when they recently opened this modern style Italian eatery. The decor was beautiful and extremely detailed with incredible accents like warm mahogany paneling, distressed flooring and a walk over/look in diorama of the vintage neighborhood.

Have a seat at the bar and chose from extensive wine and import beer list before you sit down to dine. When you finally sit, make sure you indulge in the mozzarella balls that are stuffed with small bits of sausage as well. For your main, I recommend the Free Range Semi-Boneless Cornish Game Hen with broccoli rabe & sage crema. If you are not feeling gluttonous enough, dive into the Flourless Chocolate Torte hot buttered rum bananas and caramel and call it a night.

Ask for Danny and tell him I sent you. Also, keep an eye out for some celebs as Danny has a wide list of friends.

Stecchino
765 9th Avenue
New York, NY 10019-6333
(212) 397-2377
http://www.stecchinonyc.com/

The Blue Seats

There is definitely a market for sports bars that have a slightly higher brow clientele but don't bang you over the head on price. Let's be honest, no one wants to watch their favorite team win if they are getting mugged for $7 beers. The Blue Seats is your perfect blend between sensory overload with sports, great reasonably priced food/drink as well as upscale environment.

Owned by Notre Dame grads, these guys know a thing about watching sports. This place is in the heart of the Lower East Side so it is also bustling with people. Sticking to their bread and butter, this establishment does not have a place you can stand where you do not have a good vantage point of a flat screen. I'm not sure the total tally but there must be close to 100 TVs in this joint and that doesn't even include The Blue Seats crown jewel, being their private room equipped with 10 screens and about 8 private lounge chairs with your own side table.

Head down to The Blue Seats for your next event but be sure to make a reservation for a table. While you're there, order the The Carolina Burger which is a beef burger topped with pulled braised pork belly, melted cheddar and homemade red slaw. I'm sure it was 6,000 calories but I enjoyed ever f*cking ounce of it. Enjoy.

The Blue Seats

157 Ludlow Street
New York, NY 10002-2290
(212) 614-1494

http://www.theblueseatsnyc.com/

Random Thoughts - Doorknob Condoms

It's no secret that people are f*cking nuts and hypersensitive to anything germ related but when I saw this, I had to laugh.....

I was in a great hotel in Toronto recently and as I was coming out of the bathroom I noticed this lovely little sign/apparatus. So, let me get this straight, I just went to the bathroom...just washed my hands...and 3 steps later I need to grab another napkin like thing (doorknob condom) to make sure I don't get any germs on my hand? Give me a f*cking break. You might as well walk around with rubber gloves on. Is this really what's going to be your demise, doorknob germs? My grandfather is 87 years old and will probably live to be 100 and I'm certain the dude has never used hand sanitizer and most definitely never used a doorknob condom.

Pravda

I'm a fan of Keith McNally establishments. You may not know they are linked but Balthazar, Pastis, Schiller's Liquor Bar & Lucky Strike are creations of this one man. Recently I was invited to join friends at another McNally joint recently and thoroughly enjoyed my short time spent at Pravda.

The menu boasts 60 different vodkas from 21 different countries including Kazakhstan & Vietnam. It also has a wide array interesting cocktails and martinis that you won't see on an average menu. For example "The Gogol" which is horseradish vodka & pickled quail egg. With all that, my dull self still ordered beer but a delicious Czech beer at that (Czechvar).

Pravda proved to be a not too trendy underground (literally) SoHo bar that will make for a great pre-dinner drank sport or late nightcap spot. Just south of the Puck Building, make this place a stop on your list.

Pravda

281 Lafayette Street

New York, NY
10012
(212) 226-4696

http://www.pravdany.com/

Cafe Orlin

Waiting for a table for brunch just seems silly to me. Cafe Orlin has a hefty brunch crowd but my lovely date and I walked right in and sat at the mini 5 person bar for what would be one of the best brunch experiences I've had in NYC. For a blistery Sunday morning, St. Mark's place had a good amount of foot traffic albeit a much different crowd from what you would've seen 10 hours earlier.

The bartender really made our dining experience much better with incredibly efficient service. The steak & eggs were more delicious than the standard at any other restaurant where you are usually getting a pretty low grade meat for the steak portion. Cooked perfectly, I polished off my dish in expeditious caveman fashion.

Overall Cafe Orlin seemed like an awesome spot with an ideal outdoor seating patio but unfortunately I moved to Saskatchewan this Winter and the weather was roughly -5 degrees Celsius. I look forward to New York thawing out so I can experience this East Village eatery in another light.

Cafe Orlin
41 St Marks Place
New York, NY 10003
(212) 777-1447
http://www.cafeorlin.com/

Random Toughts - Expert Traveler

More airports should have lines like this one in Orlando...

It always blows my mind when I'm in security and see A) the lady that is shocked she is not allowed to bring a gallon bottle of shampoo in her carry on, B) the dude that is shocked his watch, belt & chain are made of metal or C) every other f*cking person that I have wasted time waiting behind.

Verlaine

I really enjoy going out in the Lower East Side. Not sure I'd ever live there but socially, it might be my favorite neighborhood in NYC. The LES is also home to Verlaine which has become one of my staples for late night drinks.

This spot is unassuming and often overlooked because of the business of Rivington as well as the many other louder establishments near by. It's dark inside and surprisingly spacious with a very long bar. They have beers from 12 countries and one of the most expansive cocktail menus I've ever seen in my life. I'm talking like 60 different whiskeys and 20 different rums amongst a massive wine list as well.

The decor is cool with vintage pictures and some bizarre artwork as well. Some is NC17 but who am I to judge. Check out Verlaine next time you are in that neighborhood and don't want to wait in line and/or walk into a mobbed scene like Pianos.

Verlaine

110 Rivington Street
New York, NY 10002-8800
(212) 614-2494
http://www.verlainenyc.com/

Eight Mile Creek

I've been to Australia and I've been to "Australian" restaurant that are terrible portrayals of the country; focusing on all the stereotypes and not even remotely resembling the culture. Eight Mile Creek in SoHo is the opposite of every sh*tty Australian restaurant I've been to.

The authenticity is clear immediately when you enter the front bar area and are greeted by an Aussie bartender who is offering you a wide array of beers from down under and I promise you Fosters is not one of them. I like Coopers Pale Ale (green label) and they have plenty of those.

The food at Eight Mile Creek is just as delicious and genuine with Crisp-baked Barramundi Fillet and Emu Carpaccio amongst other Aussie tastes. My recommendation is to start with the Sweet Chili Crayfish Cake with red wine vinaigrette, saffron aioli and then pic your entree of choice. Do yourself a favor and hit to place when it's warm so you can enjoy the outdoor seating in their OuT-the-bAck garden. This is one of the best outdoor dining venues in my New York City experience.


After you meal head down below to the creek bar downstairs. It's dark and tight but has a ton of character. There might be some rugby on the tube and there might be some live music but definitely adds value to this establishment. I had been to Eight Mile Creek three times before I even knew the basement bar where there.

So next time you are looking for a good restaurant in SoHo prior to a night out, have a walkabout to this place. G'day Mate.

Eight Mile Creek
240 Mulberry Street
New York, NY 10012-5755
(212) 431-4635
http://www.eightmilecreek.com/

Kenn's Broome Street Bar

"Dive Bar" always carries and interesting definition and especially in New York City. Established in 1972, Kenn's Broome Street Bar stakes it's claim in SoHo as a dive bar but in my very unimportant opinion it is anything but. In my opinion, cheap bear, sh*tty furniture and a rude bartender constitute as a dive bar. This corner pick has a wide selection of beers and they certainly are not cheap but is still a fun place to go for an afternoon of drinking.

If you can, get a seat by the window; it makes the bar feel less crowded and it's great for people watching. Kenn's has character and is a nice change of pace from the stuffiness of the surrounding neighborhood. If you are looking for late night eats, this establishment will take care of you with a kitchen that stays open very late. I recommend the fries.

Check out Kenn's Broome Street Bar for Saturday or Sunday afternoon beers and a good dose of character. Not many places in the city can say they have been around since the early 70's.

Kenn's Broome Street Bar

363 West Broadway
New York, NY 10013-2209
(212) 925-2086
http://broomestreetbar.ypguides.net/

Frank

Happy New Year my peoples. 2010 huh, I feel old sometimes.

I'd like to start off the New Year posting about one of my absolute favorite places in New York. Frank in the East Village is a place a rave about to lots of people and am constantly shocked to find out that people have never heard of this place. If you are walking down 2nd Avenue it is easy to miss but once you've eaten there you'll never cruise by without remembering exactly where it is.

The entrance brings you in the wine bar portion of the restaurant so if you can grab a seat at the bar, hold on for dear life because seating is at a premium and if you don't have a reservation you could be a while and there is not much free standing area that is not high traffic. The bartenders I've encountered have been extremely friendly and helpful when eating in the bar area. When the weather is nice you can eat outside which is always a plus.

Lots of wine and cocktail selections but the food is what really sells this establishment. Seems silly to talk about the bread at a restaurant but olives and oil that compliment the bread make it a delicious start. I also definitely recommend the Steamed Mussels for an appetizer and try to order from the expansive and daily changing specials menu. I promise if you try this Italian gem you will be recommending it to all your friends.

Frank
88 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10003
(212) 420-0202
http://www.frankrestaurant.com/

Warren 77

When you think of sports bars you usually imagine cheap beer and heavy male dominated clientele. You rarely think of a sports bar owned by a dude that actually plays professional sports. Welcome to Warren 77 owned by probably the most hated man in the NHL Sean Avery.

Not just any sports bar with loud sound systems and flat draft beer, this Tribeca establishment takes cool to a new level. They decor is vintage (but classic) action shots from American sports history. Pull up to the reverse "L" shaped bar and check out their menu. I recommend the mussels and friends, which you can kind of see being made through this tiny window that just exposes the the chef's head making it look like he is trapped behind a wall with only a stove. Once you see it, you will understand exactly what I mean.
What really makes Avery's bar cool, other than the decor, furniture, food.....is the sit down 2 player Pacman machine. I have been dying to have one of these in my home for the last 14 years. It is the single greatest video game machine out there including a screen that flips when it is your friends turn as well as a built in cup holder for your beer. These things cost at a minimum $2,000 so I don't see one making it's way to my apartment anytime soon. The sit down Pacman has several other games but we know the little yellow dude is the only one that matters.

Make Warren 77 your next stop when you are trying to find a cool place to watch a game.

Warren 77

77 Warren St

New York, NY 10007
(212) 227-8994
http://www.warren77nyc.com/

dell'anima

Located in the heart of the West Village, this establishment is located just off Eighth Avenue and a stone's throw (assuming you didn't play soccer growing up) from Corner's Bistro which we all know as the most famous burger joint in the Big Apple. Be sure to have a reservation because even though dell'anima is relatively new, it has quickly become a hot spot and it's limited seating space makes walk-in dining essentially impossible. Partially owned by a former professional athlete & Ivy League grad (sup Joey B) the clientele is usually quite chic.

My recommendation is to get there about 10 minutes before your meal so you can have a drink at the bar which will be to your right as you enter. Also, as mentioned with the limited seating your reservation is almost never right on time so plan on a few glasses of wine while you wait. This is a great date spot although I don't recommend it as a first date spot because the menu is relatively complex and personally I think a place this nice for a first date is relatively cliche. Regardless of your purpose for dining the food is still delicious. If available, I like the bar to the back left where you can sit facing the 5 ft x 5ft kitchen and watch all the meals be prepared. I enjoyed the delicious Skirt Steak braised endive marmalata, salsa verde, orange, mint.

Good wine, better food, best ambiance makes for a delightful night out. It was my birthday on my most recent trip so that doesn't hurt the good time either.

dell'anima
38 8th Avenue
New York, NY 10014-1803
(212) 366-6633
http://www.dellanima.com/

Ace Bar

Skee ball is probably the best arcade game out there. Throw that in the mix with a dive bar that serves dirt cheap PBR and I'm good to go. Ace Bar has more than just skee ball to attract dumb guys like my friends and me. They have pool tables and a trio of Buckhunter machines.

Some of the so called "dive bars" in NYC are contrived and try too hard to be a dive. Ultimately resulting in an attitude that contradicts the entire premise of a dive bar. This East Village hang out stays true to it's roots with cheap specials and acting host to a skee ball league. My first venture at Ace Bar was a Sunday in the Spring and we left a perfectly sunny day to enter this very dark establishment only to return to pitch dark about 5 hours later.

I had heard plenty of this place but had to try it out myself and was pleasantly surprised. Go find Ace Bar for yourself and enjoy your PBR with a side of skee ball. Don't forget to check out the lunch box collection either.

Ace Bar
531 E 5th St
New York, NY 10009
(212) 979-8476
http://www.acebar.com/

Hill Country Barbecue Market

A famous man (really not famous) once said, "If I had three hands I'd kill myself." This man was referring to his passion for eating when a large delicious meal was siting in front of him. I love this man and owe him a lot so I wanted to start off mentioning DJU. He would love Hill Country in the Flatiron section of the city. See exhibit A to the right.

This eatery is ideal for gluttonous groups of men with big appetites. Before you get by the lady with the rope (once you go you'll know what I mean, right Gresh?), you have to decide whether the entire group is going to order from the menu or go with the All You Can Eat menu. What kind of sick challenge of manhood is this for six 28 year old former college athlete meat heads? Obvi AYCE was our decision. Upstairs seems like the place to be at first glance but the basement is where it's at. Long wooden tables make for the family style eating environment. At the end of the long room is a small stage where they have live music which I'm told brings some pretty good honky tonk acts. We saw no live music as it was a Fall Monday evening so football was on the big screen.

You MUST order the green bean casserole, the baked beans and the mac 'n' cheese. The corn bread is delicious too. Now, for the main platter it has chicken, huge ribs & my favorite, the brisket. Buckets of PBR went well with the meal as well. I walked out of there a good 10 pounds heavier. You really couldn't drink that much beer if you were planning on going to business on the food.

I had never heard of Hill Country, but I highly recommend you find this place for yourself and treat yourself to a night of guilty pleasures.

Hill Country Barbecue Market
30 West 26th Street
New York, NY 10010-2062
(212) 255-4544
http://www.hillcountryny.com/

Cellar Bar

I love Bryant Park, everything about it. It's one of those places in the city that when you go, you find yourself saying, "why don't we come here more often". Only steps away from the plush green lawn of the park is the beautiful Bryant Park Hotel and only a few more steps under the hotel is the must go to Cellar Bar. So, get your stylish gear on and head to the cruxes of the Bryant Park hotel for this luxury lounge.

Make sure you are prepared to spend some dough for the drinks & atmosphere, but for this place I believe it's well worth it. Cellar Bar is a great happy hour spot usually filled with attractive women and suits trying to court them. The decor is simple and the 1924 architecture really steals the show. The hotel was built as the American Radiator Building which was a Gothic Art Deco. Darkness and the beats of a the DJ set the mood and make it surprisingly cozy. Try to get a table/bench area because otherwise there isn't much room to sit and get comfortable. Once you establish some real estate let the waitresses take care of you and sit back to enjoy the scene.



Make your way through Cellar Bar either after work one night or as a starting place for the night. If you live in NYC, you have to make it a point to stop by this basement Bryant Park spot.

Cellar Bar
40 W 40th St
New York, NY 10018
(212) 869-0100
http://www.bryantparkhotel.com/

Balthazar Restaurant

Grab your skinny jeans (Cheech) and your ridiculous Ray Bans (that we all know look stupid) and head on down to Balthazar for Sunday brunch. This place has a very fashion forward crowd with quite a European feel. Despite the very trendy scene, the Spring Street eatery was still a fun place to dine.

The atmosphere is just cool with the old school tile floors and massive mirrors lining the walls. While waiting for a table, make your way to the bar on your right and start the mouth watering if you take one look at the raw bar in the back. My only gripe is when a place is "proud of their beer" as my Pops would say. All I mean by this is there is no reason why any bar/restaurant should charge $10 for a draft Stella when everyone knows the max should be $6. They must make be pouring it from the platinum kegs as oppose to the traditional aluminum ones.

The food was still really good despite my negatively. I had Bar Steak with Pomme Frites and my lovely date had the Salad Nicoise with seared tuna. My steak was cook perfectly however could have been seasoned better. The fries were all that. Everyone I noticed had fries at their table and I know why. I enjoyed my overall experience at Balthazar although it was slightly over priced for the final product. Definitely worth hitting up once because at the end of the day it is a very cool scene, especially on Sunday afternoon.

Balthazar Restaurant

80 Spring Street

New York, NY 10012

(212) 965-1414

http://www.balthazarny.com/