You can walk by this place a thousand times and think “Eh, typical half-ass sports bar I’d never step foot into” and keep walking. Little do you know that tucked away in the back is a tropical burger oasis. That’s right, just like B.I.G. said, “if you don’t know, now you know.” Over the last four years, Royale has built up a cult following amongst lower Manhattan burger biters. You are more than welcome to enjoy your burger in the confines of the dark bar area but the real sell is the oversized outdoor garden. On nice days, the garden is bumpin’ with an eclectic east village crowd of day drinkers enjoying buckets o’ beer, plump burgers, and good tunes. Let’s talk about the burger.
I don’t believe that Spitzer’s, a self proclaimed “Gastro Pub” (see The Spotted Pig), is in any way associated with our recently disgraced governor, though it would not surprise me to run into him drinking one of their forty hand crafted beers gearing up for an evening of chasing under-age women around the Lower East Side. This establishment, by the way, has a strict ID policy, so be prepared to get carded and have your hand stamped before you sit down. Once you get past that and the ridiculously wide bench seats that require a gymnastics routine to get in and out of … you are in for a treat. This is some of the best “bar food” in the city. The menu at Spitzer’s is a masterful example of taking the basics and turning them into truly special, one-of-a-kind signatures. Do not miss the short rib burger or the serrano chicken sandwich – number one on my list of New York’s best chicken sandwiches.
First off, much respect goes out to Ken Friedman who owns The Spotted Pig. Dude worked in the music biz for years before venturing into the culinary world and we obviously applaud the marriage of music and food. The fact that Bono, Trent Reznor, and Courtney Love are all listed as investors is awesome. Friedman’s landlord, Jay-Z, can now add the 173-year-old building that houses The Spotted Pig to his resume of timeless classics which already include Infatuation favorites Reasonable Doubt and The Black Album. Jigga decided to buy the place and renovate, adding more dining/bar space on the second floor and an exclusive third floor room where he and his crew can dine in peace, away from the riff-raff.
Appearing in Page Six on a regular basis and having a lively bar scene has led The Spotted Pig to become one of New York’s most infamous eateries. Don’t be fooled by the hype on the food though – this is next level gastro-pub fare, not fine dining. The food isn’t bad by any stretch of the imagination, but you’re coming here for the scene first, food second. Although The Spotted Pig is only five years old, the interior space properly reflects its vintage home. Sporting plaid booths and an overabundance of pork related paraphernalia, the space has a real old New York feel to it. The Spotted Pig doesn’t take reservations, so be prepared to commit at least an hour to wait for your table. Hopefully you’ve got money to spend at the bar while you wait. The Spotted Pig is ideal for evenings where you’re looking to mix it up, throw a couple down, and see where the night takes you.
It would seem to us here at Immaculate Infatuation that the only way to properly assess the fawned over revival of the Minetta Tavern is to take aim directly at the ridiculous love fest that both the national and New York food media has had with the place. Let’s start here – everyone chill the f–k out.
I don’t want to start this review out with negativity, but it’s only fair that we discuss what has been said about Minetta. All the hype led us in with high expectations, as it would with anyone paying attention to the heavy hitters like The New York Times, New York Magazine, and The Food Network. It’s one thing to read a chorus of glowing reviews about a new restaurant online, but once Frank Bruni crowns Minetta Tavern “the best steakhouse in the city,” you should be expecting perfection. It’s also probably worth mentioning that Tyler Florence went off about the burger on the Food Network for a full half hour, but then again, anything that guy puts in his mouth on television is “fantastic.” That being said, here’s the Infatuation bottom line: while the food at Minetta Tavern is very good, it does not, and can not live up to all the hype. Is it the best steakhouse in New York? No way.
Our meal at Minetta was definitely satisfying, but there were some notable let-downs. The $26 Black Label Burger is excellent, and the cheaper Minetta Burger is also very good, but going to a place like this just for a burger seems counter-intuitive … a burger joint, this is not. For starters, there is a gigantic bouncer with a clip board at the door, and reservations at a decent hour are nearly impossible to secure. The room is appealing and the service is good, but an attempt at exclusivity diminishes the charm. If Minetta Tavern were a little cheaper, a little more accessible, and a little less Waverly Inn, it could be one of the great restaurants in New York for a long time to come. We’ll see if it can continue to thrive under the weight of such great expectations.
Does it get any worse than Heartland Brewery? They give Hard Rock Cafe a run for their money. Average food, bad burgers, a cookie cutter crowd and the single nastiest exhaust vent I’ve ever experienced. Our office is unfortunately situated across the street from the Heartland on 51st St. and 6th Ave., which forces a walk right through that gag-inducing breeze every day. It’s just not right.
With our ingrained feeling of revulsion towards anything Heartland related, you can imagine how shocked we were to find out from a trusted co-worker that Heartland’s new burger joint, HB Burger was not only worth checking out, but home to a real quality burger.
Damn, we’re impressed HB Burger. Although the decor is typical Heartland style and your fries are still average at best, your burger is as fine as Alyssa Milano. Congrats. You’re now in our regular lunch rotation. Bonus points for serving your burgers with a very solid pickle spear.
Feature: Infatuation TV: P.O.S.
