Nope, that’s not the sound of your iPod skipping, that’s just us reiterating the fact that finding solid pub grub in this town isn’t as easy as it should be. We all get cravings for wings, cheesesteaks and waffle fries sometimes, and when we need to take care of that situation, Wogies is there for us. The inside of this sports den looks no different from the one you probably frequent back in your hometown, and it’s a play on the owner’s favorite local Philadelphia hangs. Décor is pretty standard – dark wood booths, a nice sized bar, flat screens and a small outdoor area in front. It’s a shame there aren’t more sports bars around town like Wogies that manage to maintain a solid middle ground between the cheese of Mercury Bar and the filth of your typical dirty old-man dive. Points earned for good food, but points deducted for the large presence of loud, obnoxious Philly fans, the most annoying breed of sports fan that exists.
Looking for a unique spot to impress on a First/Early In The Game date? If she likes wine and raw fish, Desnuda is your jam. This dark, South American inspired wine and ceviche bar has just eighteen seats, all at the bar. It’s intimate and low key, and the fish is fresh and priced right. There is no kitchen, which means you’ll have a front row seat as your food is prepared by a man who will also double as your bartender. Hopefully audience participation is something you’re comfortable with, as you may be called on to help your chef/bartender as he practices his “ghetto molecular gastronomy”. Ever seen someone smoke an oyster with a gravity bong made from a Sprite bottle? Didn’t think so. We’ll bet your date hasn’t either. This block of 7th St. is home to a lot of hot spots (see Porchetta, Luke’s Lobster, Caracas, Pylos), so let’s agree to keep Desnuda as it is – slightly under the radar, and your new secret weapon date spot.
It’s official. New York City has become Disney World, and Pulino’s is the newest attraction at Pleasure Island.
Now, I can’t claim that I was around when The Bowery was home to Syd Vicious and Dee Dee Ramone and all the people they did smack with. But I did manage to get here before CBGB turned into a John Varvatos and before Daniel Boulud took a dump on it’s memory by naming his restaurant DBGB. That’s right Danny, God Save the Queen. Unfortunately, I missed the really good stuff, when the neighborhood was filthy and punk rock changed the world. But I did at least experience something a little different – before Mickey and Goofy cleaned up the streets and put in a gift shop.
Either way, Keith McNally is here now, and he’s brought his flagship Pastis over from the Magic Kingdom. What’s the difference between Pastis and Pulino’s? Pizza. Ultimately, this is just another McNally franchise, which is fine, but you better know what to expect before you eat. You aren’t coming here for a great New York pizza experience. You’re coming here to either stare at, or show off some ridiculous legs in a miniskirt, and God bless you for that. The pizzas are definitely decent, but this place is more about the scene and having a good time. We’ll go on record saying that we are totally cool with that…but let’s not shower the joint with Michelin Stars just yet. If you want to avoid the craziness but still get in on the action and get a table, we recommend rolling up at about 10:45 on a Friday night. The bar will still be bumping, but you should sit quickly, and at midnight they begin serving a limited number of killer late night burgers. Part of us definitely wishes there was still some grit to the area, but another part of us is also just fine with late night food and miniskirts. Maybe Disney World isn’t so bad after all.
When East Side Social Club opened at the end of last year, it did so amidst a lot of hype, especially for a Midtown restaurant. The Employees Only pedigree and old-school Italian dining club vibe certainly helped create some of that chatter. But people were definitely throwing things around like this is “the Waverly Inn of Midtown” or “the accessible alternative to Monkey Bar.” After spending some time here, our experience is that East Side Social Club is neither of those things. What it is however, is a decent option for dinner and/or drinks if you’re stuck in Midtown, and a fantastic place to watch cougars hammer back drinks in the company of business dudes and European tourists (the restaurant is attached to the Pod Hotel, which is basically an upscale hostel). It’s also a place that, unlike Waverly or Monkey Bar, you will actually be treated well. Everyone from manager on down to busboy has been incredibly attentive and welcoming on our visits, and that goes a long way in our book. There are a few great dishes on the menu, and the wine list is decent. For us, that’s enough to flag East Side Social Club as an Infatuation Approved option for Midtown East. Just don’t get suckered into paying fifteen bucks for one of their specialty drinks. They aren’t worth it.
A “casual latino” eatery, Macondo claims its food is “Freestyle Latin”. I don’t like the word freestyle. It’s usually just a different way of saying “I’m making shit up”. It also makes me think of freestyle walking (not a sport), and every moron in college who owned an Eminem album and freestyle rapped at parties. Needless to say, I was not encouraged by their choice of words on the website. Luckily, Macondo was a good experience, minus a few stumbles. The restaurant is huge and lively on most nights, with a ton of big tables and some bar seats in front of the open kitchen. On my most recent visit (a slow night), I watched the kitchen staff spend twenty minutes experimenting with a blow torch on various dishes, only one of which was a brulee. Freestyle man. Nobody knows what’s going to happen next!
Stick to the tacos, the bocadillos, and pretty much anything with pork or beef and you’re in business. I am going to go out on a limb and guess you’ve never eaten Mofongo, but you need to. A few things on the menu were disappointing, but it’s a big menu with lots to choose from and they mix up some solid drinks which helps the cause. Overall we’re still partial to Mercadito Cantina and Yerba Buena for South of the Border cravings in the area, but we’ll happily hit Macondo for a quick one next time we’re in the neigborhood for a show.
Feature: Infatuation TV: P.O.S.
