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Guide to New York Beer Week 2017

Posted on Feb 15, 2017 in Beer Bars, Eating Events

Whether you’re a fanatical homebrewer or just a sometime imbiber, who wouldn’t want to lose themselves in the bottom of a pint glass for nine straight days? Thanks to New York Beer Week — an annual, out-out celebration of suds — there’s an opportunity to do just that, through tap takeovers, festivals, pairing dinners and more…

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Bar Spotting: Mace is the Place

Posted on May 21, 2015 in Beer Bars, Best Of, Drink Spotting

For uninitiated passerby, there’s nothing outwardly broadcasting that Mace is the hot new place to be — a glance through the floor-to-ceiling windows reveals a handsome, zinc-topped bar in front, a couple of tables in back, and not much else. But it’s what’s going on behind that bar that counts, starting with the brightly colored jars of spices…

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Craft Beer & Fine Dining Converge at Stanton Street Kitchen

Posted on Feb 25, 2015 in Beer Bars, First Bite

Stanton Street Kitchen — a brand new Lower East Side eatery — is especially dedicated to the pairing potential of food and beer. So instead of allowing suds to run distant second to vino, it ably treads the line between the two; offering a beer menu as extensive and thoughtfully curated as any wine list…

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Guide to New York Beer Week 2015

Posted on Feb 13, 2015 in Beer Bars, Best Of, Eating Events

Somehow, the NYC Brewer’s Guild managed to managed to make New York Beer Week — their 10 day long celebration of suds — even more appealing this year, by adding keynote events like the Ruppert’s Cup (a battle for the title of best brewery), and debuting SMASH beers, made with only locally-grown malt and hops. And there’s the regular roster of tastings, pairings, dinners and more, held at over 80 establishments throughout the city…

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Best Super Bowl Bars

Posted on Feb 2, 2011 in Beer Bars, Best Of

The Super Bowl is the most anticipated sports event in the year, so why not skip your couch and watch it somewhere with a little more atmosphere and good cocktails? This year, you can watch the Steelers and the Packers go head-to-head in a venue that suits your tastes. For beer geeks, there’s  Beer Table in Brooklyn with  rare craft brews on tap. For those who wish this year’s game was a repeat of Super Bowl XLIV, Bourbon Street Cafe serves New Orleans cooking. And for hard-core Steelers fans, Cody’s Ale House  brings Pittsburgh to Park Slope, and that includes the city’s signature Iron City booze. The Hill Address: 416 Third Ave. bet. 29th and 30th streets Phone: (212) 481-1712 Like it’s name implies, The Hill is the sports bar in Murray Hill, a neighborhood filled with watering holes.   The...

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Bacon Hits Happy Hour

Posted on Oct 23, 2007 in Beer Bars, Best Of, Sneak Peek

This weekend we stumbled upon a truly peculiar cocktail at Double Down Saloon, the New York spin-off of an infamous Las Vegas bar.  This artful dive bar serves up a house-infused bacon vodka.  Committed to his peculiar vision, the owner has special bacon flown in from Kentucky, which he then fries up and soaks in high-quality vodka to create a “Bacon Martini” or Bloody Mary.  And if bacon vodka wasn’t sufficiently audacious, each martini is topped with a juicy stick of Slim Jim to gnaw while sipping.  Bartender Joan likens the libation to “a good scotch.” Address:14 Avenue A, just above Houston St.Phone: (212)982-0543doubledownsaloon.com Until we eat again,Restaurant Girl**Don’t forget to subscribe for Restaurant Girl’s weekly...

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The London Bar

Posted on Nov 20, 2006 in Beer Bars, Best Of, Reviews

151 West 54th Street, nr. 7th Ave. (212)468-8889 website TYPE: Asian-inflected French VIBE: Modern elegance OCCASION: A mature date or civilized family affair DON’T MISS DISH:  White onion veloute with duck ragout DON’T BOTHER DISH: Peekytoe crab with avocado & sweetcorn sorbet DRINK SPECIALTY: An extensive wine list & classic cocktails. PRICE: $70 & up HOURS: Breakfast, lunch & dinner, 365 days a year, 6AM – 11PM in the London Bar.  High tea served every afternoon at 4 PM.  Dinner only in Gordon Ramsay at the London, beginning at 5:30 PM. RESERVATIONS: Reservations are recommended, especially for dinner.  Be prepared to dial two months before you actually care to dine.   RESTAURANT GIRL RATES (1-10):  6 (pretty good) FINAL WORD: A royal mess – The London Bar was wildly inconsistent on opening night. Still, it’s well worth a visit...

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Gin Lane

Posted on Aug 10, 2006 in Beer Bars, Best Of, Reviews

355 West 14th Street at Ninth Ave. (212)691-0555 www.ginlanenyc.com Savory NY video   TYPE: Continental/Raw bar VIBE: 30’s supper club OCCASION: Let them lure you to linger over dinner or stumble in for a late-night bite GO WITH: A date or a posse of prepsters DON’T MISS DISH: The French fry tasting DON’T BOTHER DISH: Heirloom tomato salad PRICE: $40 & up HOURS: Dinner & drinks, Monday-Saturday, 5 PM-4 AM, the main dining room stops food service at 12 AM.  The bar menu’s served until 2 AM.  Closed on Sundays.  Look for lunch hours in the upcoming weeks. RESERVATIONS: Recommended, especially on Thursdays & weekends. INSIDE SCOOP: Snag the chairs next to the fireplace in the back. RESTAURANT GIRL RATES (1-10): 6 FINAL WORD: Speak easy, drink heavily. CHEAT SHEET: DRINK: Strawberry Nirvana NIBBLE ON: The french fry flight...

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