the week in review.
you can tell it was an unseasonably warm week because people were lingering in the parks and shake shack ranked right up there (or maybe that was just because of the pumpkin pie custard). when the temps get more brisk you’ll want to switch over to the UWS location or hit up one of the city’s other burger stars (my personal favorites: prune and burger joint).
all stars:
the bellhouse: the beauty of this out-of-the-way venue is that’s everything to everyone. want a drink? they have those, though you won’t find any fancy bitters - try the “tighten up,” a no-nonsense one-two of bulleit bourbon and ginger ale. the beer cheese and ritz crackers combo is always a good idea, though i’m not sold on the dub (meat) pies yet. there are events almost nightly, from offbeat film screenings to taxidermy contests to indie music concerts. and, unlike some pockets of brooklyn (ahem, willyburg), it’s got a lovable come-one-come-all vibe. so what are you waiting for? next week is going to be a good one, with the world’s largest connect four championship (yeah, you read right), arkansas folkster joe purdy, and the always contentious chili takedown.
brooklyn bowl: williamsburg’s latest destination opened this past summer and got instant attention not for its selection of mismatched bowling kicks, but for its pedigreed ownership (the guys behind wetlands preserve) and cut-above food (courtesy of the blue ribbon restaurant group). bowling has never held much appeal for me, but the food is reason enough to make the trip: rock and roll fries (gravy, cajun spices, provolone, and cheddar); blue ribbon’s famed fried chicken with appropriately southern sides; and a heaping brisket sandwich with vinegary pickles. there’s a proper lounge and restaurant area so you don’t even have to go near the pins unless you want to, and a huge performance space. the calendar is pretty wide-ranging — monday night football gives way to tuesday japanese punk — so it’s worth checking before you go. with food, games, and noise covered, brooklyn bowl is a tough one to beat.
ace hotel: the area around 28th and broadway used to be a wasteland of discount fragrance shops and button wholesalers. actually it still is, only now there are three good reasons to go there: coffee, cocktails, and charcuterie. cult portland coffee roaster stumptown recently opened their first new york storefront with mustached baristas, flower-decorated cappuccinos, and just-baked pastries. the lobby has a library meets art gallery feel, and a small bar serving serious drinks: the Ace is a rejiggered old fashioned made with brandied cherries and aged tequila. the breslin, from the spotted pig crew, has been teasing food bloggers since it held a series of blowout preview dinners a few weeks ago (st. john’s fergus henderson was on hand to up the celeb chef anty) and is finally set to start serving dinner. the menu is still secret but doors open this monday - and there are no reservations. if you want a taste of april bloomfield’s genre-bending pub fare you’ll just have to get in line.
two bars to try:
rumors of the LES’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. yes, there are still plenty of self-important fake hipsters, as well as an active bridge and tunnel contingent, but there are still reasons to venture into the neighborhood. just don’t go on a friday or saturday. i had forgotten about barramundi until i noticed it on the social great list. this dim, cozy bar is just far enough away from the stanton social clustercuss to maintain a semi-lowkey vibe. here, you won’t feel ages older than the rest of the crowd and you can get a pretty decent manhattan. ditto for scratcher, which is in the middle of the east village but avoids nyu nonsense. it’s not quite a dive but it doesn’t put on any airs - there is a vaguely irish vibe and a good happy hour from 4 to 8pm.
