Tag Archives: happy hour

Crimson & Rye

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I don’t normally find myself in Midtown East, but I heard about a new place that just opened up, so, I had to check it out. I was off to Crimson & Rye.

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Upon entering, you get the feel of walking into a grand, hotel lobby bar. The space is open, and spread out, allowing you to decompress and relax without feeling breathed on by tables on top of one another. They have bar seating, wrapping around the bar, rustically mis-matched plush leather seats and couches spread out around the restaurant, and some large, inviting booths as well. 

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They’re on the bandwagon movement of bringing wine barrels/kegs into play, and they offer a happy hour on those beers and wines, so, I went for a glass of Pinot Grigio from the keg. I really liked it, it was crisp, not too sweet, not too dry, with a light taste. 

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For dinner, I ordered the Niçoise Salad (seared tuna, green beans, olives, baby tomato, crispy shallot, eight minute egg, confit potato, white anchovy, meyer lemon vinaigrette). This was a really delicious salad. The crisp, fresh greens are lightly dressed in this slightly citrusy vinaigrette, adding a nice balance from some of the starchy and saltier components. I especially loved the seared tuna, crusted in a pepper rub and perfectly rare. 

The Shorts:
Name: Crimson & Rye
Location: 198 East 54th Street, NYC
The Long and Short: Would I go back? Yes, there’s a really nice, sophisticated vibe, with a great view from the wrap-around windows facing the city street. 
Would I recommend it? Yes. Whether you’re there for a little power lunch, a post work drink, or some delicious dinner, the environment is warm and spacious with great service. 

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Barcade

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I’m not a gamer, by any means. But, as a kid I definitely got down with some old school Mario and Duck Hunt. And, I still find something pretty charming about arcade games. But, you can’t find a lot of places in NYC to take part in a round of Ms. Pacman. Years ago, I went to a bar in Brooklyn that brought the two worlds of bars and arcades together. Now, Barcade has a new location in Chelsea. 

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With dozens of games to choose from, there’s something for everyone, even the non-gaming type. Who would say no to some Donkey Kong? And, for bragging rights, there’s a “High Score” board on the wall. 

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Of course, they’re a bar too, but in addition to a full bar, they also have food, serving typical bar fare with a twist. As a snack, we got some of their Tater Tots “California Style”. Now, I can’t be for certain as to what California style tater tots are, but, I will say they were good. Piled high, the tater tots were golden brown and crisp on the outside. Then, a layer of a sort of special sauce, that I might describe as a cheese sauce meets gravy with a bit of tang, is poured on top. But my favorite part about the basket was the thinly sliced shreds of perfectly caramelized onions. 

The Shorts:
Name: Barcade
Location: 148 West 24th Street, NYC
The Long and Short: Would I go back? Yes, it’s a novel place for me, but there’s such a relaxed atmosphere, that, you can almost forget there are video games if you’re just into grabbing a drink or snack at the bar. 
Would I recommend it? Yes, especially for those that do enjoy the arcade atmosphere. And even more for the competitive type. Get your name on that High Score board.