Jimmy’s No. 43
It’s not easy to find a bar with a seasonal menu, never mind a bar in a basement. But leave it to Jimmy’s No 43 shows New York City just how good bar food can be. Since it’s always changing, you can’t be sure but you’ll find, but the latest menu features dishes, like a Market Salad with arugula, fennel, carrots and a lemon vinaigrette. There’s shishito peppers with lemon and sea salt, BBQ beef tacos served with marinated feta and even a cheese plate. They’ve got 12 beers on tap right now, including Young’s Double Chocolate Stout (which is made with real dark chocolate). If you’re looking to celebrate, go for a bottle of the 3 Fonteinen Schaerbeekse Kriek. It’s the closest thing you can get to traditional, cherry flavored, Belgian Kriek (we’ve tried the real thing in Belgium, and...
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The Ginger Man
If the vintage Guinness posters on the walls have you convinced you’re at just another pub, you’ll need to reconsider. This place is anything but generic, from the ridiculous number of beers on tap (we’re talking around 70), to the lounge area, which is nice enough for any after work relaxing you’re looking to do. We say stay for dinner, especially for the German sausage platter, which is excellent and comes with plenty of beer suggestions. The Ginger Man Club sandwich (which is another personal favorite) comes with a chicken breast, provolone, fresh avocado, tomato, and a chipotle aioli all layered on ciabatta. If you don’t have time to make a night of it, check out their beer-to-go menu (yes, really), which includes traditional German growlers and create-your-own six...
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Ear Inn
The Ear Inn, aka the Green Door is famous for being one of the oldest (if not the oldest) bar in the city. Located in the James Brown House of 1817, a registered New York City landmark and U.S. historic building, this place is just about as old as they get, so it’s worth a visit for the history alone. Local musicians consider it an honor to take the stage at the Ear Inn every Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday while regulars and newcomers enjoy simple, but always delicious bar food like the roasted turkey club and cowboy chili (traditionally served with cheese, sour cream, and onion). An average selection of about ten beers is available on tap, while a few others are available bottled. There’s nothing super special about the beer or food here, but the atmosphere and history keep the...
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Barcade
Step inside this Williamsburg warehouse and you might just think that you accidentally walked into an arcade for teenagers. In 2004, five friends decided to combine their passions for beer and old school arcade games into one, big idea: Barcade. They boast a constantly rotating selection of local beers and microbrews, so it’s a great spot to sample the newest, nearby craft beer creation. It gets better: Barcadealso houses over 30 classic arcade games (including our favorite, Tetris) and they still cost just 25-cents to play. While you’ll only find common bar eats like pretzels and potato chips, it makes up for it in entertainment and great beer. You can find their up-to-date tap list online, which currently includes Doc’s Draft Cider, Green Flash Le Freak, and Smuttynose Wheat Wine (which has the tart flavor of a wheat ale topped...
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Blind Tiger Ale House
Take one look at the beer list scribbled on the chalkboard here and you’ll realize this isn’t the kind of place to order a Bud Light. Blind Tiger Ale House focuses on microbrews, including a large selection of New York’s own beers on tap. We love the silky texture of the oatmeal stout Sixpoint Otis (made in Brooklyn), but there’s plenty of great finds on the menu here. Beers like the Empire White Aphro and the Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere are what make this ale house so unique, so we recommend you step out of your comfort zone and sample the spectrum. The adventurous attitude shouldn’t stop with beer. We can’t think of a better pairing than tall beer and beer braised chicken and chorizo tacos. If that’s not your guy, there’s an Asian salmon burger with kimchi or ...
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Bohemian Hall Beer Garden
This spot used to be a Czech and Slovak social club, so it comes as no surprise that their outdoor beer garden regularly hosts traditional Czech and Slovak festivals, concerts, and sporting events all summer long. And with a huge outdoor area, you never have to worry about finding a spot to relax with a cold one when the weather permits. All of their beers are served in a mug or a pitcher, all the same price ($6 and $16, respectively). Be sure and try a mug of the Spaten Octoberfest. A perfect fall beer, it’s smooth and rich with the sweet taste of butterscotch and a spicy finish. In keeping with the theme, you can order some Czech potato pancakes or pork schnitzel with czech potato salad. Rule of thumb here: you can’t go wrong with anything that...
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Brother Jimmy’s BBQ
Brother Jimmy’s has been keeping the convivial spirit of barbecue alive for over twenty years with authentic North Carolina grub and an atmosphere that keeps the nightlife spirit going strong all night long. Whether it’s the prime sports viewing, casual vibe, or the hush puppies, Brother Jimmy’s seems to have no problem drawing people in and we’re pretty sure their Carolina-bent BBQ menu has something to do with it. ”Put some south in yo mouth” is the unofficial motto at all of the Brother Jimmy’s locations, and we say, why not? Take the starters for example. Southern staples include popcorn shrimp, fried green tomatoes, rib tips and peel and eat shrimp. Still hungry? There’s lots of BBQ to choose from — dry rub ribs, pulled chicken, or sliced brisket – and all of it’s smoked over Hickory wood for anywhere between five and 12...
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Wildwood BBQ
Reminiscent of real deal American smoke shacks, Wildwood BBQ is a reliably lively spot to take part in Carolina-style pulled pork, Kansas City baby back ribs and Texas-Smoked brisket. The space is outfitted with two smokers, wood beams, sawdust, bourbon and beer. While it’s not the best barbecue around, it’s got the whole package from vibe to sports and plenty of beers on tap. The menu choices are endless, but an easy favorite is “The Three Little Pigs,” which includes spare ribs, pulled pork, double-cut bacon, and two sides. While you won’t need them, extra helpings of the housemade pickled jalapenos and Sweet Potato Tots with mustard-molasses sauce are still an essential part of the dining experience here. An all-American classic, the Texas-Smoked brisket at Wildwood BBQ consistently delivers as...
Read MoreVirgil’s
Sure, the Times Square location of this popular BBQ spot might make you a little worried. (It certainly warrants pause.) But, if you can fight your way past the tourists, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. A lot of barbecue in these parts can taste like it’s slathered in sauce and thrown on the grill. Not here. This is deeply smoky barbecue, just like the kind you’d find proudly served down south. And Virgil’s is owned by Artie Cutler, founder of Carmine’s (you know, that Italian place in Times Square that gives you those monstrous portions fit for kings), so you know you won’t be leaving hungry. The beef brisket is by far the shining star on the menu. Be sure to order it with a side of coleslaw (the traditional pairing for brisket) and some collard greens with ham...
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Rack and Soul
Did you know New York boasts a world champion BBQ Pitmaster of its own? Pitmaster John Wheeler and his partner and co-chef, Charles Gabriel, have brought their own brand of BBQ to the Upper West Side. At Rack & Soul, they specialize in ribs and chicken, neither of which disappoint. Each plate of barbecue is artfully smoked for hours over apple wood and charcoal. Plates piled high with BBQ chicken wings, half-chicken, beef short ribs, pulled pork, baby back ribs, and oxtails dominate the tables, along with a host of sides. But it’s not all about the barbecue at this Upper West Side BBQ joint, there’s also fried catfish, fried chicken and oyster...
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