May 29, 2011

Live, from New York, it’s Cheeseburger Saturday Night! Starring Burger & Barrel and featuring the ready for prime beef player, Marty Wombacher. Ladies and gentlemen...Burger & Barrel!

(But first a word from our sponsor)

(We now return to our broadcast, already in progress.)

And we're off. It's a holiday weekend and the city's quieter than usual. I love three day weekends in New York!

We're taking a cab there. I read some frightening subway news over at EV Grieve!

And here we are at the Burger & Barrel, looks nice, let's go inside.

Wow, nice and dark inside, I think Al would like this place.

And the lovely and friendly Emma serves up a can of Porkslap Ale.

Some of the lit up bottles behind the bar.

They have beer and a full bar, but this place is known for its wine selection. Bottles line the wall around the bar.

The view from my perch at the bar.

Some of the specials are listed on a chalkboard on a wall opposite the bar.

My beer illuminated by...FIRE!

And now for a look at the menu. Emma suggested I try the Bash Burger, so that's exactly what I ordered. It comes with Tater Tots!

Emma places the order and through the magic of this thing called the internet...

Here it is in all its glory! It's a giant burger, topped with two onion rings. And it comes with Tater Tots!

Burp! It was delicious, right up there with the Juicy Lucy!

Obligatory bathroom mirror shot! Goodnight everybody and see you tomorrow after dark.

My Meal
They have several styles of burgers at Burger & Barrel but Emma suggested the Bash Burger which is a burger with carmelized onions, bacon jam, pickles and cheese. Yeah, you read right, bacon jam! It was delcious and while it wasn’t better than Whitman’s Juicy Lucy, it was just as good. So for now the B&B’s Bash Burger and Whitman’s Juicy Lucy top the burger list here at MAD. Oh and the Tater Tots were excellent as well!

Cheeseburger Rating
Four Wimpy’s, and that’s as good as it gets!

Burger & Barrel
25 W. Houston St. (Near Mercer St.)
212-334-7320

Further reading: NY Eater, Daily Candy, The Feast and Smoking Hot Waitress.

You might also like: Shirley Manson, Marilyn Manson and Charlie Manson.

Four Cheesy Things
Pickup Lines
Jokes
Potatoes
Jesus

I've got my pills to ease the pain,
Can't find a thing to ease the rain.

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(Surprise link...click on it...I dare you!)

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Bonus photo
MAD commenter and one third of the BBC, Gene Rubbico spotted a vanishing species at the bar, Down the Hatch in Locust Point, MD. He captured a shot of the ever-elusive cigarette machine and sent it in. Great shot, thanks Gene!

Monday, February 28, 2011

The Emerald Pub @9:45 pm
Soho
Okay, time to get back in the saddle, well, in this case bar stool, and hit a bar. I’ve decided on most Sunday night’s here at MAD, I’ll go check out a bar. I was going to revisit a place from the 365 Bar list, but my co-pilot , Al Rizo from those days informed me that the bar where they shot the bar scene in “After Hours” is still opening and is called the Emerald Pub. Since we’re in the middle of watching that film, I thought I’d go check it out and see if it looks the same two decades later. I just hope I get home!

I decided to take a cab there. I worked some overtime last week, so I thought I'd travel in style tonight.

Okay, it's about a block away. Wow, it's really deserted out tonight. I guess everyone's home watching the Oscars.

And here we are, the Emerald Pub. I should've taken a shot of the building so we could compare it to the movie, but like an idiot I forgot to. Oh well, it pretty much looks the same, trust me.

The bar itself looks pretty much the same as the movie. It's nice and dark in here, nice pick Al!

John Heard's not bartending tonight, but Pat was and here he serves up an ice-cold Budweiser.

Back in the saddle again. Cheers!

And there's the register that John Heard kicked the shit out of in the movie. Pat told me it's the same one and people come in and take pictures of it all the time.

As you can see, it's a well-stocked bar.

Some of the beers on tap.

It was a slow night and the only other person at the bar was Jason, who was enjoying a beer.

The Oscar's were on at the bar and here's Pat watching somebody thank someone. I don't know who it is. I guess I need to go to the movies more and stop watching old ones at home.

A long shot of the candle-lit bar.

There's another bar in back. No need for another bartender back here on such a slow night.

Here's an appropriate painting on the wall for Oscar night. Bogey, Marilyn, James Dean and Elvis.

This side of the bar has changed a little since After Hours.

A shot of the bar from the left side.

Fire! (That felt good!)

Okay, one look out the window and it's time to go home. I just hope I don't pull a Paul Hackett and spend all night trying to get there.

Luckily, life doesn't imitate the movies in this case. There was a cab waiting right outside the bar. Goodnight everybody and we'll see you tomorrow after dark.

Review
The Emerald Pub has a reputation for being a non-pretentious place in a part of town where, sadly, red velvet ropes rule. Thankfully they live up to their reputation. They’ve been on the block since 1972 and it’s a dark bar lit up by candles and the walls are brick. There’s a bar up front and one in the back and it’s got a dive bar meets lounge atmosphere. The bartenders and patrons are friendly, so check your attitude at the door.

They have a decent beer selection and of course there’s Guinness on tap. If you’re a vodka lover they offer 30 different selections. Happy Hour runs from 12 pm to 8 pm with half priced drinks. That’s right, an eight hour happy hour, so if you’ve been bounced out of your job in these tough times, here’s a good place to work on your resume and enjoy your unemployment check, all at the same time.

On St. Patrick’s Day there’s a live Irish band and free corned beef sandwiches, but good luck getting through the door. And if it’s after dark, good luck getting home!

The Emerald Pub
308 Spring St. (@Renwick St.)
212-226-8512

Nightcap

Tonight's the night.

Thanks for the suggestion, Al! Co-pilot art by "Boris."

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