Archive for March, 2008

A Taste of the West (Village) on A

Westville East
173 Avenue A (@ East 11th Street)
New York, NY 10009
(212) 741-7971

[map] [subway directions]

Rating: 4/5

Notes:

- Burger: Westville East’s patty is firm, juicy, and well seasoned – a delicious mouthful that bursts with flavor on the first bite.

- Bun: The sandwich is served on a Portuguese muffin that’s toasted on the grill. This was one of the most impressive buns we’ve seen for holding up to – and holding on to – a juicy burger.

- Garnish: Served with lettuce, tomato, a thick round of white onion and sweet pickle slices. We ordered our burgers with cheddar cheese, which came as a hearty layer of melted goodness.

- Mess factor: There’s plenty of juice in this burger, but the bun really minimizes the mess.

- Fries: The burger is served with a generous pile of thin cut fries that were lightly seasoned and deliciously crispy. An optional salad can be ordered instead of the fries, though we can’t vouch for that.

- Price: $10 (with cheese)

- Bordeaux: Westville’s wine list is printed on a laminated card on the table, isn’t divided into regions, and doesn’t specify the vintage of the wines on offer. Of the four reds listed, none were from Bordeaux. We ordered a California Pinot Noir from Heron, which was too young and light to match the hearty burger and salty fries, but was very drinkable nonetheless.

- Atmosphere: You could take a girl there.

- Overall: Westville East serves pleasant comfort food in a casual setting. The white walls and large windows overlooking Avenue A give the space an open and airy feeling, and the small, candle-lit tables make it intimate. The vibe is Friday night pre-party, even late on a Monday evening, with the Beach Boys looping around in the background. Overall, this is a nice place to stop in for a respectable burger, but not necessarily worth a trip if you aren’t already in the hood.

Add comment March 31st, 2008

Spot On

The Spotted Pig
314 West 11th Street (@ Greenwich St.) New York, NY 10014
(212) 620-0393

[map] [subway directions]

Rating: 5/5

Notes:

- Burger: A damn good patty. Cooked to the ordered temperature and sized just right for the bun.

- Bun: The soft, brioche bun is grilled on both sides, which adds a nice crunch.

- Garnish: N/A

- Mess factor: Astoundingly little mess given the juiciness and liberal portion of gooey roquefort.

- Fries: These fries define shoestring: Thin, crispy and well seasoned with a touch of garlic. The fresh rosemary is also a nice touch. The Spotted Pig is not stingy with the fries, you’ll have plenty to share with your neighbor or pile on your burger.

- Price: $17 (stock presentation includes Roquefort cheese)

- Bordeaux: The bordeaux on offer were well beyond our price threshold. Instead, we chose a 2005 Zinfandel from Ridge “Three Valleys”. A drinkable wine–slightly upstaged by the roquefort. Those not dead-set on drinking wine may be better served by pairing this burger with one of the many fine beers available.

- Atmosphere: You could take a girl there.

- Overall: Don’t let these laconic notes lead you to believe that this burger isn’t worthy of more ink–it certainly is. But, the no-bullshit presentation of this burger deserves a similar writeup. Any establishment that sends their burger out sans garnish is confident that the sandwich can stand on its own. In this case, that confidence is well founded. Both the first and second floor dining areas are cozy and, well, publike. The Spotted Pig is no secret. This coupled with its no-reservations policy leads to multiple-hour waits. If, however, you sneak in early (before 6) or late (they serve until 2 nightly), you should be rewarded with a table rather quickly.

1 comment March 13th, 2008


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