Foodie faves: New York City's best bar foods

12/1/10
eat&drink
By Jane Lerner

Foodie faves: New York City's best bar foods

Photo credit: Tiffany L. Clark

After a few fancy cocktails or a round of Champagne, even the hardiest drinkers need a snack. Thankfully, NYC's establishments have moved beyond bowls of stale peanuts (surely double-dipped by every drunk at the bar).

Now it’s possible to eat very well without ever vacating the barstool. Our bar food picks? The addictive fried garbanzos at Spanish tapas place Tia Pol, the salty-sweet bacon brittle at the pub-like Red Head and the unusual toasted barley at Dutch hotspot Vandaag, not to mention the grilled cheese and thrice-cooked chips at the Breslin or anything enjoyed at the bar at Gramercy Tavern.

But why only take our word for it? From quick snacks to full meals, some of our favorite New Yorkers got spirited (pun intended!) about their most favorite bar-side bites.

The killer meatball sandwich at Terroir wine bar (413 E. 12th St. 646-602-1300) in the East Village! Plus, they have Riesling on tap. Also, The Hurricane Club, (360 Park Ave. South, 212-951-7111) has these stuffed Korean fire chilies with homemade pork sausage on their pu pu menu.
- Michael Psilakis, Kefi and Fish Tag; author of How to Roast A Lamb

We enjoy a classic raw bar — the Standard Grill (848 Washington St., 212-645-4100) does a great job with oysters, lobster, etc. We also love a good bar with charcuterie plates — all the mixed cold cuts, pates, foie gras — and Otto (1 5th Ave., 212-995-9559) is perfect for that.
- Derek and Daniel Koch, MPD, Day & Night brunch parties

Our pick is Char No. 4 (196 Smith St., 718-643-2106) for best bar food, especially their bourbon spice peanuts. Their menu really has it all, from the crispy cheddar curds to the lamb pastrami. Chef Matthew Greco has a real way with the smoker and nothing complements it all better than some fine bourbon.
- Brandon Gillis and Josh Sharkey, Bark Hot Dogs

I love checking out bars for their bites when I’m not manning the kitchen. At Sake Bar Hagi (152 W. 49th St., 212-764-8549) I get the wasabi dumplings and sweet fatty pork. And I enjoy eating the lobster in a jar at the Bar Room at The Modern (9 W. 53rd St., 212-333-1220).
- Jesse Schenker, Recette

When I lived in TriBeCa my regular was the Ear Inn (326 Spring St., 212-431-9750). It is supposedly the oldest bar in New York, and it looks it, but is always very warm and inviting. They have one of the best burgers I’ve ever eaten in NYC, and a great ambiance of old New York.
- Suzanne Vega, singer-songwriter

Puffy’s Tavern (81 Hudson St., 212-227-3912) in Tribeca has the best sandwiches. Great bar food in a good old bar and local hangout. I’ve been a regular for some time and even shot scenes from my latest film, Nice Guy Johnny, at Puffy’s, which meant I got to overindulge in their food.
- Ed Burns, filmmaker

I like West 3rd Common (1 W. 3rd St., 212-529-2059) — great local, casual hangout, with real fresh comfort food. The Common burger and crawfish Monica always hit the spot.”
- Lee Schrager, author of Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Cookbook

Lately I have really been enjoying sitting at the bar at I Sodi (105 Christopher St., 212-414-5774) in the West Village. It's a very serene room and the bar is spacious and comfortable; it’s very authentic, seasonal Italian food. It's a romantic space with honest food, good wine and a perfect Negroni.
- Francine Stephens, Franny’s and Bklyn Larder
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