Monday, June 21st, 2010—Bar 162

Day 162—Sunday, June 20th, 2010
Resto

Ding, ding, ding! The PayPal donation button is ringing again! A leafy anonymous donator generously sent in 20 dollars to keep this bar crawl on the move. Thank you so much, I truly appreciate it!

Okay, usually I have a cheeseburger on Saturday night, but last night I went to Sushi Samba and met the mysterious couple, Nick Beal and Emma and found out Nick lied...err...was misinformed about the place serving burgers. So I had duck, but tonight I’m going to make up for it and go out and get a cheeseburger. Whilst Googling around looking for a place I found this from New York Magazine:

“Would it be demeaning to Skeen and Resto to lavish the most praise on the burger? Maybe. But this one is world-class, a loosely packed, modestly sized house-ground masterpiece of beef cheek, hanger steak, and fatback, nicely accessorized with onion, pickle, mayo, and slightly pungent Timberdoodle cheese from Vermont, all on a squishy white bun from Rockland Bakery. It might be the best burger in New York, including Shake Shack’s.”

New York magazine's reviews are usually dead-on, so this is the spot for tonight. And not a moment too soon, I’m starvin’ like Marvin over here!

My Stan Laurel impression with my bottle of Snapple filled with beer for the walk to Resto.

It's a nice summer night tonight. Here we are going down 16th Street.

And from here we'll walk uptown on Fifth Avenue. Nothing like summer in New York City!

Here's one of my favorite buildings in the city, the Flatiron Building.

Nova.

I win!

And here we are, Resto.

Nice bar!

This is the beer/wine/cocktail menu!

Beer! They have so many choices, I asked the friendly and lovely bartender Meredith to pick one for me.

Here's her choice for me and it has a cork in it, a first on the bar crawl!

Meredith pours...

And I drink! Cheers!

Here's another view of the bar.

There's a large table up front with a street-side view.

And tables line the walls opposite the bar. A full house tonight!

Fire!

Some of the specials and World Cup commentary.

Time for Sunday dinner!

I started out with the deviled eggs on pork toast. They were unbelievable!

Viana serves up the main course, cheeseburger and frites!

Wow, it looks delicious!

And it is! A world-class cheeseburger!

It's been a while, so I thought I'd end with an oblgatory bathroom mirror shot. Goodnight everybody!

Review
Resto is a cozy little Belgium beer hall in the Murray Hill area of Manhattan. There’s a large wooden table in front with a nice view and smaller tables line the walls and the back of the restaurant. The bar is marble and full dining is available there. The vibe is neighborhood friendly and inviting.

The beer list is huge and the waitstaff and bartenders are happy to help you find the right brew. There’s also a large wine list and classic cocktails available. The menu is Belgium food with small and large share plates available. Some of the entrees include: Moules and frites, wild striped bass, ‘four story hill farm’ dry aged cote de boef and one of the best cheeseburgers in town. The deviled eggs on pork toast are also a treat you shouldn’t pass up.

Resto
111 E. 29th St. (Near Park Ave. South)
212-685-5585

Sunday Night's Drinking Tune

I thought I'd institute a new tradition here at the 365 Bar Crawl and put up a weekly Sunday night drinking song. Even if you don't drink, enjoy and cheers. Tonight it's "Ooh La La," by the Faces, one of the booziest and best rock bands of all time. Lead vocals by Ronnie Wood. Enjoy and cheers to you all!

Sunday, June 20th, 2010—Bar 161

Day 161—Saturday, June 19th, 2010
Sushi Samba 7
I’ve finally surrendered to Nick Beal, who’s been obsessing about Sushi Samba in the comments section here. It started with one suggestion and has led to such an obsessive amount that I have to check this place out. Plus I got an email from him and he said he just might show up, so it’ll be interesting to meet a follower of the bar crawl in person. Although he seems like a mysterious fellow, this is the picture he said was him and his lady friend:

Okay, this should be interesting! Off to Sushi Samba to see if this Nick Beal guy will show up on the crawl.

Hats!

Okay, here we are at Sushi Samba, a colorful place!

The bar looks nice...and orange!

The lovely and friendly bartender Aija serves up a Nina Fresa. I ordered it because it had muddled strawberries in it. My mind is permanently muddled, so I had to order it. It was delicious.

Here's the front lounge area. I wonder where the elusive Nick Beal is?

Here's the dining area, bright and festive, but I wonder where Nick Beal is.

Some of the staff at Sushi Samba, from left: Rick, Alaina and Giovanni.

Some of the sushi chefs on duty.

Meanwhile BACK at the bar...

Aija mixes up a mojita.

And serves it to me and says it was sent by someone in the restaurant. I think we're going to meet the mysterious Nick Beal soon.

And here he is, Nick Beal and his lady friend, Emma. Open your eyes, Nick, you're on 365 Camera!

Together at Sushi Samba at last! I asked Nick what he did for a living and he told me he's a man of mystery. He scares me a little!

There wasn't cheeseburgers on the menu (like Nick said there were, liar liar, your pants are on fire, Nick!), but Aija suggested the duck.

It was delicious! Great suggestion, Aija, I'll have a cheeseburger tomorrow. NIck and Emma went upstairs to a party that was going on while I ate. They said they'd return.

Okay, the party's over and I'm done eating. Where's Nick and Emma?

The bar area is filling up with people from the party, but no Nick or Emma. Did they ditch me?

I checked it out upstairs and they're not here.

Downstairs Aijia poses with manager Sergei.

At the bar Shalom and Alletah were celebrating Shalom's birthday. Happy birthday, Shalom!

And look who shows up out of the blue: Nick and Emma. I think they've got a Batmobile they patrol the city in.

Back at the bar Carlos poses with Aija.

Aija mixes up the final drink of the night.

Cheers!

I invited Nick and Emma to have dessert with me, but they said they had to get back to their Fortress of Solitude. A mysterious couple, but it was a pleasure to meet them and hang out. Now time for dessert!

This place has the best pastries and...

Cakes and everything dessert-like.

It's always hard to pick just one, so in honor of Nick and Emma I ordered three. The waiter asked if there were other people joining me and looked at me like I was nuts when I said it was all for me. And here it is: a cream puff, a chocolate cannoli and a lobster tail which is cream-filled pastry with whipped cream on top. Gluttony be thy name.

Delicious!

Burp.

And to balance things out, here's a shiny ATM for Joey D. a.k.a. The Sushi Samba Hater! You should try it, Joey, it's a nice place.

Review
Sushi Samba 7 offers up a festive blend of Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian cultures within the colorful restaurant located in Greenwich Village. The restaurant has a lounge in the front and tables in the back and outdoor seating when weather permits. Orange is the predominant color and the staff and bartenders are friendly and fun. The crowd is a mix of tourists coming to see the spot that was made famous on “Sex and the City” and locals looking enjoying the unique menu and cocktails. There’s also an upstairs rooftop bar that’s also available for private parties.

Some of Sushi Samba’s signature cocktails include: Lemon Samurai which consists of Svedka Citron, apple liqueur, peach and guava; The Hakata which is Finlandia Grapefruit Vodka, yuzu juice, simple syrup and grenadine; the Kumori mixes nigor sake, shochu, gin, muddled cucumber in a  nori-salt rim and the Samba Juice which is made up of raspberry and watermelon infused rum, açai, passionfruit, créme de banana and guava. There’s an extensive variety of sushi and rolls to be had on the menu, but for non-sushi eaters there’s, Miso-Marinated Chilean Sea Bass, Long Island Duck and Foie, Prime NY Steak and Chicken Teriyaki.

A good night out and it was great to meet Nick and Emma. I wonder what he’ll obsess over now?

Sushi Samba 7
87 Seventh Ave. South (@Barrow St.)
212-691-7885