Breath of Cool, Fresh Air

So, it’s a given that there are a thousand and one bars serving bar food in Murray Hill. Some is good, some is just average. But, I am not a huge fan of the typical happy hour crowd at these places. That’s why Arctica feels like a breath of fresh air. Sure, it’s packed on the weekends, but after work during the week, there are just a handful of people in the bar, and even fewer in the back dining section. I’ve been here a few times for dinner and once for brunch, but all before Miss Menu came to be. Luckily my most recent visit was a good one as well.

It was a really nice day, and my friend and I were pleased to find out they had the back doors open. There’s a decent-sized deck that overlooks a small garden/courtyard area. It always makes me happy when I discover these little pockets of green in the midst of NYC concrete everything. The bar only opened a year or two ago, but very recently, they redid the interior…adding another bar in the back. With a ton of TVs, Arctica definitely has a sports bar vibe, but is a lot more upscale than some of the other spots along 3rd Ave. I think my favorite parts are the fireplace and the massive arm chairs that we were sat in. They are so comfortable, and on such a nice night, it was great to just sit back and have a relaxing and leisurely dinner.

The menu features some expected fare such as wings and nachos, but also features more atypical items such as fajitas and steak frites. My friend and I both ordered the veggie burger, which I had before and really loved. I added cheddar as my freebie topping. Other options were peppers, onions, mushrooms, etc. The veggie burger itself was really good, with visible vegetables inside, not just a patty of brown mush. The fries weren’t my favorite kind (small steak fries), but they were cooked well and came out nice and crispy.

The waiter was very friendly and attentive, which is always welcomed in my book. He was there when we needed something, but didn’t rush us to order or pay at all. Despite the bar's frozen arctic theme, there is nothing chilly about this place. It’s very warm and cozy, especially when the fireplace is going and good food is served in a comfy setting.

Arctica Bar & Grill
384 3rd Avenue
b/t 27th & 28th Street
website
Menu Pages listing

Loving/Hating Penelope

While Murray Hill isn’t exactly known for its culinary wonders, it does have its fare share of ethnic restaurants, whether it’s Indian in Curry Hill, Thai, Japanese, and even Turkish. What it does not have much of (at least to my knowledge) is restaurants with comfort food. Enter Penelope – a home-style restaurant/cafe that I have a love/hate feeling towards. I’ll explain.

This neighborhood doesn’t have a ton of great brunch options aside from diners. So, that is part of Penelope’s appeal. It’s a cute country-kitchen atmosphere that offers more creative, country-style takes on traditional brunch items: Nutella French Toast, Pumpkin Waffles, chicken apple sausage, and homemade baked goods like granola, scones, and muffins. Because their food is so tasty and something different than the norm, Penelope attracts a huge crowd for weekend brunch. I went with some family one time and we were told the wait would be about 45 minutes, and it ended up being 1:45. It’s just too much. And, as a result of being slammed for so many hours on end, the service becomes pretty terrible. Clearly, this area is starving for more places like this, but until that happens, it is either miss out on Penelope or put up with an incomprehensible wait and non-existent service.

Another option is to go for dinner, and while you’ll miss out on the delicious breakfast items, you’ll still get the down-home feel and some great comfort food. That’s just what I did with two friends. Even on a Tuesday night, there was still a wait, but this one was much more manageable…only 5 minutes.

The dinner menu runs the gambit from mac & cheese to chicken pot pie to sandwiches served on hand-made organic breads. I had been to Penelope for dinner before and loved two of the sandwiches I had gotten. So, I decided on the Nice Chicken Meatball sandwich. One of my friends was torn between that and the Grilled Three Cheese sandwich, so we decided to go halfsies. Didn’t take much arm-twisting on her part!

The chicken meatball sandwich was phenomenal. It’s served on a hollowed out baguette with melted fontina, tomato and pesto mayo. The chicken meatballs were such a treat since I don’t eat regular meatballs, and were so flavorful. The pesto mayo had such a great taste too and complimented the sandwich perfectly. The grilled cheese was really good too, how can you go wrong?! Only problem was it had gotten a little cold by time it was served, but other wise the three cheeses were a great combo. It normally comes on sourdough, but the waiter was happy to accommodate my friend’s request to have it on 7-grain instead. All of the sandwiches are served with homemade French fries that sprinkled with fresh herbs…so good.

So, now you see why I have a love/hate approach to this place. It’s a really cute restaurant that feels comforting almost all around…to your eyes, to your stomach, and to your wallet. Problem is it doesn’t feel comforting to wait an hour for a table. I definitely recommend trying Penelope, but avoiding it for brunch on the weekends, unless it’s a nice day and you don’t mind standing outside.

Penelope
159 Lexington Avenue
@ 30th Street
website
Menu Pages listing

Portions, Not Flavor...to the Max

Since I'm not a red meat eater, I'm not one to frequent steak houses all that often (although I do love the side orders there). My roommate and I were going out for a joint birthday dinner, and she suggested Maxie's. I first thought, oh, Angelo & Maxie's...the steakhouse? Not my ideal pick. But, then I remember hearing that they opened a more casual restaurant behind it.

We met around 7:30, and while the bar area was packed with people having drinks and appetizers after work, the restaurant itself was pretty empty. As I scanned the menu, a handful of items caught my eye…some entrees, some sides. We decided that we were going to go all out and celebrate our birthdays in style with a ton of food….the only way to do it right!

We started with an order of Southern fried pickles and mac & cheese. I know to some of you, the thought of fried going with pickles may sound disgusting, but take my word for it – they’re delicious. I’ve had them at a few Southern/BBQ places around the city, and while Maxie’s version wasn’t my favorite (that title goes to Brother Jimmy’s version), they were still really good. They had a flavorful batter and were served with a tasty chipotle dipping sauce. The mac & cheese was just ok. It had a lot of cheese, especially the layer that was browned on the top that I love, but it needed either more salt or more flavorful cheeses. A little too bland for my liking.

I was feeling pretty full by this point, but I had already ordered my main dish…the Mediterranean Style Vegetable Burger. So, there was no turning back now. The menu said it came with a goat cheese sauce, so it seemed like an interesting twist on a veggie burger. Well, unfortunately, “interesting” is not how I’d describe this one. The burger itself was tasteless, brown mush and the sauce was so heavily seasoned with dill, it overpowered any hint of goat cheese. I picked at the “burger” for a few minutes, but then just gave up. The only saving grace to this dish were the shoestring fries that came with it. It was a heaping mound of crispy fries sprinkled with season salt (a fav of mine).

My roommate ordered the Maxie’s Chef Salad, which came with chicken, steak, and shrimp. Seems like a good pick for an indecisive diner! But, when the salad arrived, it looked like they forgot to finish preparing it. Large pieces of the meats and huge blocks of cheese covered the bowl. I guess they want to make you work for your food in order to enjoy it. It also had nothing else in it but lettuce, so if nothing else, it seems like the perfect dish for someone on the Atkins Diet.

So, Miss Menu has mixed review for Maxie’s, but I definitely think that had we ordered differently, we would have had a much better experience. At least the fries and fried pickles were good! The portions were all very large, so you definitely get your money's worth. Overall, it is a pretty interesting menu, different from your normal bar & grill. They have things like Kobe beef hot dogs and a Mexican burger served in a tortilla. Maxie’s would be a great place for a beer and a burger after work (or maybe during work! I won’t tell your boss.) in a restaurant that feels like a grown-up version of a typical bar, both in atmosphere and food.


Maxie's Bar & Grill
233 Park Avenue South
@ 19th Street
website
Menu Pages listing

Worth a Trip Down Under

My co-workers wanted to take my out to happy hour for my birthday. So, in a true Miss Menu fashion, I did a little research to find a fun bar close to my office that had drink specials and good food. Wanting to avoid the normal midtown pubs and touristy bars, but not travel too far for those who commute. I came across a newer bar called The Australian that seemed to fit the bill.

The Australian successfully melds a few different types of venues all into one. It's part sports bar, part pub, part lounge, and part restaurant. It was decorated with Australian-themed items, but not overdone. I had called the day before to ask if there was a way to reserve an area since we'd be a big group. The hostess was really helpful in explaining the different options I could reserve. We ended up with a very large booth in the back that comfortably sat 12. It was seriously the largest booth I've ever seen! I am definitely going to keep this place in mind next time I want to go somewhere that can easily accommodate a big group.

We ordered a few rounds of drinks and also ordered food (I had to, otherwise I couldn't write about it!) A few co-workers ordered regular burgers and said they were over-cooked. But, a few of us decided to share a bunch of appetizers, some more exotic than others. We ordered the seasoned potato wedges that were served with sour cream and a sweet chili sauce...they were delicious, and gone in seconds. Next up was the steak cut chips, which were essentially steak fries. They were unremarkable, but the sauces they came with were very tasty. One was a smoky bbq, and the other was a wild lime aioli.

We also got lamb nachos and kangaroo sate sticks. Clearly this is where my snacking stopped. Aside from the fact that I don't eat red meat, the idea of eating a roo is just wrong. I had texted an Australian friend of mine telling him how my friends were eating roo, and he responded, "that's so wrong...how can you eat our national mascot?!" Apparently it tastes most similar to veal, but I will certainly be taking their word for it. The nachos (minus the lamb) were tasty, covered in a sweet pico de gallo type salsa.

All in all it was a fun birthday happy hour. The drinks kept flowing and the food was very tasty. I was a big fan of how they took staple bar food and kicked it up a notch. It made it feel more authentic Australian and more inventive.

One thing to note (which we found out the hard way!), the specials for both food and drinks are only available in the front bar area, and not in the rear dining area, which is where we were.

The Australian
20 West 38th Street
b/t 5th & 6th Avenue
website
Menu Pages listing

See Clearly at the Blind Pig

There are almost as many sports bars in NYC as there are restaurants. Almost. So, when it came time to pick a bar to watch the first few days/nights of the NCAA tournament, my friends and I had plenty of options. We wanted to find a bar that had a ton of TVs, big tables where we could camp out to watch the games, and order food and drinks.

We decided on Blind Pig on 14th Street, and it was a great pick. It felt like I was back at a college bar, and to watch college basketball games, it made a really fun, lively atmosphere. We got a table that seated 8 pretty comfortably. There were probably 8 big screen TVs, so all of the games were in easy view.

I was there around dinner time, so I thought it was the perfect opportunity to try Blind Pig's food. The menu was surprisingly extensive for a bar. It had all of the expected bar foods...wings, nachos, burgers, etc. But, they also had things like chili, ribs, and filet of sole. I wasn't feeling that daring. I ordered the buffalo chicken wrap, which came with waffle fries and a pickle. The flavor of the buffalo sauce was really good...had a good kick, but not too hot. It didn't have tomatoes in it, which I loved. The blue cheese came on the side, so it was nice that the wrap wasn't doused in it. And to round it out, the waffle fries were seasoned and crispy. I love all fries, but I definitely think waffle fries are my favorite variety.

Even though my alma mater lost in the first round that night, it was still a really fun night...made even better by good friends, good food, and good beer.

Blind Pig
233 East 14th Street
b/t 2nd & 3rd Avenue
website
Menu Pages listing

In an Uptown World

As I sat down to write this post, I realized that I hadn't been to a restaurant on the Upper East Side since I started Miss Menu. While I don't think the Upper East Side is the culinary hot spot of New York City, it does have its fair share of great restaurants.

I have to admit that it's rare for me to venture above 59th Street. The only time I find myself uptown is when I have a specific reason, which was the case Saturday night. I had a friend's birthday party at a bar on 89th & 2nd, and figured it was a perfect opportunity to try a restaurat on the UES too.

Before the party, I went to Uptown Restaurant & Lounge with a friend. Once upon a time, I lived on the UES. I walked past Uptown daily, but in the 11 months I lived there, I never went once...for drinks or dinner. I was looking forward to trying both.

Inside, it has the dimly-lit, loungy feel with the bar in the front and tables in the back. We were seated at a table in the bar area. It started getting more crowded as the night went on, and people were there more for drinking than eating.

The menu runs the gamut from appetizers to pastas to entrees...all of the dishes you'd expect at a bar/lounge. I had a turkey wrap with roasted red peppers, fresh mozzarella, and a chipotle mayo, served was a house salad. The menu was nothing too adventurous, but was tasty and made for a nice dining experience.

My glass of wine was good, but what Uptown is really know for is its martini list. If you happen to be at Uptown Lounge on a Wednesday night, be sure to take advantage of the maritni night, where they are only $6. There are also two live jazz performances every Tuesday night.

Uptown Restaurant & Lounge
1576 3rd Avenue
b/t 88th & 89th Streets
website
Menu Pages listing

STILL a good deal

If you've ever tried to decide what bar to go to with your friends in NYC, then I'm sure you know what a headache it can turn into. Similar to restaurants, there are just so many options...type of bar, location, type of crowd, cover charge/no cover charge...the list goes on and on. My friends often ask me for recommendations of where they should have their birthday or where they should take their out-of-town visitors. I'm always happy to make suggestions, but I think that'd make up another blog all together! So until Miss Menu is ready to retire, I think I'll stick to restaurants!

I will make one exception now, though, because a) I actually haven't gone out to eat all week, and b) I did eat at the bar I went to last night! Hope you don't mind!

My co-workers decided we were long overdue for a happy hour, and decided last night was the perfect chance. One colleague is leaving for her weddding in India for 3 weeks, and another just started her job on Monday. So, after a bit of brainstorming, I came up with a bar that I thought would please everyone, with good hour deals, subway access that's close to the office, and a location that's not hard for people to leave from when commuting home. We decided on the bar Still.

I had been to Still two years ago on a Wednesday, when they had a great happy hour deal...$10 open bar and 1/2-priced appetizers. When we arrived last night, we discovered that it had changed. Now it was $20 open bar and a special deal on the appetizer sampler. Still (no pun intended!), it was a great deal and everyone was excited for a fun night out.

While it's by no means my favorite bar in the city, it was perfect for what we needed. We got a section of tables at the front of the bar. The bartenders were really friendly. And the food that we ordered was really good. We got three (count 'em 3!) appetizer samplers and an order of chicken nachos. The samplers were perfect for our big group...a little bit of everything on one plate. They also have a full restaurant menu with sandwiches, salads, and entrees.

So, if you're looking for a hassle-free bar or place to get a casual meal near Union Square, I'd definitely recommend Still.

Still
192 Third Ave
@ 17th Street
website