Blue9Burger

So there really isn't a "Best Burger", instead it comes down to categories of burgers that are bad, good or great. And most people in this city list the "Best Burger" as one of three places, Shake Shake in Madison Square Park, Burger Joint in the Le Parker Meridian Hotel, or Corner Bistro of the West Village, so instead I am going somewhere else. Today Robb and I headed to Blue9Burger in the East Village for lunch at 92 3rd Ave (Btwn 12th & 13th St), pretty much a hole-in-the-wall, but a burger that has been compared to In-N-Out Burger.

I went with a Blue9Burger, a double cheeseburger, and ordered it Medieval Style, grilled mustard, grilled onions, extra lettuce, pickles & sauce. Robb ordered the Mango Infusion Style, which should have had grilled mango-chili sauce, but either the order was wrong or you couldn't taste the mango-chili sauce. It was cooked medium well, juicy, a little greasy, melted american cheese, excellent flavor and a well put together solid all around sandwich. This was a very good burger, I highly recommend Blue9Burger if your in the area and look forward to going back soon. Go4Kb.

Oscar Party

Jen Brown's Oscar Party

Pick A Winner: Make your picks for the Oscars and we will see who wins! There will be prizes! You could win a car! (If you sign up somewhere they are giving away cars: not here!) The New York Times and the The Oscars are two of my favorite things. Now you can get both together when you sign up for my Oscar Party Group. Cast your votes and compete with friends and family. The New York Times will score your ballot in real time on Oscar night, starting at 8 p.m. ET, Sunday February 22.

Free Coffee

SeamlessWeb is giving away 100,000 cups of coffee throughout Manhattan in February. Simply walk into one of the participating restaurants on any or all of the dates listed above and ask for a cup of coffee, on SeamlessWeb. Anyone can get a free cup, so tell your friends and colleagues too! Free small coffee, weekdays only, while supplies last.

February 2–6 in Midtown East
Map these restaurants »
Austin’s Cafe • 10 Park Ave
Bistro Marketplace 90 • 90 Park Ave
Toasties East • 924 Third Ave
Guy & Gallard • 120 East 34th St
Guy & Gallard VII • 180 Madison Ave
Cafe Guy & Gallard • 459 Park Ave South
Cafe Guy & Gallard • 475 Park Ave South
Bistro New York • 466 Lexington
41 Bistro Marketplace • 125 Park Ave

February 9–13 in Midtown West
Map these restaurants »
Europan Cafe • 370 West 58th St
Club Cafe • 11 West 47th St
Guy & Gallard • 469 Seventh Ave
19 Metro Market • 19 West 45th St
Green Cafe • 115 West 57th St
Milk N Honey • 22 West 45th St
Guy & Gallard • 333 Seventh Ave
Guy & Gallard Restaurant • 1001 Sixth Ave
Guy & Gallard III • 245 West 38th St

February 16–20 on the Upper East Side and Upper West Side
Map these restaurants »
Cafe Con Leche • 725 Amsterdam Ave
Tasty Cafe • 2062 Broadway
Gracie Cafe • 1530 York Ave
Seattle Cafe • 1411 Madison Ave
Old John’s Luncheonette • 148 West 67th St
Rive Gauche Bakery Cafe • 336 East 86th St
Gigi Cafe • 2067 Broadway
Champignon • 1389 Madison Ave

February 23–27 in the Financial District
Map these restaurants »
Beekman Cafe • 168 William St
Pane Peppe • 295 Greenwich St
Traders Express Deli • 22 Beaver St
Freddo Cafe • 120 Greenwich St
Patuca Fine Food • 41 John St
Champs Gourmet Deli • 30 Broad St
Stage Door Deli • 26 Vesey St

Phoenix Park

Named after a sprawling patch of greenery in Dublin, Phoenix Park is an UES base for Mets / Jets fans, Hunter College students (my Spanish study group) and white-collar workers. Autographed jerseys cover the walls and a Mr. Met bobble head sits on a liquor shelf. There are at least 15 big-screen TVs. Drinkers crowded out of the bar area can retreat to a brick-walled room with a pool table and fifties-style metal signs. (Beer: Helping ugly people have sex since 1862!) Seating for another two dozen people is offered on the back patio when the weather's right. Phoenix Park’s lunch and dinner menu features a list of bar snacks and appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, soups, wraps, and traditional “Irish Pub Favorites” selections. The beer battered onion rings are on my list of best in the city!

Crumbs Bake Shop

Cupcakes are a favorite pastime in NYC for tourists and locals alike. Our neighborhood sweet spot, Crumbs Bake Shop, is always listed as one of the best. This one is located downtown next to Wall Street but Crumbs is continuously expanded and now has at least 13 locations in Manhattan, as well as locations in New Jersey, Connecticut, and California.

The emphasis of Crumbs' cupcakes is on size. In addition to thick frosting, some cupcakes are loaded with snacks, like Snickers slices, Oreo cookie shards, M&Ms, and ginger snaps. Cupcakes range from $2.50 to $4.00 each and you do, indeed, get what you pay for. A single cupcake easily feeds two, with as little as one-quarter of a cupcake being a satisfactory treat. Nothing beats the caramel apple at Crumbs. It is filled with real apples in the center and is fantastic.