You take bacon, you take beer, you dedicate a bar to serving them both and you’ve got just about every man’s dream! It’s happening – in New York City!
NYC certainly has no shortage or great restaurants and bars. Just about any theme or cuisine you desire can be found here. But, every once in a while a new place just commands special attention – and the new BarBacon is it! The only question is – what took so long for someone to come up with an entire bar devoted to bacon?
Inside BarBacon, New York City.
BarBacon opened their doors in December 2013 and judging by the crowd; this place is already a hit! Last Friday, it was packed with after work New Yorkers hungry for beer and bacon! As the evening rolled on, the place became standing room only. By 5pm the bar was completely full.
BarBacon’s Old Fashioned
Their concept is simple, assorted craft beer and spirits mixed with a menu where just about every item features bacon. Beers start at $6 ($3 during 4-7pm Happy Hour) and their specialty cocktail menu starts at $13, which includes cocktails like the Bacon Bloody Mary, Smoked Maple Lemonade (lemonade with Maple Syrup), and a Bacon Old Fashion (which comes with a Brown Sugar rim).
Their location at 836 9th Avenue between 54th & 55th streets makes it convenient for both locals and tourists. The interior design features warm wood wall coverings, black bar and table tops, with an open view into the stainless steel kitchen. Exposed soft lighting helps add to the warm, yet rustic industrial feel.
One of the highlights of the appetizer menu is a $20 beer and bacon flight. Four 4 oz. draft beers are paired with four different types of bacon. Or, you can opt for a $12 bacon only sampler.
Even the garnish on the bacon slides features bacon!
The restaurant proudly serves the following bacon varieties:
• Nueske’s Smoked Applewood Bacon – family smoked bacon from Wisconsin
• Nodine’s Peppered Bacon – fine coated in course black pepper and smoked with hickory & maple hard wood, from the New England Berkshires
• BarBacon Lamb Bacon – salty, smoky, sweet lamb bacon
• Father’s Country Maple Bacon – from a family farm in Kentucky, features flavor of natural, hickory smoke with a glaze of brown sugar
• Peppered Turkey Bacon
• BarBacon Veggie Bacon
This place has cooking bacon down to a science! While bacon is generally really greasy, it is not the case here. Each slice is cooked medium-well. Not too crispy, but not rubbery, either. They have found the perfect cooking temperature!
The bacon lobster roll.
The sandwich menu features multiple specialty burgers, sandwiches, and rolls – all of course, come with bacon.
While I opted for the classic BLT (which was awesome with a huge stack of bacon for $11), my friend Craig ordered their much hyped lobster bacon roll ($18), featuring chunks of real lobster, which he said was absolutely fantastic.
The bacon popcorn.
Another of their crazy menu items is the bacon popcorn, which features small chunks of bacon shaken into a funnel of popcorn – another home run!
The BLT with a side of bacon potato salad. Note: sides do cost extra & are not included with all sandwiches.
To go with my sandwich, I also tried a side of their bacon potato salad. It featured large chunks of bacon, mixed in with large chunks of potatoes, egg, and a light mayo. I enjoyed it, but found the egg taste a little much. I’m not a fan of giant chunks of hard boiled egg and yoke, which this prominently featured.
They also offer a small dessert menu, which includes ice cream and cookies. As of now, none of the dessert items really feature bacon, but online rumors state they are working on their own bacon ice cream and hope to have that ready in a few weeks.
With the Super Bowl in town this weekend, I’m sure fans would love to make this place a highlight of their Big Apple experience!
THE 411
What: BarBacon
Location: 836 9th Avenue, New York City
Ambience: bar/casual dining
Website: www.barbacon.com
JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS
This place is quickly becoming one of New York City’s best kept secrets and is part of the new gastropub restaurant phase. Once the place fills up, it can get a little loud, but I was there on a busy Friday night and people were drinking the work week away. We got there before the crowd, but the volume went up as the place got packed. I saw multiple people walk in and walk back out when they saw how busy it was. Your best value is definitely during the 4-7pm happy hour.
Expect to pay around $50 for a meal that includes appetizer, beer, entrée, and dessert. Of course, the more drinks you have the higher the bill. The cost for the beer is about $1 more than you generally pay around the Hell’s Kitchen area in my opinion for a name brand draft.
It’s a great meal and a great place to talk about. It’s in a convenient location for locals and would be great for tourists as well. I plan on bringing my out of town friends there and definitely will be back for another meal. While it’s probably not the best place to take a first date or kids, more established couples or guys out on the town will find it the perfect spot. Besides, who doesn’t like bacon!?!?
While there is a small vegetarian menu, sadly this is probably not their scene!
You’ll find more information about the restaurant on their Facebook page. Their main website is still under construction. Also, look for daily specials on the blackboards above the kitchen.
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