NYC Bar + Restaurant Reviews

Below are links to some of my reviews on nightlife spots around the city. I'll give you the inside scoop on all the ones I haven't previously mentioned in other blog posts.

If you're a karaoke singing sensation, or would at least like to pretend to be, then check out Karaoke Top Tunes in Midtown. Perfect for the die hard karaoke nut. For a more laid back group, head to Japas 38 for fun-filled singing debauchery.

Carte Blanche

This spot opened up back in May and it is a great spot for food and drinks. For a more upscale evening (morning or midday, as well), Carte Blanche Cafe & Bar is a new Meatpacking staple. (Located at the Gansevoort Hotel.)

Ronin Bar & Grill is a Japanese-American eatery with delicious beers on tap and scrumptious food --including their signature rice burger.

Walle is an Asian-fusion resto that is not to be overlooked. Their delicious menu selections and cocktails are sure to satisfy.

Lexington Brass

If you're cravin' some Southern-style eats, hit up Neely's Barbecue Parlour on the UES. Too heavy for ya? The brand new joint, Lexington Brass, is one of the best new places in NYC.

La Nacional

Don't let being in America limit your food choices...there's plenty of Spanish flava in the city. For a more upscale take on Spanish cuisine, try Socarrat Paella Bar, which has 2 locations, and will soon be expanding to the UES come November. For traditional and completely satisfying eats, check out La Nacional. You will feel as if you have walked off the streets of New York and into a restaurant in Andalucía.

The name might sounds like a breath of fresh air, and the decor and drinks at Bread and Tulips is just that. The food, however, is not for the timid. Make sure you don't bring a picky eater here, as the dishes are quite unusual.

Skip out on Henry's Rooftop Bar located at The Roger Smith Hotel. They boast sub-par food and sub-sub-par drinks.

The Barrel Room

If you're into wine, then the newly opened Barrel Room at City Winery has got your name written all over it. Their house-made served-from-the-tap wines are to die for and the staff is great with recommendations.

Sports fans will love this frat-like bar in Midtown for watching games. Overlook has TVs at every booth, but the beers aren't too cheap. If you're lookin' to save a buck, Bravest is the place to go. This fireman's bar has good bar food and cheeeaap drinks.

Enjoy authentic Indian cuisine at Amma. This fairly new resto packs up quick, so make a reservation if you plan on dining at this place.

Le Bernardin has just reopened and boasts whole new decor and a similar fish-centric menu.

I'll be updating The Daily Krenshaw with new reviews and recommendations every month, so make sure to check back!

Girls Night Out

Last night I went to an Astrophel + Stella fashion show, debuting their Spring 2012 collection. It wasn't your typical fashion show where models walk the runway, but rather they just stood around the perimeter of a room for you to oogle at them. It was a bit awkward, and must've sucked for them. Regardless, I did like the looks. Stoli was asponsor of the event, so we got complimentary Stoli cocktails, which to be honest, weren't that great. They had an orange, apple, and chocolate-based cocktails. Also the room was filled with models and guys that looked straight out of Gossip Girl. Needless to say, they had no food there and I had to venture to the outside world for some grub. Enter, Giorgio's.

Giorgio's of Gramercy
Enter past red velvet curtains to a chic wine resto that is, surprisingly, not packed to the brim. The friendly bartenders might specialize in wine, but are friendly and willing to stir up delicious cocktails catered to your taste. Their extensive wine list will blow your mind, and on Sundays every bottle is $15 off (don't worry, you can also buy by the glass). Their top-notch American/Italian food is to die for. Opt for Penne Ragu ($15) with a creamy veal Bolognese sauce with shaved asiago cheese or try their Carmelized Sea Scallops ($24). For the quality of the food and the decor of the resto, you are definitely getting a bang for your buck. But the $14 cocktails can do some damage to that wallet, so try out their prix fixe lunch ($24.07) or dinner ($35).

Strange Vodka Flavors

Yea we all love our standard vodka soda (or vodka cran), but there are some ways to spice up those age-old boring drinks with some flavored vodkas. And no, I'm not talking about Stoli Razz. Try thinking outside the box with some truly unusual flavors. What would go good in some spiked hot chocolate during this rainy hurricane? Butterscotch vodka! Need something else to add a 'lil flavor to that Bloody Mary? Pour in some Bacon vodka! Not impressed yet? Check out these 11 ridiculously...ridiculous vodka flavors. Some are good, some are bad, and some are just plain weird!

Happening Now in NYC

What's happening these days in the big apple? Let me fill you in!

Hankering some sliders while watching America's favorite pastime (baseball, duh)? Check out different types of sliders, from oyster sliders at The Dutch to traditional cheeseburger sliders at Highpoint Bar & Bistro, and many more here.

Go retro at this recently opened event at Nitehawk Cinema called Scribble Junkies. This new event is a festival of hand drawn animation. Enjoy cocktails as you watch recent works by well known hand-drawn animators. Check here for more information.

Alexander McQueen's smash-hit of an exhibit is sadly no longer on display at the Met, but you can read all about it and see photos here. Read all about my perspective on closing weekend.

This new eatery opened in the beginning of August and shows no signs of slowing down. Read all about Cafe Esquina a the Wythe Diner here.

Another event that's sadly already passed, is a great organic food demonstration by model Anthony Anderson. Learn all about Anthony and his healthy food demos here.

What's my favorite thing going on right now? Head to Misha Nicole to see works of art from the extraordinary artist Carlos Sampietro. Check out my exclusive interview during the gallery opening here.

Brew-tiful: NYC's Cheapest Brews

Us NYC-dwellers know that everything in Manhattan costs an arm and a leg (and sometimes both). Especially booze. That's why I've compiled this list of the bars with the best beer deals around. Stop spending a fortune on an okay gin and tonic or renowned (aka unnecessarily expensive) brews and check out these 11 fabulous bars. Some have great happy hour specials and others just have low-priced beers all around the clock. The place that I got to check out for myself was Bravest, a firefighter's bar that welcomes all. It may be small, but their old-school jukebox adds some spunk to their delicious menu and intoxicating bevs. Check out my complete review, along with pictures, of Bravest here.

Tea Time!

Last week I was able to attend a great cocktail event hosted at The Grace Hotel. HELPS Teas introduced a line of cocktails, made from their amazing teas. I tried their TLV cocktail, as well as their Double Tea-zzer, both of which were delicious. I left the event with a bag of free tea, which I can't wait to make. Their teas are unique in the fact that they aid digestion, relaxation, and other similar things. Tea is always good for you, but these teas are even better! Check out some of their cocktail recipes below.

BREATHE Mar-Tea-nee
    1 ½ oz of ABSOLUT Citron (Infused with HELPS Teas BREATHE (6 mins))
   Muddle Lemon
   Simple Syrup
    Shake well, strain and pour into a martini glass.

EASY Gin and Tonic
   2 oz Gin (Infused with HELPS Teas Organic Easy Digestion(6 mins))
   5 oz Tonic Water
   1 Lime Wedge
   Pour the gin (infused with HELPS Teas Easy Digestion) and the tonic water into a highball glass almost filled with ice cubes. Stir well. Garnish with the lime wedge.

Green Tea-Killa
    1 1/2 oz Tequila (white)
   1 1/2 oz Iced HELPS Teas Organic Green Tea
    1/2 oz Simple syrup
    Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

TLV (aka Tea Lemonade Vodka)
   2 oz Iced HELPS Teas Organic Green Tea
    1 1/2 oz Lemonade
    2 oz Vodka
   Combine HELPS Teas Organic Green Tea, vodka, lemonade, shake well, and strain into a cocktail glass.

Double Tea-zzer
   1 ½ oz ABSOLUT Citron (Infused with Helps Breathe)
   1 oz Iced HELPS Teas Organic Green Tea
    Splash of 7UP
   Shake ABSOLUT Citron infused with HELPS Teas BREATHE, iced HELPS Teas Organic Green Tea with ice and strain into a highball glass over two ice cubes. Fill with 7UP, stir and serve.

Check out my list of the top five summertime teas, as well as more info about this great event!

Get Ready to Stumbllleeeee

We all love to drink and one day I came across an article about the Flowzie, a koozie that has a nozzle to induce the shot-gun effect. This gave me an idea for an article. I thought it would be great to do some research and compile a list of interesting and unique devices that make drinking either more fun, easier, or just plain wackier. Check out my top 10 list here. There are some great devices on there, including a boob-enhancer/alcohol carrier, an app that prevents drunk texts, and much more!