By ANDREA STRONG
Last updated: 4:14 am
September 7, 2008
Posted: 2:20 am
September 7, 2008
Black Iron Burger Shop
540 E. Fifth St.; 212-677-6067
The core of this ploughman's-style tavern owned by EU's Jason Hennings and longtime Raoul's bartender Frank Ennis are its juicy burgers, straight from the sizzle of a flat-top steel and chrome griddle. The design is spare and rough: raw brick, bare bulbs hung on naked wire, high-top tables, and lots of wooden stools tucked into a long stretch of bar - a good match for the 10 cold beers on tap and the wallet-friendly menu (most items are under $8).
Must-have meal: Fried pickled green tomatoes ($5); Iron Horse burger with horseradish cheddar and grilled onions (above, $11) and a side of hand-cut fries ($4); and a vanilla milkshake ($6).
Soundtrack: Classic rock from Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones, plus a bit of Johnny Cash, the Black Crowes and Tom Waits.
Hours: Sun. and Mon., 11-1 a.m.; Tues.- Sat., 11-3 a.m.
Rock-n-Sake
138 W. 25th St.; 212-255-SAKE
After first relocating from New Orleans to Long Island in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Rock-n-Sake debuted in New York City last week in a sprawling space equipped with beaded curtains, walnut tables, Geisha photographs and a 15-seat marble sushi bar. Owners Richard Volpe and Joseph Ulloa's Japanese restaurant offers an eclectic selection of maki along with sushi, tempura, teriyaki, udon, soba and lots more.
Must-have meal: Killer Scallops (freshwater scallops in garlic butter, below, $15); honey wasabi shrimp ($14); a selection of the chef's special maki rolls such as the "Rock-n-Crunch Roll" (tempura of sea eel, left, $11.50), the "Fulton Street Roll" (tuna, avocado, kani salad topped with sesame seeds and eel sauce, $7) or the "Hawaii 5-0" (coconut battered shrimp, mango and avocado, $16); and bananas foster ($12).
Soundtrack: A range of hip-hop, house, pop, rock and lounge.
Hours: Lunch: Mon.-Fri., 11:30 a.m-2:30 p.m. Dinner: Sun.-Thurs., 5:30-10 p.m.; Fri. and Sat., 5:30-midnight; and Sunday, 5:30-10 p.m.
