New York burger connoisseurs know Corner Bistro – the West Village bar with the reputation for nearly half a century of beef and beer bliss. The downtown diner draws massive lines, filled with locals and tourists alike, seven days a week. In 2011, the Daily News named the spot’s cheeseburger the best in the city — an award that isn’t handed out to just any old burger joint.
In the fall of last year, the famed restaurant with the misleadingly upscale name opened a second location, smack in the middle of Long Island City. While the sister joint definitely echoes the original with insanely good burgers and a fully-stocked roster of brews, the Queens version includes dishes for a variety of diners.
Alongside the famous Bistro Burger – a juicy 8 ounce patty topped with melted American cheese and a sinful amount of crispy bacon – are new favorites, including a chicken salad with chunks of grilled chicken atop mixed greens with Swiss cheese, celery and tomatoes and a simple, gooey bacon-laden grilled cheese. The staff at Corner Bistro said the expanded menu is an attempt to appeal to its new family-friendly neighborhood. We think they hit it out of the ball park.
Another well-known dish – Corner Bistro’s homemade chili – is a hearty, tangy bowl bursting with fresh ground beef and topped with diced onions and cheese, just like mom used to make on game day. The bar is usually teeming with sports fans, hunkered down with a pint of whatever’s on tap with their eyes glued to one of the bar’s televisions. We’ll be there next Sunday with a piping bowl of chili and an icy pint.
If you’re not into the bar scene or you come toting a few hungry tots, Corner Bistro offers privacy in the confines of comfy booths. Regardless, get ready for one of the tastiest and delightfully messy burgers around.
