Want to piss off a Philly sports fan this weekend? Yeah, you do. Eat a quality version of their beloved cheesesteaks at Shorty’s while you watch the New York Giants in the playoffs!

Shorty’s
66 Madison Ave (27/28)
576 9th Ave (41/42)

Even though Shorty’s is a pro-Philly sports bar, it’s still a fun place to watch a game, have some drinks, and eat some of the best cheesesteaks in NYC. The Gramercy location is a big step up from your typical sports bar, with a classier atmosphere, more professional patrons, and quality food and drinks. The cheesesteaks are a big step up too, mostly due to the bread, which is shipped as dough from Philly and baked on the premises . It definitely makes a difference in the authentic taste and flavor of the sandwiches (hoagies). We tried the veggie with hot peppers, broccoli rabe, and fried onions ($9) and the chicken cheesesteak with cheese wiz ($9). They were both much better than typical sports bar grub and the veggie had really bold flavor. So, if you are looking for a place to watch the games this weekend, Shorty’s is a satisfying choice for a real cheesesteak without leaving town.

The Stumble Inn
1454 2nd Ave (76th St), Upper East Side

Since Spud and I are definitely more into eating than drinking, we tend to forget that bar food can sometimes make for really satisfying cheap eats. The Stumble Inn, an Upper East Side sports bar is not a culinary destination, but it does serve a very good signature stuffed burger. This sloppy burger comes with several variations: The Cheese Monster, The Spicy Stumbler, and the The Second Avenue Stumbler, with swiss and sauteed mushrooms, which we ordered, topped with sauteed onions. The stuffed ingredients kept the sirloin burger really moist and packed with flavor. It was $10.95 with tots, but probably under $10 without. And if you want a deal, on weekdays from 11:30 am until 4 pm, get a free draft beer or soda with any stuffed burger. With its wooden booths and tin ceiling, Stumble offers a warm, winter setting, plus it’s a sports bar, so you can let loose and be as rowdy as you want!

Recently, we visited two famous landmarks, Pete’s Tavern and PJ Clarke’s. We only had a drink at Pete’s, so I can’t really review it, but it does have a certain aura when you enter through its doors. You can almost feel the decades of history in the old wooden booths and beer taps that have probably been pulled a million times. It has been a New York institution since 1864! In this city, a place that has been doing well since 1964 is ancient, so it is hard to even fathom 144 years of history. You should stop by for a beer, it’s worth it, or at least read about its history.

Pete’s Tavern
129 East 18th (Irving), NYC

PJ Clarke’s
915 Third Ave (55th), NYC

Amazingly, PJ Clarke’s is nearly the same age as Pete’s. It’s original midtown location has seen it all over the years and is still a solid place to grab a beer and burger. The cheeseburger is average size with an even distribution of meat and bun. It is dressed simply with onion slices and a pickle. It suits the atmosphere well: offering quality and reliability with no-frills. The fries are skinny, well-salted and come in a cone. There is also a full menu of seafood and classic pub entrees. We also ordered the British dish bubble and squeak. It’s basically was a fried potato ball with gravy on it, which of course was delicious.

While the food is fine and service is all-business, of course this place is all about the atmosphere. From the red and white checkered table cloth, to the rowdy front room with the enormous antique bar, it could not be more classic.

One of the main differences between Pete’s and PJ’s is how they market themselves. Pete’s seems like the grandma and grandpa establishment. They do not have a website (at least that I can find) and I’m sure that’s how they want it. On the other side, Clarke’s website is beautiful with historical photos and in the past few years they have are opened several other locations around Manhattan. Either way, I highly recommend a step back to Olde New York. It is an essential part of living in this city. You won’t be disappointed.

Roti Boti is this little hole-in-the-wall place on busy 21st street in Astoria, frequented by cab drivers and mainly people of Indian/Pakistani descent. We always walk by it, but until last weekend, we have been a little intimidated to try it out. We recently read an interview of Ali (owner/chef of amazing Kebab Cafe) from the great local blog Joey in Astoria. Ali recommends Roti Boti – but only at 3 am. But hey, a recommendation is a recommendation, and we certainly did not want to wait until the middle of the night for our adventure.

Roti Boti is in the middle of a major expansion, but is still open for business. There is currently sawdust, exposed fixtures and unpainted walls in the “dining room”, but no one seems to mind with the huge portions, and 50-inch plasma tv already mounted on the wall. We ordered at the counter by pointing to the dishes we desired, from the large selection of trays that have been slow cooked all day. There were also many kebabs and samosa-type pastries. Spud, Mr. Headphones, and myself gorged ourselves on 2 orders of chicken byranni and giant naan, ginger chicken on the bone, chicken tandoori, chick peas in a dark smoky sauce, and some chicken and potato samosas. Everything was flavorful and satisfying. There is no atmosphere and the service is a little confusing for first-timers, but this place is obviously all about the food. We all return because it is so convenient and inexpensive, and it may be quite nice once the renovations are finished.

Afterwards, we went to another previously intimidating establishment four blocks west. Hellgate Social is on a rundown stretch of Astoria Blvd between 12th and 14th street. There is a small red neon sign announcing its location, but it seems as if the door does not exist. Once you push on a metal handle on the black wall, you enter into a beautiful oasis. It is a transcendent experience as the inside of the bar is very spacious with modern chic decor, low lighting and an outside walled-in patio. The drinks were interesting and moderately priced and the clientèle was locals, and thankfully not trendy Manhattanites. Another great find in our hood.

Fortunately, we have been very pleased once we have conquered our fears in Astoria and will look for more off-the-beaten-path joints.

Sunswick 35/35
35th Street & 35th Ave, Astoria

Sparrow
24-01 29th Street (across from Beer Garden), Astoria

The Astoria Crew decided to head out to see The Golden Compass last Sunday. We had all passed His Dark Materials around for the past year or so and had enjoyed reading the series immensely, so we were all overjoyed when we saw that the movie adaptation was coming to the Astoria Kaufman Theater. Of course, being typical foodheads, we had to go to brunch before the movie. We decided to try Indigo, a bar/restaurant that Scott and I had walked past a couple of times and noticed that they had a really great brunch deal. You can choose from 15 Brunch items, ranging from omelets/eggs benedict/huevos rancheros to pancakes/waffles/french toast to a burger and salads. The best part being that the $12.95 deal also included 2 drinks of your choice (mimosas, *mmmm*bloody mary’s, belini’s, coffee, or fresh juices). Ultimately, the food was quite tasty and included fresh homefries, which I think lacked a bit of flavor, but then again, my pen name is “Spud” so you just imagine the high standards I hold for potato products! The drinks were strong and tasty and the outdoor seating area was delightful, although could be a bit loud, mainly because the acoustics caused the conversation to bounce off of the walls. We left with our bellies, and wallets, full.

After the movie, we were walking by a Bar called Sunswick 35/35 and we realized that we had heard through the rumor mill that they had Lambec on tap. If you haven’t tried this great Belgian beer it is a must-drink. It comes in raspberry, peach, cherry and green apple and it is absolutely wonderful. Even if you are not a fan of beer, I guarantee that you will love this stuff. Anyways, we went in (minus Litza, whom is far more impressively motivated by “hot yoga”) and we were immediately drawn to the warm presence this bar emanates. There was a Christmas tree in the corner adorned with lights and sofas with a roaring fireplace behind it. It was so comforting that even though they had *gasp* tapped out of Lambec on this visit, as soon as the Orthodox Jewish men left the corner with the Christmas tree, we descended to the couches and drank ourselves into a bit of a drunken stupor.

We finally realized that we needed more food, so we made our way back to our neck of the woods and went to another bar called Sparrow, right across the street from the Beer Garden. We have been here a few times before, but had never tried the food. We all ordered burgers and fries and Alexis had the chicken sandwich. It is great bar food…..the meat was salty and the cheese offerings were interesting; I think all of us chose the Gruyere. The fries were topped with fresh rosemary and thyme and were salted to perfection, although a bit soggy. The atmosphere is warm, with a dark interior and candles lit surrounding all of the tables. It is a great option for small groups and they are very accommodating.

After all of this, we went home and made chocolate chip cookies…..what a wonderful Astoria day!!