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[RWBooneJr.]

Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal St.
New York, NY 10012
http://www.minettatavernny.com/

If ever there were a drink that was alone worth the time and expense of traveling to New York, it might be the Green Mary at Minetta Tavern ($14). A Bloody Mary made with fresh green tomatoes, it has a sweet smokiness that lingers on the palate for minutes and on the brain far longer. Literally every time I have an ordinary Bloody Mary, or even a good one, I think about this drink. This trip, I had my Green Mary with the Black Label Burger ($26). For the price it should, at least, come with bacon. Really, really good bacon, made by monks in the Black Forest, from hogs raised on a diet of Champagne and truffles. Or maybe some cheese. But, whatever, it's a good burger. It does come topped with well carmelized onions and a side of nicely crisp, but kind of bland fries. And a really, really good pickle. Unlike the drink, the burger is not the sort of thing you lust after. But I'd get it again, even considering the cost. I'm a sucker for a good burger.

[weinoo]

Coincidentally enough, my wife and I, along with another friend, were at Minetta Tavern this past Saturday night. Strangely enough, the bartender recognized me from another McNally restaurant we are known to frequent, so that was nice.

We didn't have the Green Mary, but my wife's Aviation was perfectly made; the bar in this place is just a classic. And that burger - while the price tag seems crazy, those fries alone run $10 on the menu, and they're the equivalent of the fries at most McNally places - that is, very good, imo. I don't know about missing bacon on this burger, which is made from the trimmings from their aged, prime beef - and it's great. Perfectly cooked, good bun, and the funkiness that comes from dry aged beef. Couldn't ask for more from a burger.

Here are Bourdain and Ozersky at Minetta Tavern contemplating that burger...