232642 Mon Apr 03 11:18:57 -0700 2006 8 18 Manhattan 0 1234520 Here's a quick rundown of the weekend: Friday afternoon: Good Burger (43 & 2) - Everything is very bland. If it weren't for toppings, the burger would have been tasteless. Even the onion rings didn't taste like much. Don't waste your time or money. Friday night: Freeman's (Freeman Alley & Rivington) - Thank god I don't live in the neighborhood. My boyfriend and I thought we had died and gone to heaven. We sat at the bar and shared Devils on Horseback (one the best things I've eaten in my life), oyster something, mac and cheese, venison stew, and banana's foster. Everything was delicious except the mac and cheese. It needed to be more cheesy and a smaller portion. The bartender, Yana, was wonderful and so were her cocktails. The atmosphere and the crowd was laid back but not sloppy and very inviting. Also the prices were just right. I will DEFINITELY be going back soon. Thor (Rivington) - Stopped in for a drink but I thought the crowd and cocktails were lame so left quickly. Stanton Social (Stanton) - Stopped in for another drink - champagne julep - and ended up ordering kumamoto oysters and a crunchy spicy tuna roll. The drinks and food were all delicious. Also, the crowd was less B&T than expected. Saturday afternoon: Shake Shack (Madison Square Park) - So my boyfriend and I waited an hour and a half (half of it in the rain) for my favorite burger of all time. It put Good Burger to shame. I had a double shack burger (so delicious and worth the wait), cheese fries (alright -I probably shouldn't waste stomach space in the future on these and just get another burger instead) and a concrete jungle (delicious). My boyfriend ordered two triple shack attacks (?), cheese fries and Brooklyn Lager. He said everything was incredible as usual. Afterwards, we could barely walk or breath. Michael Cluizel (sp ?)(19 & BWay)chocolates - I tried, for the first time, a hit of his hot chocolate. I don't know how I managed after Shake Shack. The hot chocolate was alright but definitely not my favorite. It was a little too bitter and not thick enough. I would probably have it again but not go out of my way for it. Union Square Market - My boyfriend bought pretzels from the pretzel man (can't remember the actual place) and they were fresh and delicious as usual. Saturday night: Cafe D'Alsace (88 & 2) - We went for a late dinner and left with mixed feelings. The place is nice, the service is perfect, drinks (wine and beer) were great but the food was nothing special. I had a goat cheese and onion tart (good but too big) and crunchy gnocci (not good at all and nothing like gnocci). My boyfriend had a white bean soup (bland) and a veal something (barely any meat - mostly fat). We were both dissapointed since we really wanted to like this place. I would go back in the future but only for drinks and a cheese/meat plate. Sunday: After the gluttony, I decided to fast on a diet of coffee and salad. Mon Apr 03 11:18:57 -0700 2006 0 wild child 1 1234523 "my boyfriend and I waited an hour and a half (half of it in the rain" I just don't get it. Mon Apr 03 11:56:47 -0700 2006 1234520 0 far 2 1234524 We're a little sick plus we LOVE those burgers. Mon Apr 03 12:11:27 -0700 2006 1234523 0 wild child 3 1234558 here's a pic to remember it by: http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3535/1079/1600/shakeline.0.jpg Mon Apr 03 14:50:16 -0700 2006 1234524 0 sam 4 1234563 someone should send this to In'n'Out corporate headquarters as evidence that they should open multiple locations in Manhattan immediately. Mon Apr 03 15:12:49 -0700 2006 1234558 0 dave 5 1234587 "In'n'Out...should open multiple locations in Manhattan immediately." From your mouth to G-d's ear, m'dear. Mon Apr 03 16:43:17 -0700 2006 1234563 0 Deenso 6 1234601 Maybe at some point over the coming spring/summer the queue from Shake Shack will merge with the queue outside Trader Joe's a few blocks south. The power of hype and all that. Mon Apr 03 17:23:50 -0700 2006 1234587 0 Oonth 1 1234525 Beats my weekend of leftover Grand Siuchuan lo mein, chipwiches and the remote...I'm jealous... Mon Apr 03 12:12:32 -0700 2006 1234520 0 BackyardChef 1 1234538 Sounds like a match made in food heaven! To be able to share your love of and adventure for chowish food is something to be proud of. Personally, I loved Shake Shack, but would not like to ever wait in THAT line again! Mon Apr 03 13:37:24 -0700 2006 1234520 0 mike