Corner Bistro
“I decided to add some bacon for an extra dollar and get a side of fries and a McSorleys ale (for only 3$!!!).”
“The cheeseburger really is that great – thick, juicy patty, great flavor, cooked to order.”
“This is a no frills kinda joint so don't expect to see any sort of crazy topping or patty meat.”
Corner Bistro
Take-out: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Price range.
$ Price range Under $10
8 reviews
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Your typical diner, except more expensive. It is an average sized place with very dark lighting and an okay, not great wait staff. The food has went downhill since the past, but with most restaurants, this is the case. Their burgers are average burgers, not great, not horrible. The soup went completely downhill, as it is now just average. The wait is very long. I recommend a different place.
People have been telling me for years that Corner Bistro is one of the best burgers in NYC. I finally stopped in, and I can say that it's definitely an honorary mention.
The place is as old school as it gets, having been around since the early 60s. From the neon signage to the wooden bar to the black & white photos on the wall to being served on plastic plates to an intimidating-looking bartender (who's actually a sweetheart). Oh, they also serve McSorley's beers, so you know they're legit.
Yes, prices have gone up, but it's still a great deal. $9.75 gets you their namesake Bistro Burger, which is a cheeseburger with bacon. The patty is huge and you get all the fixins loaded on top. Cooked perfectly medium rare, and just heavy enough to make you regret ordering a side of fries. But hey, the fries only run $2.75, and they're super crispy. They're akin to McDonald's fries (that's a compliment).
Good times all around.
Oh, and it's cash only, but they have an ATM.
Also, the bathroom looks like it belongs on an airplane.
My husband has been raving about the burgers from this place for ages. Granted that he usually has had a few drinks in him on his visits here so perhaps that helps to heighten his sense of taste. He took me here after a night of barhopping in the West Village. It was fairly small for a bar/restaurant but given the time, we were able to squeeze into one of the small tables. Yes, I came with high expectations but I was hungry so this may have affected the way I felt about the burgers. Or maybe not. What I can remember was how tender and juicy my burger was. The fries were thin and on the soggier side but that didn't faze me. We did not have to wait too long either for our burgers. Cheap, quick, and delicious. A warm and dark ambiance. No frills – pretty simple and straightforward.
Nothing fancy about this place. It's divey and I can imagine it gets crowded and cramped in the evenings. I came just for the burger because I do enjoy a good burger. They sat us (or maybe we found our own seat) and we waited for menus not realizing that the menus were on the wall until the waiter came around with pen and paper. Oops. We got the bacon cheese burger and fries to share. Fries were meh. Almost something you expect to get in a school cafeteria. The burgers were good not great. And the our final bill was reasonable. I can now remove this place from my "bookmarks". Chances are I will not be returning. It's out of the way and just not that memorable.
Came here for the burger because I saw it on Anthony Bourdain shows. Got a cool place right at the bar and asked for a beer (which were very inexpensive). Got the cheeseburger, medium, with bacon. The burger was delicious. It was greasy, thick, and unpretentious. It wasn't overly filled with a bunch of toppings; the patty was the star.
I would recommend coming here for a few beers and this burger before you really head out for a night of drinking in New York. You might have to wait a bit for a seat but try to steal one at the bar.
I'm mixed on this place. It's got character and a history, but in reality, it's a divey burger bar that takes cash only. The service is grumpy (although I take that to be old-world charm), the burgers are greasy, the menu is limited, the seating is on top of itself and did I mention it's cash only (a rarity in NYC and honestly a major drawback as a bar). We stopped in for a quick lunch while in the neighborhood and left unsure if we enjoyed ourselves or not. Sadly it's not really one of the better burgers in NYC so it doesn't exactly have that going either. Overall, it's ok if you're out late and need a greasy spot to quench your pallet, otherwise, not really worth the trip.
**CASH ONLY**
Sooo we came here for the burger – it was one of those non-frill burgers. High quality beef patty, perfectly cooked to medium rare. Add on cheddar cheese, onions, lettuce, and tomatoes. If you get the bistroburger, there'd also be a slice of bacon. I'd say it's one of the simplest burgers I've ever had. No sauce, no extra add-on. Just letting the ingredients shine, and the patty was VERY juicy. It was too thick for me that I can't bite into the whole thing so I end up ditching the top half of the bun. Overall, if you want a simple burger and cheap beer, it's the place to be.
My reviews in NYC did not post, so this is after the fact… but still.
Love this place… So cozy inside and just typically New York. A really great spot. It was raining and cold (so much for the warm April spring) so this was the perfect bar to duck into.
Had the burger and fries and a McSorley's beer. Always one of my favorite burgers in town… and the prices are great.
I cannot recall his name, but the bartender was great, too.