Bad Ass; Mr. Biggs Bar & Grill

If I could keep track I would have a whole wardrobe

Mr. Biggs Bar & Grill, on 10th Avenue on the corner of 43rd Street, is a neighborhood standard, and until just a few years ago, the only bar for several blocks in our auspicious hood, that is until the building boom of the early 2000's.

I have a fondness for Mr. Biggs, however, as full disclosure, I have an old friend who is involved with the place. I hope you will see that this does not impede my judgement nor does it cause me to temper my comments; I don't believe that it would not in any situation.With that being said, if I have a conflict of interest about a place I will simply not write about it at all. So THERE!

Back to the point; here is a quick history lesson on the The Kitchen kiddies, so pay attention. Mr. Biggs was originally the notorious 596 Club which was allegedly owned and run by the leader of The Westies gang, Jimmy Coonan, during the 1970's and early 80's. The Westies murdered and dismembered Hell's Kitchen loanshark and Genovese Crime Family associate Charles "Ruby" Stein inside the place, and rumor has it several others as well. I once heard a rumor years ago that back in the day there was a tunnel in the kitchen that led down the block, heading East on 43rd Street, into the basement of the Funeral Home. While I am guessing that tunnel is long closed up (if it was ever there at all), the fact is that quite a few gruesome murders were either planned and/or carried out here, and it is a legendary spot in the neighborhoods often dark and murky history. For the definitive history of the hood along with all its flaws, pockmarks, and dirty laundry, check out T.J. English's book, The Westies: Inside New Yorks Irish Mob. The book is in a word, awesome.

In the 90's, The 596 Club (after I believe it had been shut down for a while) was bought and taken over, completely renovated, walls opened up, and made to look similar as it does today, with glass doors through part of the front opening the space up, as well as a fairly large sidewalk cafe that stretches around the corner.

Though I have not been in recently, I can honestly say that over the years I have been here well over 100 times, perhaps 200, and I have eaten here most of those times. Inside, the place is a decent size, but a renovation a few years ago added space in the rear, moved the bathrooms and really opened the place up.

One thing about the owner here, he keeps the place up well and is constantly renovating, from new awnings, to new exterior paint, to all new Flat Screens a few years ago, of which there are more TV's than you can possibly imagine for a place this size. Other than sitting in the bathrooms (which are pretty new and were always clean), you have a great view of multiple screens, so this is a really great spot to catch a game. Another important note about the owner; he is a bad-ass. And this does not mean that he just looks like a bad-ass (he does), he IS a bad ass, as is his security guy (trust me on both of these things). This is not a place to misbehave, be a wise-guy, or be a jackass. I can tell you firsthand from having spent many, many nights there until 4am, that there are very few problems, and that for sure you don't want to have one here. They run a tight ship, and unlike many other places I have been you will certainly feel safe, so its a good spot to have fun as long as you aren't a dick.

The bar is very long, and comfortable, though the the middle of the room seating is a little weird, very tight, small table tops, narrow, and not really to my liking, as I just don't want to be "thisclose" to people I don't know. The seating along the wall is much better, but personally I always sit at the bar or outside anyway. The outside seating is very well situated and there are plenty of tables and seats, and they aren't jammed together.

As for activities, they are always doing something over there, and there is always a special, including a Happy Hour on several days from 5pm-7pm, Karaoke, and Speed Dating called "Love in a Minute", which from what I can tell (I didn't do it) looks pretty unique and fun if you're into that kind of thing. Basically there is something for everyone here.

One negative from my perspective is the jukebox; its an internet jukebox. Now I could be in the minority here, and I obviously understand the concept, but the problem with these things is that some dickhole can put in $20 and not only play Madonna or Air Supply for half and hour, but they can pay to put their songs ahead of everyone else's. I hate these things, and the extra money they make is not in my opinion worth the damage they do. But, it ain't my place, and from what I know, this guy seems to know what he is doing and it seems to be working out pretty damn well for him for quite a long time.

The crowd is about as diverse as any in the neighborhood, with neighborhood regulars and blue collar guys, old timers from Manhattan Plaza, and the Yuppies from the newer high-rises.

Last but not least, the food, and I have said this for years (and I have been going here for 9 or10 years); one of the great things about this place is that the food is always good - very consistent, which unfortunately is not the case for most neighborhood Bar & Grill's. I consider it to be one of the most reliable places in the hood for good old American Pub food. My favorites; the Burgers, the Mac & Cheese, and the Lasagna Bolognese. I have probably eaten 2/3 of the items on the menu (which is rare for me), and I have never eaten a single thing that was not well prepared or didn't taste fresh/good. Though I haven't eaten there in a while, it is worth mentioning that they used to have really good desserts (I remember a Chocolate Mousse Crunch Cake - delicious), and I assume they still are, which is something else that is usually lacking in your average neighborhood Bar & Grill; decent desserts.

As far as delivery, I haven't ordered delivery from here in a while, though I doubt its changed. With that being said, in all the years and dozens upon dozens of deliveries I have received, I have never had a problem. They use Seamless Web for the last few years, and everything always came exceptionally well packaged (very important in my mind, and not the case with many places), the order almost always correct, and usually pretty quick, especially for a place that is perpetually busy.

As an added bonus they have all female bartenders (though I have seen on occasion seen a man behind the bar over the years, which by the way I am not a fan of), and female hostesses and wait staff. And to put it bluntly, they are as a rule young, friendly, and usually pretty hot. In addition, they are open until 4am every night, which is something that isn't as easy to find as it used to be.

So, as to grades; we give it an A- for being, clean, fun, and safe. For pricing, we give the drinks a B+, but a B for the food pricing as it isn't expensive, but its at the high end of the Bar & Grill acceptable price range, however, I would have to say that in Manhattan. you get what you pay for. For service, food quality and delivery they get a B+/A-. For hotness of staff, they get a solid A.

All of this adds up to having the illustrious honor of being added to our "Best of HKL" list.

Mr. Biggs Bar & Grill
596 10th Avenue (North East Corner of 43rd Street)
NY, NY 10036
212.246.2030
www.mrbiggsnewyork.com