Guy's American Kitchen and Bar - New York City

I wasn't even looking for a triple-d restaurant when I stumbled on this place while walking around Times Square.  I really didn't expect to find Guy's restaurant.  I think of him as a California dude and I had no idea that this place even existed until I stumbled upon it.

I visited the restaurant when it was still pretty new and before the New York Times did their hatchet-job of a review on them.

I've visited one of Guy's other restaurants, Tex Wasabi's Rock and Roll BBQ in Sacramento, California.  So, the benchmark was pretty high to start out with.

I was really excited to find this place but, when I first walked into the I struggled to figure out what the theme was.  It was nice but, I could have been in Houlihans or TGI Fridays if I didn't know better.  I'm guessing that the theme was just what the name says, American food. I'm guessing that it is meant to appeal to foreign visitors to Times Square and not to Americans.  Purely speculation on my part.  Although one big clue was the big American flag they made from cases of Miller light and Rolling Rock beer.

I had the salmon grilled and served on a cedar plank.  It came with garlic mashed potatoes.  It was okay.

The beer menu was kind of interesting.  It said right on the beer menu "All beers are formulated and brewed specially for Guy by Heartland Brewery."  If Guy poured all of his creativity into the beer menu then I'm onboard.

I also really liked Guy's creativity with the dessert menu.  Half of the selection were just traditional desserts but, the other half were drink desserts.  So, another theme seems to be emerging and it is alcohol.

Music selection was also pretty interesting.   They played all kinds of alternative music that I'd never heard of before which I might have enjoyed if they hadn't played it so loud.

Overall, I would unfortunately rate Guy's American Kitchen and Bar an 8.6.  I really wanted this place to blow me away and I looked hard for reasons to let it but, unfortunately it didn't.  If I'm looking for a beer or a meal in Times Square then I'd be willing to give it another shot.  If Guy can make Tex Wasabi's incredible then he can do it here as well and I'm sure he will.


Guy's American Kitchen and Bar
220 W 44th St
New York, NY 10036
(646) 532-4897
www.guysamerican.com

Harry's Roadhouse - Santa Fe, NM

Harry's Road House should have been called Harry's surprise house because I found a few.  The first thing is that it looks like a tiny cafe from the outside.  Even when you first walk in there is a small counter with some 1950's diner looking stools.

But it wasn't tiny.  There were lots of little rooms, each with its own wood burning stove.  One room had a complete bar including a wall full of the expensive alcohol.

The next big surprise was that I would call this a German restaurant.  Not only did they serve German food but it was pretty darned authentic and good.

I ordered the schnitzel and spaetzle.  The pork for the schnitzel was pounded nice and thin, breaded and baked.  I came with just a thin layer of apple sauce. The spaetzle or potato-pasta was not quite as I remembered it in Germany.  I think that the spaetzle was a little over-cooked making it a little dry.  It was still quite enjoyable.

The portion sizes were refreshingly normal versus the huge portion sizes that only seem normal in the US in the past 15 years.

They also served cabbage on the plate.  It very much seemed authentic German to me. A lot of times the cabbage in German restaurants in the US serve Americanized cabbage which is sweet rather than the real stuff with is sour pickle-like.


I also ordered a Santa Fe pale ale which I found to be smooth and not too hoppy.  Something about the mountain air that makes the beer taste soo good.  I was there during the winter but, they had a very nice outside patio area.  Beyond the parking lot, the seating area looks out on the beautiful high desert.  I would like to go back in the summer.


Harry's was not a dive just a divy looking bit of a surprise.  The service was okay.  I would rate Harry's at 8.7.  It was a nice restaurant but, didn't blow my socks off.  I would and probably will go back.


Harry's Roadhouse
96 Old Las Vegas Highway
Santa Fe, NM 87505
(505) 989-4629
www.harrysroadhousesantafe.com