Corner Bistro

JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU MY NAME IS CARVED ON ALL THE TABLES WAS NICE LIVING AROUND THE CORNER GETTING CHEESEBURGERS GRILLED CHEESE W/ BACON AND CHILI AT 4 AM WAS FANTASTIC AND OF COURSE A MCSORLEYS BEFORE YOU WENT HOME

Pros: LIKE HAEVEN

Cons: NONE

Posted 11/13/09

Worth the wait.

Pros: Best in town

Cons: long wait

Posted 11/13/09

The meat is tender and made perfect as ordered,the price is very honest and the envirement is great!
I never miss it when i'am in New York!

Pros: Best Burger ever had

Cons: Tooooooooo busy...almost all the time and I just HATE lines.

Posted 10/14/09

I cannot understand the incredible popularity of this place. Is it a good dive bar with good burgers? Absolutely, but none of its merits justify waiting more than an hour for a table on a weekday night or having to put up with massive overcrowding after you sit down.

Pros: good hamburgers, good prices

Cons: endless waits, dumpy ambiance, poor service

Posted 10/12/09

the bistro has a warm atmosphere with killer music. the bartender is as fine as they possibly come, not to mention painfully funny and smart. but let's get down to it: the bistro burger is sinfully satisfying, thanks for the perfectly crispy bacon.

Pros: bartender & music

Cons: too many people

Posted 10/09/09

I've been coming to the Bistro for years. Yeah, cheap beer. Yeah, good burgers. Sure, great. But it's the ambiance about the joint that makes this place one of my favorite bars in the world. ("?World?? Really?? Yep.) The incredible juke box pumping out the earnestness of Wilco, the angry whine of Neil Young, the cool of Louis Armstrong. And the bartender, Jeff, is about as close to ?the perfect New York bartender? that you can get ? fast with the pour and witty as hell. A great hang. (Yes, ?in the world.? Shut up.)

Pros: Neighborhood joint, sharp bartenders

Posted 09/22/09

This is probably one of the best burgers I've had in the city. It's a more traditional/homemade style as opposed to a Shake Shack or Five Guys but the quality is right up there with the best in the city. It's a thick style (and huge) relatively inexpensive burger. Get with bacon and cheese. It's in a small corner on West 4th which is annoying to get to for some New Yorkers, but its well worth it. The pub is in an almost movie like setting. It's the quintessential old New York pub. Order the fries and a draught beer to complete the experience.

Posted 07/08/09

Until recently I swore by the cheap beer, savory bistro burgers, and charming veteran bartender of Corner Bistro; yet after my last visit I will never again return to what was once my favorite neighborhood bar. My friend and I went to the Corner Bistro for dinner and drinks on a Sunday night, and noted the bar was filled predominately with middle aged men who were comrades with a bartender we had never met. We approached two empty seats at the bar, and were told that we, two young women, were not allowed to sit there. After nearly walking out, he called us back and granted us the seats. We endured a dinner laden with rude remarks, obnoxious leers and were ultimately mis-charged five dollars more than our meal cost. A place that mistreats patrons along the lines of gender is an establishment that deserves no support whatsoever from the community. If the Corner Bistro is going to survive, a serious re-evaluation of the staff, values and perpetuation of archaic systems of oppression needs to happen. In the name of the Bistro Burger, I sincerely hope it does.

Pros: Cheap Beer, Delicious Burgers

Cons: Misogyny

Posted 04/04/09

Huddled in the heart of gay historic West Village, a thuggish Asian-descented waiter has attacked customers even yelling epithets of "No F@ggots" to a customer who was beaten and the police did not respond. With marginal cleanliness, dry-ass burgers and pestilence aplenty, why would you RISK DEATH in this Chew and Spew (of Hatred and Intolerance) Please right down your encounters with these Attacks thugs and hopefully the people of the West Village will close this dive down.

Pros: Great location when the Dept of Health shuttters them

Cons: Worst Hamburger in NYC's West Village

Posted 02/04/09

Would surely give Corner Bistro 5 stars if it were not hard to get a table at times. But then again here I am writing a review and encouraging more people to go.

Pros: price, taste of food, simple menu, good beer

Cons: long line at times

Posted 12/09/08

Great burgers and even better beer selection make this place a MUST do while in NYC. The burgers are cooked to perfection and well worth the wait (the line forms about 7pm), Relaxed atmosphere and good crowd make Corner Bistro the best place to grab a burger in NYC. Enjoy!

Pros: burgers + food

Cons: long lines

Posted 12/07/08

Corner Bistro has been the savior of many nights that may have just been a bust. You walk in, sit down at the bar, say hi to the bartender (who will undoubtedly be courteous and genial), order a beer and fries (or a burger, I hear they're fantastic, but I'm a vegetarian), and just relax. The beer on tap is delicious. It's a really no-frills kind of place, but something about the atmosphere always puts me in a good mood. It does get kind of busy as the night goes on, but I've met some very interesting characters at Corner Bistro. It attracts a very wide range of people, which is cool.

Pros: good food, good beer, cheap

Cons: can get crowded

Posted 12/02/08

Today, my date and I went here after reading the raving reviews about this place. It was a relatively short wait since we got there at around 2 in the afternoon. When our table was ready, we were told to "Go straight and make a right". Our seats were very close to the other table (there would be no room to go in between the tables). It was very cramped and definitely not a place for anyone who is claustrophobic. The place was very dark and there were flies everywhere. We ordered a bistro burger, cheeseburger, and an order of fries. Our burgers and fries came really fast (5-10 minutes), but our water remained nowhere to be seen. We were halfway done with our burgers when we had to ask the "waiter" again for water. The servers were very rude and you can almost see them sighing mentally when we requested for water. The burger was bland and dry, as was the fries. Their burger was definitely an average burger. We finished the burgers as fast as we could so we could get out of there. Perhaps we went there at a wrong time or day, but we would not give it a second try because of the decor and the flies in the restaurant. It feels very dingy and gritty in there. Not very comfortable at all. We were very disappointed about this place because we had high hopes for it since it was rated as one of the best burger restaurants in New York. We definitely should have gone to Shake Shack. Their burgers are not only cheaper, but tastier and more satisfying.

Pros: Fast Service

Cons: cramped place, flies, dark, rude servers

Posted 09/24/08

I definitely recommend getting there early- I left the place just before 6:30 and it was already pretty crowded. I can see why it gets so packed, though- it was one of the best burgers I've ever had! It was well-done and served simply, just the way I like a hamburger. The fries were really good, too; they were crunchy and not too salty. And who could complain about the prices? The place itself has a plain, almost gritty atmosphere to it, and it's very dark inside. People who are big on decor and atmosphere in restaurants may not like that, but my attitude is, what better kind of place to enjoy a great burger and fries?

Pros: really good food, cheap

Cons: it gets crowded really early

Posted 09/03/08

As long as you don't have to wait for it, you won't be disappointed by the Corner Bistro burger. To avoid waiting, show up before 6pm. There's just something about the simple white-bread bun, the airy patty and the messy toppings that makes you sink into burger bliss.

Posted 11/15/07

I'll echo most sentiments here - nice, thick burger that comes out quickly - mine was medium well although I asked for medium rare...could have used more salt, cheap buns, and it's a little smelly (like urinal/stale beer smell). The place looks/is more like a bar than a burger joint. Good burger but not going out of my way again- better burgers in order are:

(1) Chelsea Grill (bigger more seasoned burger, cooked to perfection with better fries and better atmosphere)
(2) Island Burgers - smaller but thicker -again, cooked to perfection and 1,000 topping suggestions - no fries though.
(3) Le Parker Meridian - secret hotel burger - lines and not a great value (thin burger).
(4) Burger place in Madison Sq Park - lines are ridiculous - thin but flavorful patty

I haven't tried Paul's in East Village but it's next on my list.

Pros: Good but not great burger

Cons: Mild seasoning (salt), lack of consistency, cheap buns, smelly place

Posted 10/22/07

Great burgers, cold beer, weekdays are better for quick seating. The later you get there the longer you wil be standing staring jealously at everyone eating their burgers.

Posted 10/09/07

Been to Corner Bistro about a dozen times and every time it is the best burger experience I've ever had. I've brought many different people and the all come away with the same comment - that's the best burger I've ever had... The lines are long if you get there after 6 PM but the wait is worth it, especially with a nice McSorely's to pass the time.

Pros: Simple menu

Cons: Long waits

Posted 09/08/07

Although a small and crowded dive, the burgers are to DIE for. The bacon cheeseburger has some generous strips of thick bacon, and the fries are awesome! Nice thick burger...you are sure to leave FULL after only spending a couple of bucks. They don't take credit cards though, but there's an ATM machine in there.

Pros: Cheap eats, hugely filling...but best of all...GOOD!!!

Cons: None really comes to mind.

Posted 08/24/07

This place is supposed to be the best burger in town? That's funny. I went a few months ago, order my burger medium and received it raw. not medium rare or even rare. RAW, just barely seared on the outside. I sent it back and never received a new one. I even tasted some of my friends burger to see what the big deal was and it really wasnt that great. oh and the fries were old and soggy. It wasnt even a busy night. If you are looking for a good burger downtown, go to Paul's.

Posted 08/12/07

This place is a hole in the wall; it's old, it's small, the service leaves something to be desired, the food is served on cheap paper plates and the menu consists of about 5 items.

But, it's quite possibly the best (and most famous) burger in all of New York City. You have to come here at least once!

It's one of those places that you love but you're not sure why. It's old, it's historic, it's famous, they have a good beer selection, and it just has that "feel." If you're looking for chic and trendy and classy, don't come here (even though this place does have its dose of village trendiness). But if you're looking for great food and beer, and authentic NYC-ness, then you can't miss it.

Pros: good food, good prices, good beer selection, good feel

Cons: small menu, mediocre service, not "classy" (though this all adds to its charm)

Posted 08/12/07

We came here for dinner. The line was incredibly long and the bar was loud. The beer was good and we didn't mind the wait too much because we heard the burgers were amazing. We were eventually seated at a fairly dirty table. I went to wash my hands, but the bathroom was so dirty, there was no point to try. We ordered the chili burger. To the establishment's credit, the orders are taken and delivered very quickly. The burgers came and rather than a burger with chili, we got a big plate of chili and a burger in the middle of it. The bun was wet and we had to eat the whole thing with a fork. The chili was good, and quite spicy. The burger however, was beyond bland. Perhaps it would have tasted better without the chili, but I can't imagine it would have tasted good. The price was reasonable, but I would never go back. It was just not good.

Posted 08/11/07

I went to the Corner Bistro on a Friday night and it was packed. We had six people and only waited about 20 minutes. The place is small but the burgers are worth it. The atmostphere is fun and busy. This place is like your local neighborhood bar. The service is fast and not at all fussy or complicated. Check this place out with friends!!

Pros: Good Burgers, good ambience

Cons: can be crowded

Posted 07/13/07

With an impending move to the West Coast, I considered corner bistro one of roughly ten remaining passport stamps i needed to fill before I could say goodbye to the city I've loved for five years. Corner Bistro's burgers were regarded to be the city's best. I walked in with admittedly high expectations - noone is more disappointed than me to share that I walked out with those expectations hopelessly dashed. I feel like a real lemming. It didn't start out well as the flies-to-patron ratio was heavily skewed in the flies' favor. Cleanliness just didn't pop up in the word association with this place. The bistro burger arrived and it wasn't juicy, the meat wasn't flavorful (like Shake Shack's which uses sirloin + ground brisket for the taste), and the bacon was so hardened from sitting out since the morning shift when it was most likely cooked, that it actually resisted my futile attempts at breaking the pieces in two.

Posted 07/09/07

this is one of the last bastions left in a New Manhattan where old haunts like this are being forced out and turn to condo's or banks. It's a great old burger bar - fast in and out -crude place that you will miss one day.
It's great. I go on Sundays right at noon to get a table.

Posted 07/06/07

I wouln't say it's the best burger in the city---but it was pretty decent. The Bistro Burger (which i order) tasted juicy with crispy bacon. For the most part---i do like the burger. The service could be worked on a bit (but it is busy---so i can't complain). The drinks were really inexpensive. However---yes. There is a "however". I don't think i ever want to eat there again---the place was dark (fine) and had that bar look (cool). But, the place smell like the subway. I'm not sure if it was just lastnight---it smelled like urine in there. =P I couldn't enjoy my food! Oh---the fries are really too thin and dry.

Pros: burger

Cons: urinal smell and fries

Posted 06/02/07

I wandered into this place about twenty years ago and have been visiting regularly ever since. The simplest menu in the city and possibly the best burger I have ever had, and beleive me, i'm a professional. I recommend you start off with a cold McSorley's Ale for $2.50 and order up a Bistro Burger cooked medium rare with a 6side of fries if you must.

Pros: Easy to get to in the West Village. Best value in town!

Cons: Sometimes it get's pretty crowded. Especially at night and during games on Sunday's.

Posted 05/28/07

Is the Corner Bistro a cool, hip place to hang out? Absolutely. Can you get cheap eats there? Yes! Is it the "Best Burger" in the city? NOT EVEN CLOSE!!!!!!!!!! I am really getting tired of hearing all this hype about CB's burgers being the best in the city - dont get me wrong, they are not bad, but there are so many better burgers to be found in New York. It is fair to say that if you are hanging out with a few friends (not too many), and you want some beers, a few burgers, and interesting people to people-watch - then I highly recommend the Bistro - it is a great fun place. But I dont think that it's right that the burgers get the reputation they do. (If you are a burger fanatic - go to the Jackson Hole, or Burger Heaven - now THEY are great burgers!)

Pros: Cool place to hang out, cheap eats

Cons: Over-hyped burger reputation, service is so-so

Posted 04/19/07

The staff is so rude it makes you uncomfortable! You feel like they are doing YOU the favor by serving you!

Posted 04/15/07

The Bistro could have great burgers, but they're only good because they don't cook them right. If you ask for a medium, you get a bloodbath on a plate. So then you step up one level to medium-well, and they give you an overcooked dry burger. I'd hate to see what they think well done means - a peice of charcoal maybe? And what is a rare burger like? Do they just bring out a live cow when you order rare?

And it wasn't a bad night - I've been there enough times to know its a consistent problem. Hey guys - a medium has a pink center, that's all. Rare might be a little bloody. Well done might be a little dry, but should still be edible. Learn to cook!

I still like it, but the Shake Shack is noticeably better.

Pros: Pretty good burger, local crowd instead of loud bridge-and-tunnel tools

Cons: They don't cook the burgers right, service is pretty bad, very little seating leads to long line sometimes

Posted 03/22/07

The burger is juicy (albeit way too big to hold and eat properly) and flavorful and the fries are perfectly crispy but it's a very simple place. I guess that's an attraction for some, but not really for me. The burger is decent, not really amazing though. It's really just a small dive bar that serves relatively expensive burgers. There is no customer service to speak of. We walked in, and kinda just stood around for a couple minutes because we weren't sure if we were supposed to seat ourselves or not and no one was there to greet us or inform us of what to do. Then my boyfriend just ordered at the bar before we sat down but the bartender was curt and unfriendly when I asked him about other options for fries. The atmosphere is relaxed but nobody seemed particularly friendly, definitely not a place to meet and greet. It's a place to go to if you want to just keep to yourself and enjoy your burger and fries and beer.

Pros: good burger/fries

Cons: no customer service

Posted 03/11/07

Plain and simple: You get a cheap, giant burger and cheap beer on tap. The burgers sometimes are overcooked or a little dry, but let's not fool ourselves here; for this price you cannot beat it. Great place, great staff and an overall real New York feel.

Pros: Price and service

Cons: Crowds

Posted 02/22/07

I had just flown into the city an hour earlier and wanted a great burger and a beer. My boyfriend recommended the Corner Bistro and it was PERFECT! The bar was loud and crowded and there was a tranny hustler sitting next to my friend, scamming fries, but in spite of that, I had a great experience!
I ordered a cheeseburger, fries, and 2 Rolling Rocs on tap. The burger was cooked perfectly and in the shape of a baseball (could barely get it into my mouth) and best of all, it was $5.25! The bartender was very friendly and the service was quick, even though it was 8:00 on Wednesday night and very busy.
Corner Bistro is a neighborhood gem!

Pros: Great Burgers, Down-to-earth atmosphere

Cons: Loud

Posted 01/25/07

I went to corner bistro not expecting outstanding service or the best food ever; but even my modest expectations were not met. It took us a long time to get a table, but that was fine and the bar was right there so I enjoyed hanging out and drinking cheap beer. Once we ordered the food took forever and people who sat down after us had eaten and paid their bill (one would not expect this considering everyone pretty much has the same thing. The waiter offered no apologies and our food was cold. When we confronted the waiter on this he shrugged and walked away while we were still talking to him. This was beyond rude. On top of this the food was ok at best. The prices were good but I have never recieved some horrible service in my life. It wasnt like McSorleys where the rude service is part of the allure this guy was just a joke.

Pros: Cheap beer, cheap food

Cons: Rude staff, Average food

Posted 01/04/07

Yes, the burgers are good. They're not large, they're just done extremely well. One should order a couple of burgers here to really get the appetite down. Service is not that great, but when the most expensive meal is $5.75, they know the tips aren't really going to be that great. The drinks are decent from the bar and a turn off is the cash only policy.

Pros: Value, Burger, Drinks

Cons: Service, Cash Only, Portions

Posted 12/29/06

I was told that this place had the best burger in the city and they were terrible. It had no flavor, no spices, and tasted like fried ground beef. This was very disappointing. If this is the best burger in the city then I am from the wrong city.

Pros: Terrible Hamburger

Posted 12/28/06

If the young guy Jeff is working . Guy needs serious attitude adjustment. I'm a big tipper for the most part and this guy couldn't score a tip on my tap on my most generous day. We all have bad days but it appears a great establishment with great burgers has a bad ingredient....behind the bar. Service has more weight in my book. Won't go back again
dric30

Pros: burgers

Cons: service behind bar(young dude)

Posted 12/10/06

It's always way too crowded with college kids at CB, and the waiters are downright SURLY. I don't need service with a sneer. So I always call, order the burger and pick it up to eat at home.

My favorite is the bacon cheeseburger (cheddar), medium. Yum! Life is good...

Pros: bacon cheeseburger; amount of meat they give you

Cons: too crowded; scary waiters

Posted 11/16/06

Corner Bistro consistently has the best burgers in town, and they're affordable! There's often a line but it usually doesn't take long for it to move along.

Pros: Great, cheap food

Cons: Often need to wait in line

Posted 11/15/06

or at least it used to be.....always gets crowded early....love the simple menu, movie stars and rock stars like hanging out here at 3am.

Posted 10/30/06

Perfect menu if you only want to choose between a burger or a burger. "I'll take a burger." This is not a complaint, or a critisism. I appreciate the minimalist attitude. When they do something so well, why should they screw around with something else?

Posted 10/01/06

The burgers are good but not overly spectacular. What I like about these burgers is that they are thick and therefore come out juicy from under the broiler. This place is a village institution which deserves a visit.

Pros: juicy burgers

Cons: long waiting lines

Posted 09/04/06

We live around the corner and weve been coming to Corner Bistro for years. Its always been a fun experienceuntil tonight. We decided to eat at the bar, and after ordering our food the bartender (the younger one, not the nice, older man whos usually there) asked us what we wanted to drink. We opted for water to start, thinking wed get beers later. The guy rudely walked away and told us we couldnt drink water at the bar, and barked at us to get back in line. So then we decided wed order our beers then, but he totally ignored us. He continued serving customers all around us and didnt even look at us. When he came back within earshot, we told him we wanted to order beers. He snarled, Its not gonna be a good experience for you or me now, so just leave. He must have realized he had been so rude that even if he served us, he wouldnt be getting a tip. We were so in shock, we just sat there wondering how we could possibly get kicked out of Corner Bistro for ordering water with our food!!! Shortly after, he came over and said again, Ladies, its time to go.

Weve never been treated so rudely in New York. It would have been so easy for him to just tell us that we needed to order drinks with our food, which we were more than willing to do. Were so disappointed that after all these years of going to CB, this had to happen. Needless to say, we will never go back there again. We hope no one else will have to go through this, so if you decide to brave it: watch out for the monster behind the bar!

Pros: Good burger

Cons: RUDE service at the bar

Posted 08/25/06

This is the place for it. Any seasoned New Yorker will tell you some of the best things in life are simple. This place serves beer and burgers and does it well. If you want a smile, go to a BR Guest restaurant, that's what they're trained to do. If you want a great burger, go to Corner Bistro!!

Posted 07/16/06

Great hamburgers, but the Corner Bistro has the worst service of any food establishment I've ever been to. Even a Soviet-era Muscovite would shake their head at the service. In a word (or two), it's non-existent.

Pros: The hamburgers are outstanding

Cons: The non-existent service spoils the experience

Posted 06/21/06

Don't go to Corner Bistro expecting to be seated right away and to have a charming, cute waitress serve your food. This place is what it is: old school, brisk, small, busy, no frills. It just happens to serve the best burgers in the city.

Pros: best burgers, best fries, cold beer

Cons: long lines

Posted 05/22/06

Great place if you can avoid stopping by when Jeff, one of the bartenders, is working. He must be a relative of the owner to remain employed with such a consistently rude attitude towards customers. Huge contrast to the rest of the friendly staff. Other than that, it's a fabulous neighborhood institution that hasn't changed in years and hopefully never will.

Pros: food, price, just about everything

Cons: rude bartender

Posted 04/22/06

These are the thickest burger patties found in town and tastes awesome. Meal for two under twenty bucks including beer - can't beat that! There's a reason why there's a long line - cause it's worth the wait.

Pros: burger, cheap beer

Cons: long lines

Posted 04/12/06

Definitely hit Corner Bistro if you haven't! It is such a great spot, just a bit busy at times. But if you don't mind drinking a beer while you wait in line, this is your place! And the prices are so low, it's great!

Pros: Cheap, Fast, Good

Cons: Too Busy, Cleanliness

Posted 04/02/06

It had been 8 years since I set foot in The Corner Bistro. The place was the same. Thank the universe for keeping it the same. I had traveled 8000 miles to get a burger and of course this was the place to take care of that need. The music was still excellent and it still felt like a home away from home.

Many things change and good things turn to dust but the Bistro is a constant in burger heaven among a minefield of imitators.-David Schneider, Hong Kong

Posted 02/22/06