Jackson Hole

232 E. 64th Street
New York, NY 10021
(212) 371-7187
www.jacksonholeburgers.com

Some of the biggest, sloppiest burgers ever! You can't cut them with a knife because they're too big. Unless you're some kind of beast from the animal kingdom and can unhinge your jaw you can't put them (3/4 pound of ground cow) in your mouth. And as soon as you pick them up they collapse --- barbecue sauce, bacon, grilled onions, cheese all over the place.

Jackson Hole has been a burger staple for me since 1995 when I took an ex-girlfriend there. I've taken several ex-girlfriends there since that first time and the experience never changes. You just can't eat those things unless you check your table manners at the door. In my experiences there, I've found the turkey burgers to be juicier and seasoned better than the beef burgers (perfect for those who are trying to stay away from red meat, terrible if you like to stay awake after you eat). When paired with the steak fries and complimented with a milkshake you might as well call for UPS, FedEx, the paramedics, or some moving company to come get you because you can't do one of the following: (1) stand up, or (2) stand up without busting the snap on your jeans. That is unless you buy some entree like chicken which defeats the purpose of going to a burger joint in the first place!

Although my eating habits have changed and I frequent this Jackson Hole (as well as the one on Columbus) not nearly as much as I used to, I'm always reassured when I do patronize the joint and see that the cow carnage hasn't changed one bit. A burger is as a burger does, getting too fancy just messes it up.

These guys make a basic, big-ass burger that'll leave you stuffed and contemplating a vegetarian lifestyle every time.

Room Service

166 8th Ave
New York, NY 10011
(212) 691-0299
www.roomservicerestaurant.com

Room Service is a nice Thai restaurant/lounge neatly woven into the retail/restaurant fabric of 8th Avenue in Chelsea. The decor is in agreement with the name of the place. Not every chair, but several are bracketed by purple doors fitted with room numbers and peepholes in a space that screams bubble tea meets Siam with it's white, red, purple, gold and...clear? The staff is attentive, although my suspicion is that they are more interested in getting you in and out, rather than making you feel tended to.

It's very decent, although not out of this world Thai food. I say this only because it tastes no different than the takeout Thai I've had over the years. But the presentation is sexy. The Corn Spring Rolls are stacked like railroad ties and delicately spiced, whereas the Charcoal Flank Steak is tease of what a real man's Thai steak should be. On a previous visit I played it safe with Spicy Chicken Fried Rice, but on my last visit I had the Thai Blackened Striped Bass. The lemon grass mango garnish was very spicy, but not overdone. (Note: It wreaked havoc on me the next morning during my daily visit to the toilet.)

What I really enjoyed was their Mango Mojito, a tall glass of mint, mango, sugar and sneak-up-on-you-rum. My waiter was more than willing to supply me with three over the course of my 3 hour stay there and along with sampling my wife's Pomegranate martini I was quite relaxed. The place gets loud once it's to capacity, but as I was one of the bunch contributing to the noise, I didn't mind. Dessert was on the table being eaten, but in all fairness to Room Service I really don't do green tea ice cream. I was allergic to everything else they offered.

If you happen to be on that side of town and have a taste for Thai with a little bit of sexy, then definitely pop in.