For people who live in and around Manhattan, we all know that the busiest (and sometimes most annoying) part of it happens to be Times Square. Riddled with confused and crowding tourist types, it can be hard to find normalcy and enjoyment in such a packed area. One place that provides that escape is the world famous Hard Rock Cafe, located on Broadway and 43rd Street.
The Hard Rock Cafe, with locations all across the United States, stands out in Times Square for many reasons. Having been there for many years, it is one of the few locations located in that particular area that doesn’t have a “strip mall” kind of vibe to it (IE something you can get in your local town), and provides a variety of excitement for the masses to enjoy.
For instance, The Hard Rock Cafe hosts a ton of different events per month, as their restaurant/bar can has a big stage for performers to showcase their talent while the audience enjoys some tasty food and drink. I stopped by for their first Drag Brunch a couple of weeks ago, and was impressed by not only the show overall, but the professionalism, food and drink that was served.
Upon entering The Hard Rock Cafe, you will find an assortment of clothes and items to purchase, whether you are heading into grabbing a bite to eat or leaving. You can then take the escalator downstairs for the restaurant and bar, which a friend and I went to earlier this week to see what they had to offer. With its classic American type of food, this is a great location to bring your finicky friend or family member who can never really figure out what to get. The Hard Rock Cafe has it all in American cuisine.
The Hard Rock Cafe has a wonderful line of fall cocktails that we really enjoyed trying, especially as they came in mason jars. Selections include:
Mango Tequila Sunrise – perfect for morning, noon or night, dive into this mix of Cuervo Gold Tequila, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, orange juice, Finest Call Mango Purée and grenadine
Peachy Keen Punch – the irrespirable flavors of Patrón Silver Tequila, Pyrat XO Rum, Peach Reál, Monin Orgeat and pineapple juice really pack a punch
Spiced Cinnamon Mule – ABSOLUT Vodka, Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, Monin Spiced Brown Sugar, fresh lime and ginger beer come together to kick up this mule.
For food, we opted for two American classics, wings and their delicious line of burgers. Their signature wings come in classic rock, tangy or heavy metal (being the hottest), and we stuck with the classic rock choice. Not too spicy with a nice kick to it that made it a nice starter.
For burgers, their Hickory Barbecue Bacon Cheeseburger with hickory barbecue sauce and topped with caramelized onions, cheddar cheese, smoked bacon, crisp lettuce and vine-ripened tomato is a great choice. Another amazing option is their Fiesta Burger, which is a Toasted brioche bun layered with roasted jalapeno salsa, melted Jack cheese, freshly made guacamole, pico de gallo, crisp lettuce and vine-ripened tomato. Big burgers with a ton of flavor depth if you are a big eater like me.
Hard Rock Cafe is also set to unveil an all-new vegetarian menu for a limited-time beginning October 3rd, just in time for the start of Vegetarian Awareness Month. The cafe will serve up fresh and unique vegetarian-friendly dishes and plant-based beverages that meet the demands for menu variety and more out-of-the-box mixology, including items such as the Cauliflower Burger, Cauliflower “Wings” and a Very Veggie ‘Tini.
With all that they have to offer, how can you not go? Definitely a great place to book this weekend and beyond. For more information Hard Rock Cafe, check out their official site.