New York Eats – Hard Rock Cafe NY, 1501 Broadway New York, NY 10036

Just like you can’t not visit the popcorn counter when at the cinema, we couldn’t not go to Hard Rock Cafe when in New York. Not that it started there or anything (because it started in London), but something about HRC is just that bit NYC.



And horses standing by the pavement. Smiling at the cameras.



And as we were right smack in the middle of dinner time rush hour, we were prepared for a bit of a wait.



And wait we did. See that ‘Current Line Up’ board above?

Well, we weren’t on there for the first half hour or so. And when we did get on, it was an agonising, hungrying, wait to get up the leader board. Jessica B, Dasya and Louis kept taunting us as their names moved upward and onward, leaving us trailing behind their (smokey-barbecued-flavoured) tails.



We could’ve had some drinks at the bar to while away the time, but because we’re tight tourists, we decided to just sit on the carpeted floor sulking.



In total, we waited something like 1 hour and 40 minutes. Not that I was counting or anything.



When our names were called, boy oh boy did I sprint my way towards the elusive thing called The Free Table. With menu in hand, and appetites uncontrollable, it was henceforth decided that we’d jump straight to the main meal and not bother with silly things like starters and such.



Hard Rock Cafe menu

These days, everything has calories – even menus. Slightly annoying if you’re out for a grand celebratory meal trying to ignore those calories, only to be reminded of those calories everywhere and anywhere with food. Why? Why must you tell me that my Classic Patty Melt has 1,792 calories?!?! Can’t I just have one day’s worth of calories on my plate if I want to?



After we’d placed our orders, I sat there contemplating how many calories I’d just ordered.



Nothing like a bit of Heinz to help wash down those calories.



1,792 calories – Classic Patty Melt (US$15)

You can probably guess that this burger was pretty good considering the stuff it was made out of, and you’d be right. The meat was chunky, juicy, succulent and very meaty (sorry for stating the obvious but we’ve had burgers which just weren’t meaty enough). Nothing like a bit of processed cheese to finish off a lovely American burger.



1,798 calories – Hickory-smoked Bar-B-Que ribs (not sure how much as I didn’t take a pic of the menu and the website’s menu only has calories on it)

Because I’d just started to get used to the ginormous portions served up almost everywhere in New York, this dish was almost a disappointment when served.

What? It’s only just slightly bigger than the plate? Just not good enough.



Despite that, the flavour and texture didn’t disappoint. The barbequed aroma was full and flavoursome, and the meat with just enough bite and chew to it.



Just like yellow taxis and bright lights. I miss it already (we visited in May 2010), New York New York!