The Lions Bar & Grill
Bar & grill · East Village
132 1st Ave, New York, NY 10009
Highlights
Burger, mozzarella sticks, and cocktails served in a cozy bar
Burger, mozzarella sticks, and cocktails served in a cozy bar
"The Deal: $14 martini; $18 martini & fries; $8 margarita; $5 select beer; $7 Guinness; $2 off well drinks and wine East Village bar The Lions is mostly known for its burger: a Red Hook Tavern dupe with a thick slice of onion and puck-sized patty sitting under a shiny blanket of melted american cheese. That burger is worth a visit, preferably during happy hour, when you can claim a wooden booth and drink whatever $8 margarita they have on special." - bryan kim, neha talreja
"Imitation is the finest form of flattery at this East Village spot with a dry-aged, cheese-topped burger that looks a lot like the one at Red Hook Tavern, and tastes somewhat like it too. We even saw RHT’s owner there once, possibly checking out the competition. Lions is busy during the weekend, but on weeknights it's a calm watering hole, where Jack White and The Black Keys are the soundtrack for rounds of $5 lagers." - will hartman, willa moore, molly fitzpatrick, bryan kim, sonal shah, ciera velarde
"$5 pints are hard to come by in the East Village, and especially so on St. Marks. But they’re at The Lions Bar & Grill, from the same team as Madeline’s Martini and The Wayland. During the weekend, this place gets packed with groups of friends looking to try a dupe of the Red Hook Tavern burger (which you should do). But we like Lions best during the week for a catch-up over lagers while the Black Keys play through the speakers." - bryan kim, willa moore, will hartman, sonal shah
"The Lions Bar is one of those bars that's about one menu item away from being a full-fledged restaurant. But as it stands now, it's a great place in the East Village to drop in for a martini, or a burger that's pretty close to the one at Red Hook Tavern without a trip to Red Hook. We also like the ultra-rich baked potato topped with an egg yolk, and the fact that you can get a $5 beer." - willa moore, molly fitzpatrick, sonal shah
"The team behind the Lions knows what they’re doing: They’re behind cocktail bar and tavern, Goodnight Sonny; music venue the Wayland; and Madeline’s Martini, all in the East Village. The Lions has ambitions to be more than just a hangout for drinks, with a standout menu outfitted with magnificent mortadella sandwiches, burgers, triangular mozzarella sticks, and more. It’s a really solid after-work option." - Eater Staff
