Firehouse

Contributor

Citysearch

The Scene
This easygoing Upper West Side hotspot attracts hip local moms as well as the cool college set. They come for the impressive selection of beers, killer margaritas and perky (if overwhelmed) waitresses. Those seeking quiet inhabit the sidewalk seats, while rowdy revelers retire inside for blaring music and shots at the bar.

The Food
Ultimately the menu is just glorified bar fare: burgers, wings, chili, California-style pizza and Mexican favorites. Yet the salads are fresh and tasty--especially the Oriental chicken salad, which boasts crunchy Chinese noodles and a tangy, orangy dressing--and the mole sauce on the Mexican dishes is creamy and chocolaty. Tasty homemade apple cobbler a la mode comes in a tall, sundae-style glass.