Corner Bistro   

331 W 4th St
New York, NY 10014
212-242-9502

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In a city like New York, you'll find more than a few places boasting burgers for the business-class: Kobe-raised, truffle-stuffed or otherwise gussied up. The Corner Bistro is not one of these places. Here your condiment options are simple: onions, bacon, lettuce, tomato and a square of American cheese. It's precisely this back-to-basics approach that keeps the Bistro on various best-of lists, year after carnivorous year. Of course, it helps that the joint's signature Bistro burger, teetering atop a paper plate, delivers serious beef without the bucks. Ditto the house chili, which almost requires a fork and knife, and French fries, which come crispy and steaming hot. (The menu also lists a grilled chicken sandwich, but rumors of its existence have not been substantiated.) As for the atmosphere: Think dim lighting, wood panels and a hasty turnover during the after-work and late-night peaks. Given the place's popularity and walk-in policy, you'll probably wait a while before being seated -- but not to worry. There's good music in the jukebox, friendly faces at the bar, and an endless supply of cheap draft ales. -- Nate Chinen