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NEW YORK CITY DINING
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The Half King
505-507 West 23rd Street
New York, NY 10011
212-462-4300
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The Half King Restaurant

Eight years ago, Sebastian Junger - author of the bestselling book and blockbuster movie, 'The Perfect Storm" - opened a pub with two close friends, writer Scott Anderson (Triage, Moonlight Hotel) and Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Nanette Burstein (On the Ropes, The Kid Stays in the Picture.) Their idea was to build a warm, friendly neighborhood bar that served great food and offered a meeting place for fellow novelists, journalists, filmmakers and artists.Named after a Seneca chief who caused a great deal of mayhem along the Ohio frontier, The Half King quickly became a gathering spot not only for journalists and artists, but for neighborhood locals and the occasional celebrity as well (comedian Amy Poehler, actor Chace Crawford, actress Kate Winslet and comedian Will Farrell to name a few). The interior is constructed entirely from gorgeous 200 year-old yellow pine that was salvaged from a barn in Pennsylvania; interior walls of Venetian plaster add old-world charm and set off the photojournalism exhibits in the dining room. A Monday-night reading series hosts some of the best-known writers and journalists in the country, including Pulitzer Prize winners and Nobel laureates. A heated back garden can be enjoyed all year round, and a sidewalk café out front takes advantage of the warmer summer months. The staff are young, enthusiastic and friendly, and they keep the atmosphere lively by bringing their own music to play on the bar's sound system. The thirty foot bar is perfect for relaxing with a pint, or one of the bar's specialty cocktails such as the Parisian Martini (A blend of Hendricks Gin, St. Germain and Sauvignon Blanc with a cucumber garnish) or the Summer Lovin (Blueberry Stoli, Champagne and Lemonade with a lemon and lime garnish). Happy hour specials include free chips and salsa or free "weenies." Plus the Half King bartenders are so friendly, guests may forget they are in New York . The Executive Chef, Gregory Baumel, has worked to create innovative treats for any palate. Utilizing only the freshest ingredients, he has created a wide-ranging menu from meat dishes, fish, pasta, and vegetarian to traditional Irish cuisine. All seafood is day boat-caught, his "green-certified" kitchen uses local and organic purveyors whenever possible, and the award-winning Burger Box (serving 8 different kinds of burgers, including salmon-crab cake and venison) has won committed devotees around the world. The Half King is open for brunch, lunch and dinner and serves a delicious bar menu until closing time.
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