NYMAG.com-The chef at the Standard is Dan Silverman (formerly of the defunct Lever House restaurant, uptown), and he has cannily constructed his one-page “American Bistro” menu to suit a range of currently trendy tastes. To help promote the sale of profitable pre-dinner wines and chic retro cocktails (the Speakeasy and Randy Gibson), there are artisanal saucissons and hams “From the Counter” (try the jamón Ibérico), and three elegantly sturdy housemade pâtés, the best of which is a slab of coarsely cut pork pâté, sweetened with sherry. There are oysters piled on ice for the hoary bistro set (Malpeques from Long Island, Fanny Bays from Washington State), steaks and burgers for the meatheads (two steaks, plus an excellent Ranch burger made with a brisket-laden LaFrieda blend), and a series of carefully sourced small salads (baby romaine from Satur Farms, snow peas and radishes with cider vinaigrette, haricots verts tossed with yogurt and crispy onions) designed to be nibbled by Gisele Bündchen and her fashionably thin friends.
This burger is a great looking burger.  A fresh brioche (soft inner bun and crisp flakey crust) with juicy beef, choice of cheese, two strips of bacon and a fried egg.  Get some!  Enjoy the bar area, grab a table outside along the cobblestone street or post up at the beer garden.  If you go at the right time you might be able to witness some standard and casual sex in the windows of the Hotel above.  Exhibitionists have been spotted frequently making boom boom in the large windows.  The hotel seems to encourage the love making by placing the beds against the windows for couple to make whoopie.  I witnessed it myself and boy was it entertaining!- BB

WASHINGTON STREET (BETWEEN 13th & LITTLE W 12th)