I’m a little late with this one; this was Halloween weekend, but between traveling and life happening, you’re about to get spammed with a bunch of posts. Consider yourself warned.
We ended up at White Horse Tavern in the West Village at around 7 PM. And yes, the correct White Horse Tavern. Be proud of me. Usually, if there are two places in NYC with the same name, I’m going to walk into the wrong one like it’s a personality trait. But this time? The food gods guided me, or more accurately, two friends physically pushed me in the right direction. A win is a win.
We wanted a place to crash, watch the Dodgers play Toronto, and pretend baseball isn’t painfully slow unless it’s the World Series. The reservation gods truly blessed us because one of my friends thought ahead and grabbed a Resy for a 7 PM four-top a few hours before we got there. The front was packed, the bar was packed, the sides were packed; it was shoulder-to-shoulder vibes. So the fact that we slid into a table like it was meant to be? Chef’s kiss.
The Vibe
In the middle dining room, there’s a massive TV with the game on just loud enough to follow but not enough to ruin the atmosphere. Classic old-school New York Irish tavern energy — dark wood, warm lighting, a crowd that ranged from 20s to 40s. A mixed bag in the best possible way.
Everyone was chill, everyone was vibing. It was Saturday night, but no one was acting like they needed to wake up in someone else’s apartment with regret and a hangover. Just good energy all around.
The Food
We went big because… well… why not?
- Shishito peppers
- Nachos
- Spinach dip
- Double smashburger
Everything hit, but the star the Beyoncé of the meal was the double smashburger. Juicy, messy, flavorful, perfect. The onions weren’t crispy; they were more thinly sliced and soft, but they worked. I had sauce all over my hands, my face, probably my shirt, and of course, everyone made fun of me. Worth it.
Nachos were solid. Spinach dip was precisely what you want at a tavern: creamy, warm, and gone too fast. No complaints.
Drinks
Solid martinis, solid beer list, and the cocktails didn’t try to out-fancy the room. Classic, straightforward, precisely what a tavern should be doing.
Atmosphere
Cozy, familiar, nostalgic. White Horse Tavern is one of those places where the walls feel like they’ve soaked up decades of conversations, breakups, first dates, questionable decisions, and stories better left untold.
My only issue?
It’s the West Village and I’m a Midtown boy.
Not enough steakhouses downtown for me. But I’ll make the sacrifice for a place like this.
Bonus: My Still Streets Project
I grabbed a few shots for my latest photography series, Still Streets, reflections of iconic NYC restaurants. It’s still a work in progress, but once it’s up, I’ll post it. In the meantime, here’s a sneak peek of one of the shots.
Verdict
White Horse Tavern remains a NYC classic for a reason.
Great food, timeless vibes, packed house, dependable drinks, and a smashburger that absolutely slaps.
Rating: 8.7/10, a tavern that always delivers.
Look, I’m just a Fat Guy from Brooklyn giving you my two cents. If you want more Top 10s—steakhouses, burgers, restaurants, you name it—click the words and keep going.