The Lions Bar & Grill

"The team behind the Lions knows what they’re doing: They’re behind cocktail bar and tavern, Goodnight Sonny; music venue the Wayland; and Madeline’s Martini, all in the East Village. The Lions has ambitions to be more than just a hangout for drinks, with a standout menu outfitted with magnificent mortadella sandwiches, burgers, triangular mozzarella sticks, and more. It’s a really solid after-work option." - Eater Staff

"When: Mon-Fri, 4pm-6pm The Deal: $14 Martini; $18 Martini & Fries; $8 Margarita; $5 Select Beer; $7 Guinness; $2 Off Well Drinks & Wine East Village bar The Lions is mostly known for its burger: a Red Hook Tavern dupe with a thick slice of onion and puck-sized patty sitting under a shiny blanket of melted american cheese. That burger is worth a visit, preferably during Happy Hour, when you can claim a wooden booth and drink whatever $8 margarita they have on special." - neha talreja, bryan kim

"Generally, we don’t go to St. Marks in the East Village for a calm night out. But The Lions Bar & Grill—from the team behind The Wayland, Madeline’s Martini, and Bar Lula, which formerly occupied this corner—is neither a neon-filled collegiate hotspot, nor a dive that’s been there for a million years and has the graffiti to prove it. People sit in worn wooden booths, chatting loudly or playing cards, but no matter how many $5 beers or $18 martinis they consume, you can always clearly hear Jack White and other 2000s alt rock legends playing in the background. The relaxed atmosphere is probably due to cheeseburger-induced bliss: with its chopped-thick slice of steamed white onion, and peppery, pink-inside patty, Lions’ burger is worth becoming a regular here. photo credit: Will Hartman" - Will Hartman

"The Lions is a new bar known for its mortadella sandwich, which includes thin mortadella, shredded lettuce, cheese, and pickled peppers. It can be ordered until 1 a.m. most nights of the week." - Eater Staff