The Beastly Corner Bistro.

"I have been a waitress, and I was a damn fine waitress too, let me tell you."
JESSICA LANGE.
[This is in context...trust us].

"I have no idea to this day what those two Italian ladies were singing about."
MORGAN FREEMAN AS "RED," in THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION.
[This is kind of in context...but when given the chance to incorporate Shawshank into anything...we're always willing to roll the dice].

At the corner of West 4th & Jane Streets in the heart of the West Village, a humble building has stood since 1827. It was initially the private residence of a sea captain who worked on the harbor which lapped at the Village’s edge. Standing through time and mostly unchanged to this day—except for during the latter part of the 19th century; a one-story addition was made toward the rear of the building. The addition took over the area where an early owner was likely to have had kept a horse or two…whether or not the horses were interested in being kept? Well, that’s just some information we couldn’t nail down…sorry folks!













If you’ve ever been inside what is today the Corner Bistro, you might assume that the place has long been a food-and-drink establishment. By 1880, the location was owned by a hotelkeeper. And, like any good hotel, it contained a bar—which was tended to by the son of the owner. The concave indent that remains in the center of the mahogany bar is a telltale sign of the place’s history—along with the brass-footed rail bar (for patrons to rest their tootsies on), as well as the stained-glass cabinetry which has survived nearly one and a half centuries to date.

Butchering The Place

In the 1920s, the present-day Corner Bistro opened its doors as a “butcher shop.” This meat shop, however, was a façade for the speakeasy activity happening behind the scenes. Owned by the O’Briens (a local family that ran a successful flavored-syrup business, serving soda fountains), the speakeasy was a popular haunt for artists, writers, and other Bohemian sorts.

From The Sea

After Prohibition ended, the bar changed hands and took on the name of its new proprietor, “Barney McNichol’s.” Barney was a local guy and also a “ward heeler” (an urban sort who worked to rally political support in a given neighborhood). His version of the establishment catered to a crowd of mostly longshoremen who came in after a long day at the nearby, bustling docks of the “Lower West Side.” – catchy, right?

Hard-workers but often rowdy, the longshoremen mostly socialized with their own sort…rapscallion to rapscallion;

“Ay…how goes it?”
“Ahhhh….shuddup!”
“Argh and Bleh!”
“I hate you!”
“Well, I’m leaving now.”
“See you tomorrow?”
“You bet pal.”

In the early 1950s, Barney got a new job and the place changed hands yet again.

‘Round about this same time, Bill O’Donnell began to find his footing in NY, with his first job as bellboy on the SS America. The ocean liner had served honorably during WWII as a troop transport.

Bill-ing His Time

O’Donnell had an early sense of adventure and quite some faith in the mysterious journey of life, as the SS America had opened Bill’s eyes to the world. But little did he know he would make his career in a service profession – keeping him land-bound and apart from pretty much anymore seaside hiking.

Toward the middle of the 20th century, a bar called Jack Barry’s used to sit on Greenwich Avenue between 12th and 13th Streets. Robert Duvall was a noted patron and Jessica Lange is said to have even taken a turn as a barkeep.

With Jessica Lange likely focusing on greener pastures…and without unlimited time to take care of the place…A position opened up for a weekend bartender; O’Donnell was the man for the job. Even though Billy-boy saw this type of employment as a temporary situation, it soon turned into a fulltime gig.

Bill At The Bistro

The Corner Bistro was named in 1961 by owner/writer Tania de Gomez, who was also a friend of Nelson Rockefeller…she certainly rolled deep. TCB promised a slice of French charm, flare and cuisine in the West Village. In fact, Yoko Ono waited tables for a time, yet the establishment was otherwise unsuccessful…and it needed a savior.

Enter Bill O’Donnell (Surprised? Really? You didn’t know that it was going to be Bill? Were you thinking that one of the Muppets showed up? Or perhaps one of the heavy boozing longshoremen who had an incoherent argument four minutes ago – depending on how fast a read you are?).

If one is going to make a career in the bar business, one may as well buy a place and go whole hog (or cow, as the case may be). The former bellboy acquired 50% interest in 1967…and he bought the place outright ten years later. The name wasn’t so bad at all, and so it stayed—along with the writers, poets, actors, and other neighborhood regulars. Those regulars included beat poets Jack Kerouac, Gregory Corso, and more. Writer James Baldwin and actor Morgan Freeman also frequented the place.

Corner Burger

Since the 1960s, the Corner Bistro’s burger has been a West Village staple. Many restaurants may have a secret recipe or a closely guarded technique for achieving burger perfection—but the Corner Bistro is all about a straightforward approach. The 8-oz patty is composed of mostly chuck (meat from the shoulder area of a cow) and sirloin (a cut from the hull) and topped with three strips of bacon and some cheese. It is the epitome of simple decadence on a plate.

Head chef Louis has been flipping the patties for 25+ years; and perhaps just there folks, you have your secret ingredient! Until recently, the burgers were served on iconic paper plates – but as a vendor has folded so has that tradition, and alas patrons are now eating on plastic.

Of course there are alternatives on the menu such as a mean grilled cheese (also available with bacon) and, well, a BLT…you can also order just a tap water…with bacon. The French fries are thin and make for a great accompaniment or solo nosh. And did we mention that McSorley’s light AND dark ales are on tap?! What?! And don’t forget to peruse through their killer music collection on the jukebox.

Open Monday-Saturday 11:30am-4am; Sunday, she doesn’t open until noon (but still stays open ‘til 4am). First come, first served!

That’s right…you just got served on some history…so go get served some food…seriously…get up…get out…and go get served…like now.

Confetti

L'ARTUSI - Looking to turn your day from bistro to elegance? Looking for a raw bar, cheese counter and olive oil cake? Well just take a look at a map already and you'll see that just 'round the corner, the fellas from L'Artusi are waiting with a wine list in hand and arms wide open. At the cross streets of "Trendy," and yet "Rustic,"...or just follow your yellow-brick smart phone to...228 W 10th Street (@ Bleecker). (212) 255-5757.

McSorley's - Bistro lunch...fancy Italian supper...and now you might just be in need staying downtown and having a relaxing brew with some friends...and a few strangers for that matter. If you feel like stashing away in an old, epic and storied tavern...head to McSorley's where they'll narrow it down for you by asking point blank: “Light or Dark?” Relax at McSorley’s as folks have been feeling "at home" there for almost 160 years. Read more here to learn the story of this NY staple, on your way over. 15 E 7th St. (at 2nd Avenue) (212) 473-9148.