They say alcohol leads to poor decisions, but one look at Chuck Negron and it's obvious that being sober can also be a Three Dog Nightmare. Helping you avoid the follies of sobriety: The 13th Step.
Named after the AA term for hooking up with one's sponsor, 13S's morphed the former Telephone Bar space into a down-to-business, 28-flatscreen sports spot; the booth-lined main room's been revamped with a wood-topped bar and a brass ceiling rocking custom amber fixtures, while the the back now features two rooms that share the same spanking-new bar, but're separated down the middle by a wrought iron gate with swinging doors, which'll let anyone inside. In spite of eating up most of the kitchen space, the standard bar menu's studded with adventurous booze-sponges, including bacon, egg, and cheese sliders; cheese/gravy-/bacon-smothered tots; pulled-pork-stuffed burgers; and deep fried dogs, aka rippers, which don't need jack to tear your heart out. The drink's fittingly straight ahead as well, with a fully stocked bar backed by 14 drafts, local bottles, and old-school cans of Schaefer, Carling Black Label, and Sly Fox IPA, which coincidentally is also crazy...delicious!
Upping the imbibery's a recurring 8.5 hr happy hour (excepting Sundays), plus daily specials like dollar drafts and half-price bombs, aka, 3DN Albums: The Beverage.
The 13th Step: 149 2nd Ave, btw 9th and 10th St; East Village; 212.228.8020