Quick Bites: Korzo Haus Is On My Rotation

[Pigging by Wilfrid:  21 December, 2010]

It's not a frequent occurrence that a restaurant joins the rotation of local, reliable, regulars.  Especiallywhen you have been familiar with a neighborhood for years.

 

And it sometimes happens quietly, without you noticing.  It's a matter of repeatedly saying, "Oh well, how about that place again?" - and then realizing one day how often you say it.  So it is with Korzo Haus.

The little Hungarian/Slovakian burger and comfort food cubbyhole just across from the south side of Tompkins Square Park has steadily become the answer to all kinds of questions.  Where to grab a bite on the way back from the Park?  Or after a drink at Manitoba's?  Or after Saturday shopping?  Not a destination place, but you know you can fill your boots for less than $15 - yes, that is now cheap - and drink a pint of the house beer for four bucks.

 

I reviewed it when it opened in the summer, and there's not much to add except - hey, this is where I'm eating and everything is pretty good.  Oh, one piece of news: the unsuccessul mix of regular and sweet potato fries has been replaced by fried halušky.  These are the noodles the restaurant uses for the dish which is in the same family as spaetzle - they will serve you a bowl dressed with bryndza ( a crumbly cheese), bacon and chives.  The noodles contain potato, and so when fried are a good, crisp, salty subtitute for french fries.  These now come with the burgers.

In addition to the regular burgers on the menu, the chef throws out specialties on a whim.  This time around, he'd been grinding the beef with some pork neck, which made for a rich and juicy patty.  Then he throws in the works - sauerkraut, caraway seeds, I don't know.  The main thing is the thick wedge of really good meat, cooked precisely to order, and the surprisingly efficient fried dough wrap. 

Some fresh apple slices on the side as well as red cabbage slaw.  I think it was around ten dollars.  You can get a regular burger and a beer for that price, anyway.  A solid place.