Tuesday Nights: Ugly Kitchen

Towards the end of one year, my friends thought that we weren't hanging out enough. It's true, we weren't. So they started Tuesday night get-togethers. Every Tuesday, we'll pick a bar to drink, eat, and hang out for a couple of hours. Whoever can make it will attend. If you're busy, it's okay. There's always next week. So this is Tuesday Nights on Tasty Eating where you will find bars that serve food and how we like them.

On this recent Tuesday Night, we headed out to: Ugly Kitchen

What an interesting name. I have never heard of this place but as always I am willing to try. I looked at the menu online and their happy hour deal is legit. Half off beer, wine, and cocktails until 9pm. Wow, that's one of the longest happy hours that I've seen. And to round it out, the food wasn't half bad either.


The parmesan dusted fries ($5) were fried really well. The portion was small but the crispiness was excellent. It was crunchy through to the last fry.

The fried shrimp ($6) came 7 to an order which was more than I expected. Again, fried really well with a light batter. The crispiness of the breading gave way to the sweet shrimp underneath.

The Ugly pork buns ($8) were also good. Spicy, soft pork paired with crispy greens in a soft bun.

Here's a closer look. The spiciness of the pork wasn't overwhelming but it paired well with the sweet bun. Not great but decent enough.

The brie and pear bruschetta ($7) was okay. I wish the cheese was a little more melted or more rested at room temperature. It wasn't oozing enough for me. However, the flavor is a classic pairing.

Soft poached pears with imported brie on top and hint of walnuts on top.

The classic style buffalo jumbo wings ($8) was a small order. Yes the wings were bigger and meatier than normal but I don't think it warranted a $2 per wing price. However, the larger size did give way to juicier and more flavorful meat.

The calamari rings ($8) also came as a small serving. The panko breading was interesting and made for a much crispier crunch. However, the calamari itself wasn't anything special.

The happy hour deal on drinks at Ugly Kitchen was superb. My mojito was nice and strong and I enjoyed it very much. The food was decent too. They definitely know how to fry here. While some portions are small, the taste makes up for most of the higher pricing. I would also like to mention the service. Although there was just one person working the floor and bar, I didn't feel we were ignored at all. I actually think the service was very good and friendly. The guy made sure our drinks were full and the food came out quick and hot. He came back to ask how we were doing as well. I think he did a great job balancing the bar and the tables. Good job!

The Ugly Kitchen
103 1 Avenue
New York, NY 10003
(212) 777-6677
theuglykitchen.com