Session 73, 1359 1st Ave (@ 73rd)

I forget exactly how I came across Session 73. Two very dear and amazing friends lived around the corner from it, so I'll give them credit for stumbling upon it when exploring the neighborhood. Session 73 is an Upper East Side bar without carrying the stigma attached to some of its neighbors. It's velvet curtains and plush couches give it a lounge atmosphere, but it's long bar, stage for live music, and "private" back bar area make it a great oasis in the land of beer pong and overcrowded frat parties.

I've been for dinner numerous times, and the tapas style lends itself to late dinners that quickly turn into dance parties. Ranging from Asian to Southwestern, the food has all those familiar bar bites you'd like to have. A little more expensive than I'd like to spend when traveling so far from home, but the all-in-one ambiance makes up for it. Friends have danced on their bar, friends have made out next thier bar, friends have taken pictures of drunk girls falling asleeping at their bar. The bands range from awesome to not, so find a good one, get there early, enjoy some food and then dance (or sway) the night away.

WHAT TO BITE? Eggplant Parm Fritters, $10

JG Melon, 1291 3rd Ave (@ 74th)

People who have lived on the Upper East Side for years rave about this place, but a lot of transient "New Yorkers" brush off the wait and decide to go elswhere to satiate their burger cravings. Well, JG Melon's has a long wait, but trust me, it's worth it. The burgers and fries are the best you'll find in the area, and some say in the city (I'm not going to weigh in on the Best Burger debate, having just started eating red meat a few years ago). But not only that, it's such a neighborhood gem, there's a friendliness between the servers, the patrons, even the owers, that is rare to find in dining these days.

Yes the wait is long, but that's because when you get a table, all you want to do is sit and enjoy your food. Slowly. How food is supposed to be enjoyed. During the warmer months there are tables on the sidewalk, not too many, but it helps alleviate the crowd. Inside you have a typical pub, nothing fancy, but with large tables that can be pulled together for groups celebrating a post-softball team victory.

Oh, one downside is that they are cash only, but with prices so low, you won't need much more than a $20.

WHAT TO BITE? Cheeseburger, $8.75 and Pecan Pie, $5.95