Phil & Anne’s Good Time Lounge is the first-time collaboration between celebrity chef Anne Burrell and legendary bar owner Phil Casaceli. As the name implies, this hip and funky neighborhood joint is simply about having a good time. Says Anne, “We want to be a friend to the neighborhood. The food here is food that I want to eat. Food that feels like home. Like eating at a friend’s house—a friend that loves to cook!”
The friendly and comfortable atmosphere at Phil & Anne’s Good Time Lounge is immediately welcoming when you enter the long classic bar. An open kitchen creates an interactive experience for diners and encouraging a community of neighbors and visitors alike. Reflective of Burrell’s “cook like a rock star” motto, there’s tangerine wallpaper brushed with electric gold leaf in the dining room, which is amped up with flying V guitars and old school mics.
Burrell and Casaceli have been friends and mutual fans for years. Phil Casaceli needs no introduction to New Yorkers. Since 1999, Casaceli has run the beloved West Village bar Daddy-O, named the ‘Best Whiskey Bar in NYC’ by Grub Street and Time Out (no small feat!) with a national feature in Esquire magazine for ‘Best Bar in America.’ In fact, the two met at Daddy-O over a Herbaceous Mojito, which Anne once named ‘The Best Thing I Ever Drank.’ Phil brings all his passion for cocktails and spirits as well as great service to the Good Time Lounge.
From her breakout appearance alongside Mario Batali on Iron Chef America to her own hit shows Worst Cooks in America, Chef Wanted and Secret of a Restaurant Chef, among others, Anne Burrell has become known to America as a feisty, spiky-haired food personality.
“I missed cooking,” Anne says. “I wanted to get back to restaurants because I wanted to get back to my roots.” Not a lot of Anne’s many fans know that the chef got her start in Upstate New York before attending the Culinary Institute of America and going abroad to cook in Italy, which lead to her working with Lidia Bastianich and Mario Batali in New York City.
One size plates (appetizer size) intended to encourage grazing will be divided between light, medium and heavy sections (rather than the usual apps, entrées and sides). Look for reimagined classics alongside inspirations from Anne’s travels such as Roasted Cauliflower Steak with Mushrooms and a Poached Egg; Grilled Pizzetta with Stracchino Fennel Sausage; and Pickled Hot Cherry Peppers with Arugula. Also featured is her take on Pigs in a Blanket; Farrotto with Shrimp, Lemon and Herbs; and Harissa Crusted Lamb Chops with Chick Pea Fries. You can also get a killer burger and an amazing steak!
The cooking and cocktails are not the only element that is personal to Phil and Anne. Design elements throughout reflect their personality—from the rock and roll vibe of the dining room to the paisley party room, inspired by a favorite blouse. Even the bathrooms will tell you more about Phil and Anne. When the Rangers are playing and on Funday Football Sunday you’d better believe the TVs will be tuned to the local teams—and Anne will probably come out from the kitchen to cheer them on!