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(Hard) Rock of Ages

When you’re wandering around Times Square, overwhelmed/excited/awed/amazed, at some point you’re going to want lunch. Or dinner. Or both. And you’re going to want something substantial, because gazing open-mouthed at your surroundings with all the theaters and flashing lights takes up a lot of energy.

There’s no shortage of big, trendy restaurants to choose from, but you will be drawn, inexorably, towards the Hard Rock Café, with its iconic neon guitar and its rumored (and accurately so) famous burger. Keep going: It’s worth the trip, because it’s not just a restaurant, it’s kind of an experience. Two Americans, who were apparently looking for a good burger and couldn’t find one, opened an American-style diner in an old Rolls Royce dealership in Piccadilly, London, in 1971, and called it the Hard Rock Cafe. Isn’t that always the way. Branches now exist everywhere from Los Angeles to Berlin. (The rock décor emerged along the way.)

Hard Rock Cafe Times Square

Start with a tour of the restaurant’s famous memorabilia, which includes everything from Bo Diddley’s first guitar to handwritten lyrics by Jimi Hendrix. (Eric Clapton gave the first piece of memorabilia to the London branch; he wanted it hung over his regular seat to reserve it.) The memorabilia in the New York outpost stretches across the entire restaurant, so it’s quite the experience; it’s kind of like being in the world’s coolest museum, and you make awesome little discoveries the more you walk around. You’ll pass through the gift shop, and since you’ll probably succumb, your only real decisions are: Before or after we eat? And sweatshirt or pin? Or both? Remember that you’re always looking for stocking stuffers, and coming December you’ll be glad you bought extras.

Hard Rock Cafe New York Shop

Stock up on gifts big and small for friends back home in the Hard Rock Cafe New York gift shop.

The Hard Rock has managed to outlive other theme restaurants that have fallen by the wayside (goodbye, outer space theme), perhaps, in part, because rock and roll isn’t so much a theme as a way of being. The restaurant—and its legend----combine culture, history, music and flash with decent food; that combo has made it a destination for more than 40 years. The New York branch in Times Square was established in 2005, and has more than 700 seats, so yes, you can invite your entire sorority and all their cousins. It also has a great outdoor space that can be used for private parties.

Hard Rock Original Legendary Burger

Hard Rock's Original Legendary Burger 

In the meantime, you want to eat. We recommend the Original Legendary burger—it’s topped with bacon, cheese and onion rings—as well as the hot fudge brownie (to share, if you’re so inclined. But no one will judge you if you’re not.)

And once you’ve eaten there, you’ve had an experience. You’ve also earned bragging rights. Because after 40 years, rock still rules.

For more information on Hard Rock Cafe, visit hardrock.com/cafes/new-york.

About the Author

Evan Levy runs fable & lark, which offers interactive museum tours inspired by great stories. See fableandlark.com for all the details. In addition, she's the author of two children's picture books. She loves stories in any form, and lives in New York with her family.

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