Barcade: A Manhattan Paradise For Kids At Heart

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Barcade New York
148 West 24th St.
New York, New York 10011
(212) 390-8455
www.barcadenewyork.com

As Shakespeare predicted about 400 years ago, now is the winter of our discontent. Of course by "now" we don't mean 2014, we mean the summer; when road trips, beach weekends and constantly losing our sunglasses make us feel like kids again.

Throw in our favorite childhood pastime (video games), and our favorite adult pastime (drinking), and you've got Barcade, a Manhattan paradise for kids at heart, that happens to feel even more appropriate during the carefree days of summer.

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The long-awaited offshoot of the original Barcade in Williamsburg, this Chelsea haven for button-mashers and beer chuggers will replace your memories of sticky-floored mall arcades filled with screaming kids and disgruntled Generation Xers, with a slate, brick and polished wood décor, complete with chalk boards listing both high scores and the day's beers on tap (not to mention a much more upbeat clientele).

Between sessions at 49 of the greatest arcade games to ever be plugged in (The Simpsons, Star Wars, NBA Jam T.E., Daytona USA, Rampage, Space Invaders, OH MY GOD THEY HAVE EVERYTHING), cozy up to the wood bar for one of 25 rotating beers on tap like Allagash Tripel, Dogfish Head Saison Du Buff, He Brew Hop Manna and Spider Bite Boris The Spider.

More: E.S.P. Eat. See. Play. New York

And just in case Ms. Pac-Man isn't the only one who's hungry, Barcade offers a mouth-watering menu that will help you easily forget the stale pizza or nacho-cheese drenched staples of the arcades of yore. From smoked cod beignets and TexMex "sushi" to pork belly meatloaf, charred kielbasa and chicken & waffle grilled cheese, destroying Shredder and the Foot Clan isn't the only thing that'll sate your appetite.

Let the games begin.

By Jesse Husid

Jesse Husid writes and edits E.S.P. Eat. See. Play. lifestyle content for CBS New York.