The Ainsworth is an upscale sports bar with locations in Chelsea and Flatiron. Countless TVs blast every game that’s on, chandeliers light the space, the cocktails are delicious, and most importantly, they serve delicious food… especially for a sports bar! There are several sports bars in NYC that I refuse to enter; however, I look forward to each time I go to The Ainsworth! The food is not what you’d expect; yes there are burgers and wings, but the restaurant also serves oysters and kale salads! A surprising amount of the menu is NOBREAD friendly, too, and the staff is happy to make substitutions!…
It’s always nice going to a restaurant with a guy… not only will they pick up the bill (or so you hope), but they’re down to indulge. To start, we ordered the house-made chicken wings (elegant, I know). You can get them mild, hot, or BBQ! The only other GF appetizers are oysters or vegetable crudite, so wings seemed like the most appropriate choice for a sports bar! We also ordered sweet potato fries and truffle fries, which are both amazing. They are subject to cross-contamination in the fryer, however, so skip ’em if you’re sensitive. For dinner, I ordered the grilled salmon fillet… delicious! My friend went for the skirt steak with adobo-mango marinade, house chimichurri, and a bed of chorizo hash. Luckily, he agreed to share (I ate all of his chorizo hash…) If salads are more your type, there are plenty of NOBREAD options! Grilled chicken, tomato feta, or my favorite, the fluffy quinoa. It has crisp baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, Asian pear, walnuts and maple dressing. So good!
I need to go back to The Ainsworth for brunch and order the pulled pork tater tot hash with fried eggs! The atmosphere is fun, and the sports always give you something to talk about if there’s a lull in conversation! With excellent GF food, this place has become one of my favorite bars in Chelsea. Perfect for dates, dinners with friends. or boyfriend-hunting!