Go West, Young Ones
Tuesday, August 14th, 2007
MECHANICAL BULL. Need I say more? Johnny Utah’s, which opened on July 27, is the only place in all of NYC that has a mechanical bull. Can you believe that the city has been bereft of one until now?
Located under the Rockefeller Center hotel, the Western-BBQ-influenced Johnny Utah’s is huge. It has two bars, a back dining area which looks like a vault, a front dining area in the round, and a ring of fire (read: wrought iron ring with votive candles here and there). In the center of it all is the bull. The bull begins to buck at 9 PM sharp. Then it goes on for about fifteen to twenty minutes and takes a break for about half an hour. Then it goes on again like that for the night.
The drinks are huge. HUGE. The beer comes in barrel mugs and the drinks are all doubles. While one mixed drink may set you back about 12 bucks, it will also set you on your ass. Throw back a Texan Punch or Texas Lemonade or Pink somethingorother. You’ll be seeing double. You may also choose from their pages and pages of tequila. Think of it all as liquid courage to climb onto that bull bareback. After all, the bull is the reason you go.
Set yourself free and dare to spend 8 seconds atop the beast.
For the best ride in town, you need to saddle up next to Tom, one of the bull masters, and Chauncey Crayton, the Keeper of the Gate of the Ring of Fire. They’ll help you get one step closer to riding in style.
