Sleek design and a diverse menu equals a recipe for Lower East Side success. The Stanton Social is one of those places that's constantly abuzz in an enjoyable, energizing way, with the requisite young set among the patrons with decidedly Yuppy vs. Chic environs. It's difficult to tell sometimes which side is winning that particular battle. As is usually the case with LES haunts like this, a list of cocktails is constantly labored over, with many proprietary twists you won't find anywhere else. Take the Social Tea, for one, which combines Stoli Citrus vodka, gunpowder green tea, and orange-honey marmalade in a way your alcoholic grandmother never dreamed possible. The 1940s champagne Julep is also a stellar cocktail that should, by all rights, be the worst idea ever: Brut Cava, fino sherry, lemon syrup, fresh mint and caramelized lime, all of which come together to rise above the ingredient list. The food program is geared towards convivial eats, so everything on offer is meant to be shared among friends, from potato and goat cheese pierogies with a truffle creme fraiche to a tuna poke wonton taco, to an assortment of sliders that range from veggie to Kobe to pastrami and pickles. They may seem expensive, but the Old School Meatballs are worth every penny, with just enough basil and ricotta to melt the parts of your brain the alcohol hasn't gotten to yet. Of particular note at the Stanton Social is the "Big Sexy," a name that seems hyperbolic until you come face-to-face with it: first off, you're dealing with a burger patty comprised of rib-eye, chuck, short rib, and bacon, for the love of Pete; second, it's covered in American cheese, a special sauce that smacks of salad dressing in the best possible way, and onions cooked in Coke. Go ahead, reread that last part—it won't change reality. If the burger alone isn't enough, the fries that come on the side of a Big Sexy are bacon-and-bleu-cheese fries, which may be one of the world's greatest inventions. Should you choose to take on one of these stellar burgers, take note: they're only served Sunday through Thursday after 9pm, and even then, only twenty-four are served a night, probably in a bid to lower the restaurant's body count of customers who died happy.

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