What to Eat at Madison Sq. Garden, Home of the Knicks

The final stage of Madison Square Garden's $980 million "transformation" project added a few more notable concessions this year. La Esquina now has an outpost with nachos and other Mexican sides, while Midtown pizza spot Casa Nonna is serving a few of its Neapolitan-style pizzas. These join the ranks of the other heavy-hitters that entered the Garden concessions game last year, including a sausage stand from Andrew Carmellini, burgers from Drew Nieporent, and barbecue from Hill Country. Jean-Georges Vongerichten's taco stand, Cocina Tacos, is still in the works, but in the meantime, here's a guide to where to eat when you're watching a Rangers or Knicks game, or when you're taking in a concert at The Garden:

Madison Square Garden's Five Standouts

Club Bar & Grill: The Club Bar & Grill, which last year was replaced by gastropub The Ainsworth, returns to MSG. The restaurant serves your typical arena pub food — burgers, fries, beer — and is open to all ticketed guests. Those with club seats can make reservations as close to the event as they like, while the cutoff for everyone else is two days prior. [Level 3]

Sausage Boss: Star chef Andrew Carmellini consulted on this sausage stand, and man, they grill up some good dogs. The one to get here is the pork sausage "pizzaiolo," with sweet peppers, tomatoes and onions. The cheddar-stuffed bratwurst is also delicious. [Three locations on Level 6: 107, 112, and 116]

Hill Country: One of New York's most respected barbecue joints has a stand in MSG, serving their delicious smoked brisket on a potato bun, and a sandwich of medium-rare prime rib with jus, on a roll. Exactly what you want to eat when you're watching the game. [ Level 6, 107]

Carnegie Deli: This stand serves the same thinly-sliced, pleasantly-fatty pastrami that made the Midtown deli famous. The only difference is that here, you get a big-ass pile of meet on a bun for just $15 (a two dollar savings compared to the original). Not that you would, but one $15 sandwich is easily enough to share between two people. Creamy knishes are just $5. [Level 6, 105; Level 8, 345WC]

Daily Burger: Restaurateur Drew Nieporent, the king of Tribeca, operates this burger shack. Drew put some thought into the burgers here: the meat is a custom blend Pat LaFrieda patty — a blend of brisket, short rib and chuck — topped with bacon jam and cheesy sauce. This is one of the best things to bring back to your seat. [Two locations on Level 6: 106 and 115]
* indicates special Eater recommendations

Terrace Level

Club Bar & Grill: The Club Bar & Grill, which last year was replaced by gastropub The Ainsworth, returns to MSG. The restaurant serves your typical arena pub food — burgers, fries, beer — and is open to all ticketed guests. Those with club seats can make reservations as close to the event as they like, while the cutoff for everyone else is two days prior. [Level 3]
1879 Club: A posh limited access lounge sponsored by Chase with cocktails and light bites. [Level 3]
Legends Room: Another limited access club and event space. [Level 3]

Event Level

Delta Sky360 Club: A limited access club with a menu designed by Jean-Georges Vongerichten, featuring a few of the favorite dishes from his more casual restaurants, plus a full bar program. [Between Towers A and D]

Event Bar [Between Towers A and D]
Backstage Bar [Tower A]
Garden Market: Hot dogs, chips, and sodas. [Tower A]

SAP Madison Concourse

Simply Chicken: Chicken sandwiches, chicken salads, and chicken dogs from Jean-Georges Vongerichten. [Two locations: 106 and 112]
Carlos & Gabby's: Kosher food including chicken taquito dogs, knishes, and pastrami sandwiches. [111]
*Sausage Boss: Star chef Andrew Carmellini consulted on this sausage stand, and man, they grill up some good dogs. The one to get here is the pork sausage "pizzaiolo," with sweet peppers, tomatoes and onions. The cheddar-stuffed bratwurst is also delicious. [Three locations on Level 6: 107, 112, and 116]
Chicken & Fries: Chicken strips and french fries. [109, 115]
Coffee and Desserts: A sweets stand serving a few items from Bouchon Bakery and Magnolia. [114]
*Daily Burger: Restaurateur Drew Nieporent, the king of Tribeca, operates this burger shack. Drew put some thought into the burgers here: the meat is a custom blend Pat La Frieda patty — a blend of brisket, short rib and chuck — topped with bacon jam and cheesy sauce. This is one of the best things to bring back to your seat. [Two locations on Level 6: 106 and 115]
16 Handles: High quality fro-yo. This stand frequently attracts long lines. [115]
Garden Pub: A place to drink a beer and watch the game on TV. [102]

Bar Madison: A bar serving beer and a full selection of booze. [101]
Senzai Sushi: Sushi to go, made on site. A lot of people have had bad experiences here. [118]
*Hill Country: One of New York's most respected barbecue joints has a stand in MSG, serving their delicious smoked brisket on a potato bun, and a sandwich of medium-rare prime rib, with jus, on a roll. Exactly what you want to eat when you're watching the game. [107]
Bottled Beer: Budweiser in bottles, to go. [110]
Garden Market: Hot dogs, chips, and sodas. [Five locations: 104, 108, 112, 115, and 120]
*Carnegie Deli: This stand serves the same thinly-sliced, pleasantly-fatty pastrami that made the Midtown deli famous. The only difference it that here, you get a big-ass pile of meet on a bun for just $15 ( a two dollar savings compared to the original). Not that you would, but one $15 sandwich is easily enough to share between two people. Creamy knishes are just $5. [105]
Farley's: Beer and mixed drinks in a space that somewhat resembles a pub. [112]
Draft Beer: Bud and Bud light on tap. [110]
Healthy at The Garden: A small selection of entirely gluten-free sandwiches and snacks. [119]
Bar at the Garden: Sip beer, wine, and cocktails, and watch the event on TV. [105]
Ice Cream: A variety of soft serve. [110]
Mixed Drinks: Cocktails to go, but not the top-shelf stuff. [Two locations: 103 and 114]
Popcorn and Bottled Drinks: Sodas and movie theater-style popcorn. [Two locations: 113, 119]

Madison Suites

Madison Club: If you manage to get a spot at one of the Garden's swanky new open-air lower level suites — which are said to go for close to $700,000 a year — you'll be able to watch the action from any point in the space and also enjoy a menu curated by Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

Garden Concourse

Simply Chicken: Chicken sandwiches, chicken salads, and chicken dogs from Jean-Georges Vongerichten. [203]
Mixed Drinks: Cocktails to go, but not the top-shelf stuff. [204, 208, 215, 227
Kelvin Natural Frozen Drinks Fruit-flavored slushies from the popular food truck and Smorgasburg vendor. [221]
Garden Market: Hot dogs, chips, and sodas. [201, 204, 207, 112, 217, 218, 225]

Garden Pub: Beer, wine, and mixed drinks. [209, 226]
Casa Nonna: Neapolitan-style pizzas in three flavors: cheese, mushroom, or pepperoni. [224]
La Esquina Nachos: From the Nolita standby, nachos with a variety of toppings like chicken and pork, plus sides like Mexican grilled corn. [202]
Popcorn: No explanation necessary. [213]
Ice Cream: Of the soft serve variety. [213]
*Daily Burger: The same burger offerings from Drew Nieporent as on the Concourse level. [210]
*Sausage Boss: Another outpost of Andrew Carmellini's sausage stand. [223]
Chicken & Fries: Chicken strips and french fries. [210]
*Carnegie Deli: This stand serves the same thinly-sliced, pleasantly-fatty pastrami that made the Midtown deli famous. The only difference it that here, you get a big-ass pile of meet on a bun for just $15 ( a two dollar savings compared to the original). Not that you would, but one $15 sandwich is easily enough to share between two people. Creamy knishes are just $5. [204]

Blue Seats Level

Garden Market: Hot dogs, chips, and sodas. [416, 417, 419]

Bridge Level

Bar at the Garden: Beer and mixed drinks. [305]
Bridge Pub: More beer and mixed drinks. [320]
Casa Nonna Pizza: Plain cheese, mushroom, or pepperoni-topped Neapolitan-style pizzas. [321]
Chicken and Fries: Fried chicken strips and fries. [304]
*Daily Burger: The same burger offerings from Drew Nieporent as on the Concourse level. [306]
Garden Market: Hot dogs, chips, and sodas. [318, 322]

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