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At the center of an emerging artists’ neighborhood that has been predictably nicknamed SoBro, the Bruckner Bar & Grill—situated on a gritty-on-one-side, quaint-on-the-other corner in the South Bronx—is the destination for artsy types. Actually, it’s pretty much the only eating and drinking destination for artsy types in the area. The back room hosts weekly kaaroke nights and live on a small stage. Dark, wide-plank floors and oxblood walls give the rest of the place the look of a slightly upscale pub, which it is, at least when it comes to food. The menu of poppers, sticks, and fingers (jalapeño, mozzarella, and chicken, respectively) is kicked up a notch with higher-end bar offerings like grilled-portobello sandwiches. The wings lack heat but the guacamole is fresh and the nachos plentiful. The real draw, aside from the bar, is the char-grilled burger: Served atop an English muffin with a side of hand-pressed fries, it sits right at the familiar intersection of gritty and quaint. — Melena Ryzik

Bruckner burger, $9.95