The Hard Rock Cafe is such an awesome place to eat no matter which city you are in. It's fun and inviting, and they have good music and a good gift shop.

The Hard Rock Café in New York City may not be the first Hard Rock Café in the world, but it is without a doubt the definitive restaurant in the franchise. Decked out in what I can only insist is the best music memorabilia, from a smashed-up Nine Inch Nails keyboard (look for it on the column opposite the toilets on the upper floor) to signed Nirvana posters, this one will make any music fan happy.

I first found it after returning from the first Hard Rock I ever visited in Cancun, Mexico in 1999. The guy I was dating at the time was a Nine Inch Nails devote and had heard rumors that there was a signed photo of Trent Reznor being displayed in the New York store. We’d spent the day scouring import shops, ending up with two NIN import singles from the three-story Borders in the base of the World Trade Center, and after confirming the scoop from a clerk there, we headed to Midtown to find out for ourselves.

Since that day, I’ve made the Hard Rock Café in New York a stop in every trip I make to the city, whether it’s a weekend with David or a Christmas shopping trip with my mom. I’ve turned my entire family onto the franchise via the New York spot, and any virgin to the chain will be instantly devoted, and not just for decoration. With the combined ambience of a chain restaurant and a city-centre indie club that often includes live, local music, this Hard Rock makes it hard to hate, even if you do tend to rally against The Man and sellouts.

The staff is not only friendly and accommodating, but they’re possibly the coolest people in the city. The bartenders especially are to be commended, as I’ve often been known to have a weird taste in drinks, ranging from pints of Guinness to dry white wine to Cosmopolitans to Jager Bombers and crazy concoctions mixed up at local pubs. Often, I’ve been given strange looks and attitude, and even straight-out refused service based on the strange things I’ve ordered, but the bar staff is incredibly understanding and will mix anything you ask them to, no matter how potentially toxic it may be. Same goes for the kitchen staff, who will cook what you want, how you want it. Want your burger minus the meat? You’ve got it. Want your steak so rare it’s just been run through a war room? Done. It’s the one place where the customer is always right; the food is always perfect; and if the food isn’t to your liking, you can feel safe that when you send your food back the new order won’t come with a free splat of spit or other bodily fluids.

Of course, quality isn’t cheap: a meal and a few drinks between David and I knocked us back $70, and even just lunch with my mother and a bottle of wine cost us about $40.

Okay, so no one comes to the Hard Rock hoping for gourmet cuisine. But with 100-plus restaurants in over 40 countries, they must be doing something right. Most folks who eat here do so for the atmosphere. Face it, this is as close as most people can get to a Kiss guitar. But the food isn’t bad. It is traditional American fare of burgers, chicken, pasta, and salads. If you happen to be in a foreign country with strange food, you may actually come just for the food! The walls of the Hard Rock are adorned with every type of memorabilia for the world of rock and roll. Items from people like Jimmy Hendricks and Elvis abound. They also pay particular attention to area musicians. In New York, of course, you can find items from the likes of KISS and Billy Joel. While waiting for your food, it is fun to see who you can spot. The wait staff is hip and pretty laid-back. There are no stuffy waiters here making you feel like an idiot if you pronounce an item wrong!

Then there is a gift shop. People drop by the gift shop even if they don’t visit just to pick up a T-shirt. Wear your Hard Rock New York shirt proudly so the whole world knows you have been to NYC! Pin collectors come by for a new addition to their collection. Those in the Hard Rock pin club can drop by to work towards their milestone pins. If you are coming to eat over a busy time, you would be wise to make reservations in advance. Simply go to www.hardrock.com, where you can make reservations up to 30 days in advance. You can also see where cafés are located or how to join the pin club.

The staff were friendly and the place was buzzing - you can just sit at the bar and enjoy one of their many bar snacks and a beer. We went with a couple of friends from Long Island; the atmosphere was good and the food was excellent. The menu was pretty good, and I have to say the food was fantastic. You are surronded by pictures of rock stars and also a few of their instruments. The table we sat at was right under Eric Clapton's guitar, which was fab for me, as I am a great fan. There is also a shop inside to buy Hard Rock souvenirs, which can be quite expensive, but of very good quality.