There are any number of spots with sophisticated food and drink programs, where skilled bartenders work alongside skilled chefs. And we can certainly name a few bars (
Terroir,
Ardesia) where the small plates are as carefully thought through as the wine list. But we couldn't have named you a place where not only are both cocktail bar and restaurant exemplary (even destination-worthy), but they also complement each other—where a clear degree of thought is put into their pairing, not just their separate programs. That's what we found at The Beagle.
Continue reading »
The early coverage of
Mulberry Project, a speakeasy-style bar in Little Italy that opened in frigid January by Matty Gee (formerly Milk & Honey and Boom Boom Room), revolved around the unique cocktails, mixed on the fly in a collaboration between imbiber and bartender. Now that the weather is warmer, Mulberry's cozy back patio has become one of the best places in the city for an early evening drink and bite, when the atmosphere is noticeably more relaxed and subdued.
Continue reading »
Anyone who spent time on the Bowery twenty years ago would barely recognize it today—boutique hotels, luxury condos, and restaurants galore. Peels is the latest edition to 2010's Bowery, occuping a bi-level space on the corner of East 2nd Street,...
Continue reading »
Having a good local bar is key, especially in a city like New York, where cramped quarters often make gathering en masse at someone's apartment impractical and uncomfortable. What makes a local particularly good? Proximity to one's home is essential,...
Continue reading »
Sometimes, just a tiny tweak to a classic gives it a little boost. Chestnut, on Smith Street in Carroll Gardens, has long been a favorite of mine on the food front, with a reasonably priced menu featuring seasonal food primarily...
Continue reading »
[Photograph: Laren Spirer] Upon first glance, Quarter Bar in Windsor Terrace looks very much like a brew pub, with artfully battered wooden tables and a somewhat rustic feel. But look closely, and you'll find a handful of wines being...
Continue reading »
[Photograph: Laren Spirer] Walking through the doors at Huckleberry Bar transports you from a fairly nondescript block in Williamsburg to a stylish yet comfortable cocktail den—more like something you'd expect to find in Carroll Gardens or the East Village....
Continue reading »
[Photograph: Laren Spirer] Anfora is primarily a wine bar. Like its sister restaurants, dell'Anima and L'Artusi, it is known for its well-chosen and often unique wine selections, made in large part by partner Joe Campanale. What you might not...
Continue reading »
"This is not Jamba Juice." Cucumber Cooler [Photograph: Laren Spirer] There are times in even the most dedicated cocktail lover's life when he or she abstains from alcohol. Maybe you're feeling under the weather, maybe you're on antibiotics, maybe you're...
Continue reading »
[Photograph: Laren Spirer] Grab a friend and go to Cienfuegos, located above the sandwich shop Carteles on 6th Street in the East Village. The reason I suggest you grab a friend is that there is no bar—it's not comfortably...
Continue reading »
