Friday May 14th

6:30pm

40 Broad Street (located on the second floor of The Setai)

I met the Wine Dutchess for an afternoon work session at the Hive at 55 to design her new logo—and since we were already on Broad Street we felt compelled to stop in SHO for a Friday evening cocktail. SHO is located on the second floor of The Setai, luxury condos that are a brand extension of the Miami namesake. A quick elevator ride after entering the small black and red lobby you step in to the bar and lounge area of SHO. The space is very sleek and minimal, evocative of Miami Beach style – except here the Stock Exchange is steps away rather than the beach. Just past the entrance is a walkway lined with wine bottles from floor to ceiling set behind glass, which leads to the main dining area. I had dinner in the dining room back in January and the 6 courses were mostly a hit (one or two dishes were misses, they felt a little dated like they belonged in the movie Wall Street circa 1987), but I digress. Tonight was about the cocktails and a cheese plate, which at $20 for the chef’s selection of 6 came complete with a lesson in fromages from our server. We learned that fine blue cheese is often cored and served with champagne in the center, that fruit paste is meant to cleanse your pallet between tasting the different types of cheese (as ginger does for sushi) and that cheese plate selections are presented left to right from fresh to sharp.

Tip: Monday – Friday SHO offers a 3-course prix fixe lunch for $30, a small price for a fine dining experience.

Cocktail

• French 75 in Padua – Aperol, Citadelle, Prosecco, Blood Orange

Chef’s Selection of Cheeses

• Lynnhaven Goat Cheese, Comté, Langres and two that were off the menu including a blue and and a Sheeps Milk

  

  The cheese plate was small for $20, but delicious.

  

  French 75 in Padua made with blood orange and Prosecco

  
  
  

Good for: Expense check dinners, Special Occasion, Foodies, cocktails, award winning Wine list, Fine Dining in FiDI, Prix Fixe Lunch

Wednesday May 5th

12:30am
9 9th Avenue

After spending the evening across the street at the rooftop of the Gansevoort for a French Tuesdays party the group decided to grab one more drink before heading home. Pastis is not only a spot for classic French Bistro dining and brunch – it’s also got a great late night bar scene and the kitchen is open until 1am (2am on Thursday and Friday, 230 am on Saturday) featuring a paired down supper menu. The late night scene is dark and candle lit with a very laid back vibe. You can grab a seat at the bar if you’re looking to make new friends, or get a table if you’re looking to enjoy an order of Moules Frites or an omlette with fresh herbs. Owned by restaurateur Keith McNally chances are you’ve been to one of his other locations which include: Pravda, Balthazar, Schiller’s Liquor Bar (my personal favorite), Morandi and most recently Minetta Tavern. Pastis also offers outdoor seating, which in the Meatpacking District guarantees good people watching.

Cocktail

• Mojito – served in a tall glass over crushed ice with fresh mint, possibly the best one I’ve had in NYC

Good for: Late Night, Mojitos, Dine at the Bar, Outdoor Seating, Brunch, Dinner, Business Lunch, People Watching

Saturday May 1st

11pm
10 Little West 12th Street

A friend was visiting NYC for the weekend and wanted to meet up for drinks at a bar with a terrace or patio. My first thought was the Biergarten at The Standard, but judging from the line wrapped around the block clearly it wasn’t an original idea. I suggested Revel a block away – it’s always a nice oasis in the chaos of the Meat Packing District. It’s a dark, candle-lit, sexy little bar that’s not as pretentious as some of its neighbors. The long bar takes up most of the space making it easy to order a drink and grab a seat. The narrow space in the front opens out to a back courtyard with a retractable roof, creating a nice airy feeling while still being indoors. The crowd is usually a good mix and the bartenders pour a strong drink.

Cocktail

• Kettle One and Soda

Good for: Late Night, Groups, Singles, Low-Key in Meat Packing, Garden Seating

Saturday May 1st

5pm
757 Fulton Street (Brooklyn)

I’ve always heard the grilled corn and margaritas at Café Habana in Soho were amazing, but the small space makes for long lines and I’ve never ventured over for that reason. A friend invited me to the Habana Outpost in Brooklyn to enjoy a few afternoon margaritas on the outdoor patio– but the long lines seem to have found their way across the river. We arrived (a quick drive from downtown and accessible from the 2/3, 4/5 or C) and my friend explained there’s two lines – one for food orders and one for drinks and grilled corn. The crowd was spilled into the street waiting, and we got on line for drinks. It moved quickly – but not that quickly. They offer buckets of beer but not pitchers of drinks, which is surprising since Sangrias and Mojitos go so well in a pitcher. I’d recommend ordering two because you’re not going to want to get back in line anytime soon. When ordering food or grilled corn you’re given a ticket to take to the “truck” – a repurposed street food truck that resides on the back patio and serves as the kitchen. It’s important to take the ticket to the truck right away because the cooks are flooded with orders and they get cranky when you wait.

Note: Habana Outpost is an eco-eatery which means they’ve incorporated green practices into the construction and day-to-day operations, including solar panels and a rainwater collection system. They also have a “human bike blender” where pedaling the bike causes the blender’s blade to spin, eliminating the need for a motor. If you pedal you get a $1 discount – plus burn of some of the calories from the margaritas!

Drinks

• Frozen Margarita
• Frozen Mojito

Snack

• Mexican-style Grilled Corn – slathered with a creamy concoction (perhaps a blend of butter and mayonnaise), rolled in cojito cheese, topped with a sprinkle of cayenne pepper and served with a lime wedge. It really is worth the wait!

Their famed grilled corn is worth the wait!

Frozen margarita and frozen mojito – so good they offer a drink that’s a blend of both.

Two lines form at the door – one for drinks & corn only, the other for food

Good for: Grilled Corn, Human-powered bike blender, Margaritas and Mojitos, Outdoor Seating

Friday April 30th

10:30pm
425 West Street

Continuing the nautical theme, we decided to stop by the Rusty Knot on our way back downtown for a quick drink. The bar was opened by Spotted Pig owner Ken Friedman and Freemans owner Taavo Somer in 2008, but you may not realize it when ordering a 99 cent Busch on tap or a $4 can of Bud. The cocktails are served in tiki cups with paper umbrellas, and include classsics such as a Dark & Stormy, Zombie and Spiced Colada. Happy Hour is  Monday – Friday from 4-7pm, and Tuesday night is 2 for 1 all night (a bargain if you’re drinking the $12 cocktails). The food menu recently changed with the departure of chef Joaquin Baca (Momofuku) and the addition of chef Sue Torres (Sueño) - which will include more Latin inspired items such as Tacos al Pastor and Mango Lollipops (luckily the pretzel dogs remain). Unfortunately the menu on the wall had a masking tape “X” across it, and when we inquired the bartender said the kitchen was closed for the night “due to a malfunction”. I’ll definitely be back to try the Tacos al Pastor!

NOTE: The space is small and on peak nights the line can stretch down the block.

Cocktail:

• Dark & Stormy – dark rum, ginger beer, fresh lime juice served over ice

Drink menu and price board

Dark & Stormy

The nautical theme is kitschy and fun

Portal doors to the restrooms

GOOD FOR: DIVE BAR CHIC, PLAYING POOL, TIKI COCKTAILS, TRENDY, CHEAP BEERS, HAPPY HOUR

Friday April 30th

8:30pm

Pier 66 (W. 26th St. and West Side Highway)

A few friends were meeting up at the Frying Pan and it seemed like the perfect spot for drinks on a warm Spring night. It’s a bar on a boat that’s moored on the Hudson River, open seasonally from May through October. Maybe it’s just me, but I think the idea of drinking on a boat overlooking Manhattan is kind of brilliant. The boat is an old railroad car float that was originally used to transport cars between New York and New Jersey by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western railroads. It was refurbished to it’s current state (complete with restrooms and a kitchen) as a floating day-drinking oasis and opened to the public in the Summer of 2008. Prior to tonight I had only been there post-brunch on the weekends and found it a relaxing place to soak in the sun with friends, sharing a bucket of Coronas with lime. Tonight it the crowd was a little too young and a bit too frat-tastic for my liking, and my group agreed we’ll stick to the daytime. It was so crowded they ran out of limes, which made me (and my Corona) sad…

Tip: Ladies, this is a boat so it’s probably best to leave the heels at home (maybe next time I’ll take my own advice). For those of you downtown, catch the water taxi at the Seaport or Battery Park to West 26th Street.

GOOD FOR: DAY DRINKING, GROUPS, SINGLES, EVENT SPACE, LIVE MUSIC, OUTDOORS, FLOATING DIVE BAR

Tuesday April 27th, 2010
6:30pm
156 9th Avenue

I’ve been wanting to attend a tasting dinner sponsored by Tasting Table—3 courses paired with wine for $50 seemed like a great deal. When I received an email that there was a “Think Pink” Rosé Dinner being held at Tipsy Parson in Chelsea I called the Wine Dutchess and we sent in our RSVPs, despite having read mixed reviews on the venue. The restaurant bills itself as southern and cozy with a seasonal menu. The space itself was inviting and the front area had window seats looking out to 9th Avenue, however the bar area was maybe a bit too cozy with one to many tables piled next to each other. The evening began with passed canapés of pickled deviled eggs and salmon gravlax and cucumber paired with Cava. It seemed promising. The Wine Dutchess and I were seated in the bar area and not the main dining room, which was fine considering it was a full house that night (the restaurant was closed for this event). The servers began to pour the first flight of wine and the only instruction was to “drink counter-clockwise”. I was expecting the representative from VOS to explain the flights in a little more detail, but there was only a flurry of servers trying to get out the course while it was hot. My serving of pork belly during the first course was practically inedible and consisted of about 90% fat and gristle. The lone bite of meat I managed to find from my serving was over-salted and over-cooked (maybe I’m spoiled from David Chang’s pork belly at Noodle Bar?) and the tiny portion of ramps and rhubarb were oddly chewy. The next course was rack of lamb and the Wine Dutchess was missing her rack (her portion was served without bones) while mine was a bit too rare and under-seasoned. The next flight of wine was poured and still no word from our sponsor. Dessert was the only highlight of the meal – a White Chocolate Raspberry Parfait (no coffee was served, I would have gladly paid extra for a espresso). I can say this was my first and last trip to Tipsy Parsons.

Canapé

• Pickled Deviled Eggs, Salmon Gravlax and Cucumber
• Wine Pairing: Dibon Brut Reserve Cava Rosado Penedes, Spain

First Course

• Fudge Farms Braised Pork Belly with Ramps and Rhubarb
• Wine Flight: 1. Chateau de Roquefort “Corail Rosé Provence, France 2009 2. Domaine Le Galantin Bandol Rosé Provence, France 2009 3. Kir-Yianni Akakies Xynomavro Rosé Amyndeon, Greece 2008

Second Course

• Roasted Rack of Lamb with Beet Dumplings and Fresh Horseradish
• Wine Flight: 1. Urano Rosé Menoza, Argentina 2009 2. Chateau Haut Rian Rosé Bordeaux, France 2009
• JM Raffault Chinon Rosé Loire, France 2009

Dessert

• White Chocolate Raspberry Parfait – almond dacquoise (a cake made with layers of nut meringue and whipped cream or buttercream) with pink peppercorn streusel

(LEAVING OUT THE “GOOD FOR” IN LEIU OF A DOWNTOWN GOURMAND FIRST – NOT RECOMMENDED)

Saturday April 17th, 2010
11:15pm
1 Little West 12th Street

A month in New York isn’t complete without at least one birthday party and/or going away party invitation – tonight it was the latter and a prime table at one of the newest Meatpacking ventures The Collective. It’s is part of The One Group, who also own STK and Tenjune, but it’s definitely got it’s own unique identity. Upon entering you really don’t know where to look first – there’s machinery on the walls, sculptures made of pill bottles, pillars adorned with jewelry, street signs, chairs made of functional crosswalk signs (see photo below). It’s unlike any space I’ve seen and kind of felt like being in the intersection where Dada meets Dali meets Dr. Suess (I’m a fan of all). Staying true to the name, The Collective is a mix of people, ages, styles, music, food and drinks. The bar area isn’t that big, and the main draw seemed to be tables that can accomodate large groups – a few of them celebrating birthdays and bachelorette parties. There’s  a small dinner menu, but it’s not really a restaurant as more of a lounge that serves food. The menu features a section called “a taste of the hoods,” which is supposed to feature favorites by neighborhood but the choices seem a little clichéd. A few people in our group ordered food and it looked average for upwards of $20 an entree. I’d recommend sticking to the cocktails while taking in the eye candy.

Cocktail

• Moscow Mule – vodka, ginger beer and lime

GOOD FOR: SINGLES, GROUPS, CELEBRATING, TABLE SERVICE, COCKTAILS, LATE NIGHT, EYE CANDY

Saturday April 10th, 2010
10:30pm
2 Avenue of the Americas (6th Avenue)

In light of the prevalent hotel bar scene (including The Standard, The Ace, The Empire, The Peninsula, The Maritime and the Copper Square Hotel to name a few) it’s easy to forget the Church Lounge at the Tribeca Grand has been doing it for nearly a decade (they actually won Best Hotel Bar in 2003 by NY Magazine). The Church Lounge is still a good place to stop in for a drink, but it’s kind of gotten a bit lost in the shuffle. It’s situated in right in the middle of the hotel lobby atrium, which is kind of an awkward arrangement – but they try and amp up the ambiance with low lighting and a wall of candles (reminiscent of church). I went for a close friend’s birthday party and it proved to be a good spot to mingle among fellow guests. The DJ played a good mix of music and the bartenders poured (very) strong drinks. We even had a celebrity spotting of Russell Brand and Katy Perry at the bar. Please note, we didn’t just gawk from a far. A few people from the party said hello and they were very nice!

Cocktail

• Gin & Sin – gin, lemon, cardamom syrup and blood orange

Good for: Pre or Post Dinner Cocktail, Private Parties, Events, FILM Screenings on Sunday Nights

Tuesday March 23, 2010
9pm
137 Avenue C

Whenever someone mentions the Sunburnt Cow I have hazy images of  going once for the “unlimited brunch” (aka drunk brunch). But tonight the group was going for dinner to take advantage of the $18 3 course prix-fixe. The vibe is mostly a bar scene, but there are a few tables in the back of the bar and a separate back room that’s open during weekend brunch rush. It was another rainy night in the City and our group took up two of the four tables in the back. Some of the more unique winter menu items include a Kangaroo Shepard’s Pie, Shark Pesto Pasta and Wild Boar Spare Ribs. There’s also a fun specialty drink list with 5 different kinds of “moo juice” to keep with the theme. If you’re feeling adventurous, they have a $20/2 hour happy hour.

Dinner

• Appetizer – Calamari
• Entree – Lamb burger with eggplant chutney and cucumber yogurt
• Dessert – Fruit Pavlova and the table shared a Lamington (both were good, but the lamington was my favorite)

GOOD FOR: HAPPY HOUR, PRIX-FIXE, UNLIMITED BRUNCH, AUSTRALIAN CUISINE, COCKTAILS, GROUPS