As much as I love shopping in New York, I really come alive there during the evening hours (though I've come to realize that New Orleans actually stays up later than "the city that never sleeps"). The following is a list of the more memorable places I visited while there (click underlined links for websites):
Mayahuel: We originally went for the extensive list of tequila and mezcal based cocktails, but I walked away remembering the food most of all (and returning for a follow-up visit). I had the best fish tacos I've ever eaten, croquetas with chorizo, cheese, and smoked tomato, wonderful tamales...if I lived in New York, I'd be back there every week. Which is not to take away from the cocktails - Of the four we tried, I was only disappointed in one, and that was just the tip of the iceberg. It would take months to explore their cocktail list properly.
304 E. 6th Street, New York, NY tel: 212-253-5888
PDT: There were two things I took away from my experience at PDT, the speakeasy hidden within Crif Dogs in the East Village. The first, that a Bacon-Infused Old Fashioned can be a beautifully balanced, almost delicate cocktail (despite its ingredients) and that Wylie Dufresne (of WD-50) crafted one hell of a hot dog (the Wylie Dog is a deep-fried Crif Dog served with deep-fried mayo, tomato molasses, freeze-dried onions, and shredded romaine). It may sound gross on paper, but I assure you, it was life changing. I love Wylie!
113 St. Marks Place, New York, NY tel for reservations: 212-614-0386
Fedora: I fell in love with this tiny little restaurant in the West Village. The cocktails were excellent and while we only had appetizers at the bar, they were so well-executed that I can't wait to go back for an entire meal. Chicken liver toast might not sound like much, but it was divine. As were the hushpuppies (and I can get pretty snobby about those). It was packed the night we went, but this would be my go-to for a late dinner with someone special.
239 West 4th Street, New York, NY tel: 646-449-9336
Maison Premiere: I spent my birthday in Brooklyn and this is where I ended my night. Described as an "oyster bar and cocktail den reflective of the staple establishments of New York, Paris, and New Orleans," this wonderful establishment manages to pull off every atmospheric detail (right down to the pull-chain toilets) without becoming a caricature of itself. The mostly absinthe-based cocktails were excellent and gave me a new appreciation for a spirit I tend to drink by itself, and if you're an oyster lover, you'll be thrilled by the regional selection that's available. Add to that a beautiful back patio and you have the perfect place for a night out with friends or lovers. I'll definitely be back.
298 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY tel: 347-335-0446
Dram: I started my birthday evening here, at this cocktail and tiki bar in Brooklyn. Laid back and casual, yet polished and professional, Dram offers a well-crafted array of cocktails and very good bar food. It helped that we were seated on comfortable benches next to shutters that opened out directly onto the street and encountered barely a hiccup in our experience. The only stumbling block - there was no Sazerac Rye on hand when I ordered a Sazerac. But I tried it with Bulleit Rye instead and had a completely new interpretation of a Sazerac, which I thoroughly enjoyed (and can't wait to try again). So in the end, not a stumbling block at all!
177 South 4th Street, Brooklyn, NY tel: 718-486-3726
Ward III: The big draw here are the Bespoke Cocktails, custom cocktails created for the customer who specifies their preferences from five different categories - Spirit, Texture, Spice, Flavor, and Fruit. There were three of us and the cocktails were wildly different across the table, but all very good. My friend had an amazing custom rum cocktail that I'm still thinking about (and wished that we'd asked the bartender about). The cheese plate and pulled duck sliders made us happy as well. Even better - they stay open until 4 a.m.
111 Reade Street, New York, NY tel: 212-240-9194
Title photo by Lee Gonzalez
Oh my, now I have a lot of places in Brooklyn to check out!
Posted by: Deb Robbins | 19 July 2011 at 11:41 AM