The Raines Law Room - Take me back in time

From http://harrietmagpie.com/

So I finally went to The Raines Law Room last Friday night - and boy was it worth the wait!  Which by the way is probably the most atrocious wait I've ever endured to go to a bar.  After having a failed attempt the past Sunday night when we dropped by at 11:30pm (!) to be told it was an hour wait - at which point they would be having last call, we decided to try again another night - and go MUCH earlier.

By MUCH earlier, that meant for us dropping by to put our name down around 8:30pm, knowing fully well we wouldn't get called back until 11pm.  WOW.  I know.  It's not something I would ordinarily ever have the patience for or tolerate.  I'd likely rather just go to bed.  And it set me up to try really hard to go in and just not like it - to be able to say - it's not worth it, I'm over the whole speakeasy thing.

Well, it was pretty worth it.  The bar is really small, but as soon as you get in you feel somewhat transported to another world, another time. Like I really felt like I was back in prohibition days (not that I know what that was like, but you get the drift).  Each of the table areas had a cute doorknob that you would press which would alert the "kitchen" that you needed assistance.  How clever.  There were several types of seating arrangements, some being enclosed in drapes, others in open in the front like a cozy lounge.  You sort of felt like you were at someone's home - and intimately involved in everyone's conversation.  I kind of liked that.

The bar itself - be forewarned, you will likely be told upon entering that they have "two standing room" spaces for you at the bar.... (trust me - this fired me up, I was like woah, wait - I waited 3 hrs to stand?)...but bear with it.

The "bar" is at the back and is really more like an open kitchen where the bartender is making all the drinks.  It's honestly like being in someone's kitchen with an awesome bartender.  Front row seat for the action!  I honestly loved it, and bit my tongue that I had acted a little less than proper when originally being sent back there to "stand."

The drinks are strong - and well described in the menu.  Think old fashioned cocktail time - with unique and novel twists.  Honestly, I'm no cocktail connoisseur, so I can't really describe many of them, but know that I had something that had the "peat" smell.  Everyone found this fascinating (not sure I really got it, but okay).

All in all - I say it's definitely worth a try.  Just plan ahead so you put your name down before dinner in the neighborhood. Otherwise you might end up passing your time at Rye House down the street...

If you do go before 6:30 or so on a weeknight, you may be able to walk in...after 7ish though get ready to wait.  Once people get there, they don't tend to leave quickly.

They take reservations Sun-Wed

The Raines Law Room
48 West 17th St (between 5th and 6th)
It's down some stairs - there's a doorbell.  Ring it and someone will answer.

Jeffreys Grocery - The Perfect Neighborhood Spot...

...It's places like Jeffreys Grocery that make me wish again and again that I lived in the West Village!  I stopped by with my friend Yue to have lunch yesterday at this brand new grocery/bar/luncheonette (they serve dinner too!).  Her friend Jim was bartending, so we decided to pay him a visit and keep him company on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

From the people who brought you Joseph Leonard, the shop is pretty small - seating for maybe around 20?  We nabbed two perfect seats at the bar and got down to business.  First up - the drinks.  The Red Fox and The Waverly Weekender - too classic sweet, but not too sweet drinks.  Perfect for brunch.  For beer lovers - definitely try out their draft (fyi you can also take a growler home of your draft of choice if you so desire!)  A good way to be the most popular Sunday Football house guest!

For lunch we went with the Curry Chicken Salad sandwich and the Pear and arugula salad.  Delicious- both were light and flavorful - not your garden variety salad and sandwich spot.  If you so desire, there is an extensive raw bar as well as cheese and charcuterie options.  Next time I will definitely do a sampling of that...

Keep in mind, this is a part grocery, part bar, part restaurant.  Meaning the menu is pretty small - mostly cold salads and sandwiches with only a couple of hot dishes.  All about quality, not quantity - how every good restaurant should be...

For dessert we were treated to a huge slice of Red Velvet cake with fresh berries in whipped cream - YUM.  Beware, this is meant for 2 - it is huge!  Perfectly moist with cream cheese frosting....this is how red velvet is supposed to be.  Not overly sweet either.

Our other dessert was off the menu, but will hopefully be added soon!  A delicious toasty Olive Oil infused bundt cake.  Yumm....olive oil cake definitely seems to be the dessert du jour these days. Finally, a dessert that's good for you!  :)

As a perfect complement - don't forget to get the coffee - It's Stumptown!!! And there really is a difference between good coffee and bad coffee - it goes down much smoother with none of that acidic aftertaste.

Jeffreys Grocery

172 Waverly Place (at 9th)

(646) 398-7630

The Redhead - Is the hype justified?

After Frank Bruni did one of his last reviews for The Redhead, the wait time for a table turned into a 1 to 2 hour marathon on any given night. You are welcome to have a seat at the bar where you can order from the full menu - but good luck getting a seat without baring some teeth.

Last Saturday night my boyfriend and I stopped by The Redhead at around 8:45pm. After being told the wait was around 1-1 1/2 hours long - we proceeded to try to shimmy our way into an advantageous spot near the bar that would make it easy for us to nab two seats.

Not easy at all. Just as a group of 4 got up to go to their table, 3 men swooped in, leaving just one spot for me. Boo - was my boyfriend supposed to eat standing up? Anyhow - I sat guard on my seat and proceeded to order - thinking this would guarantee us the next bar seat available.

Wrong again. After the couple next to me got up - it was only after I bared some teeth that I was able to wrangle an extra seat. Tip - eating out is not for the weak in NYC....

Ok ok. Onto the food. We started off with the much talked about and raved about bacon brittle and peanuts.

Huh? For what I could tell - they were just planters peanuts with some bacon! Maybe I just didn't get it. A bit overly salty and sweet for my taste - this probably appeals to those who enjoy Momofuku Milk Bar...

For our main dishes we ordered the fried chicken, of course! And the burger. While the chicken was crispy and juicy all the way through - even the guy next to us agreed that sometimes nothing beats good old KFC...

The salad accompanying the chicken however was very nice- sprinkled with pecans which added a nice sweet touch. And you can never go wrong with cornbread.

As for the burger - at $10 bucks, I'd say this was a pretty good deal. But again - it's nothing special. Just a regular burger. And not that big of one to boot.

Finally we got the salt and vinegar fingerling potatoes. Ouch! Super strong vinegar and doused in oil - these are for only the strong at heart...and strong stomachs....

Which brings me to my last comment - apparently something went wrong with my stomach, because I didn't feel too good the rest of the night.

But maybe that was just me - my boyfriend was fine!

All in all - The Redhead is your average neighborhood spot - nothing special, and in my opinion certainly not worth the 1-1/12 hour wait.

Maybe I came on an off night??

P.S. No pictures this time - sometimes it just feels awkward taking pictures at a bar, don't you think?

The Redhead
349 East 13th St. (between 1st and 2nd)
212-533-6212

PDT - Please Don't Tell that we're part of Crif Dogs

PDT, aka "Please Don't Tell" is a bar hidden behind the guise of a phone booth at legendary stoner haven Crif Dogs. 

The bar is kind of the anti-thesis of Crif Dogs - much more pretentious where you are more likely to see your average anorexic model accompanied by her seer sucker clad boyfriend.

Much in the style of Freemans on the lower east side and somewhat reminiscent of Milk & Honey, PDT relies on the cache or aura of being a "hard to get into" bar.  Somewhere where only the "in the know" know about it.  I mean, given it's behind a fake phone booth.

In actuality all it takes to get into PDT is a reservation.  And the phone number is not a secret.  It's 212-614-0386.  Same day reservations - call at 3pm on the dot to reserve a table, otherwise try your luck at the bar which is first come first serve for walk-ins.

Decked out like a classic speakeasy, with the requisite taxidermy - bears, antelope, frogs..you name it, PDT has a pretty groovy vibe.  It is very small with only a couple of booths and tables, and drinks are pricey - $13 bucks a pop.  But...they are worth it - very strong and potent, most can only last through 2 rounds.  I would have a picture here, but too bad they don't allow photography!

Favorites include the Pharoah Cooler (watermelon juice + tequila...) and the Imperial Blueberry Fizz - champagne + cognac....the list goes on and on.

If you get the munchies - tator tots and specialty crif dogs honoring only the coolest of NYC chefs around town - get the WD-Dog or Chang Dog.

Just don't plan on gettin rowdy - our table of 6 was told to quiet down.  Quiet down in a bar??? A little too hoity toity for me.
(picture from eater.com)

PDT
113 Saint Marks Place (Between 1st and Ave. A)
212-614-0386

DBGB - Not sure if it lives up to the hype

Last night I went down to DBGB for dinner.

After hearing the over extensive coverage on Eater and Grub Street, I figured DBGB was one of the new spots I had to try.

I went to DBGB harboring a pretty neutral opinion of Daniel Boulud.

Now I have never gone to Daniel or Cafe Boulud - but then again I've never really had the itching desire to.

I have however been to Bar Boulud on the upper west side and didn't care for it that much.  Too expensive for what you get - and a bit too pretentious...I don't really get it. 

Anyhow - seeing as DBGB is Boulud's try at downtown low-key bar fare, I thought I would give it a try.  The decor is very "downtown" - I want to say it's a rich man's The Smith.  With a downtown vibe, I'm not quite sure why they insist on having a very uptown host - seemingly quite pretentious.  First turnoff of the night.

We started off with the chop chop salad.  I loved this salad.  It was delightfully light - a perfect summer salad of romaine, cucumbers shaved carrots, avocado, and watermelon.

I saw the watermelon as a replacement for tomatoes - and it's this genius that makes this a DBGB salad and not an ordinary chop salad.

Slightly Asian inspired with a crisp sesame and ginger dressing - this salad is just about perfect.  If I go again - I'm just ordering that salad + the lobster.

Next I tried the DBGB dog - your pretty basic beef weiner dog with the added bonus of sautéed onion, mustard and relish.  I would say the caramelized onions were the best part of this very ordinary hot dog.

At $7 bucks, it's not super expensive, but frankly I didn't taste any difference from your Costco variety.  The extra $6 bucks is for the mustard, onions and relish.  First disappointment of the night.

Second, I tried The Frenchie -  a burger topped with grilled pork belly, arugula, tomato-onion compote & morbier cheese on a peppered brioche bun with cornichon, mustard & fries.

$17 bucks for a burger of this size is pretty steep - but I was really hoping for some magic with that grilled pork belly.

After this try I am yet again convinced that the best rendition of pork belly in the city belongs to Momofuku's pork buns.  Pork belly should melt in your mouth.  DBGB's didn't.

More like thick bacon, topped on the burger - the whole combination was surprisingly dry.  When compared to the likes of Shake Shack, Corner Bistro and even The Smith...this burger came up pretty short as I resorted to the ultimate sin of dipping it into ketchup!  One should never have to dip a burger in ketchup.

As for the fries- they were pretty good, but a bit salty.  And nothing ever can beat the fries at Balthazar.

Finally for dessert I had to try one of the sundaes.  I went with the coffee caramel sundae which was fabulous!

While I was disappointed with the DBGB Dog and The Frenchie, I would definitely come back for dessert.

The sundae was huge - definitely enough for two people to share.  My favorite part was all the toppings - candied pecans, brownie bits and chocolate cookies.

Topped with a heavy dose of whipped cream and hot fudge - this sundae was to die for.

All in all - I'm glad I tried DBGB, but the highlights for me were really the beginning and the end with a very forgettable middle.  The chop chop salad and the sundae were worthy of a second trip.

That being said, I would probably wait till the hype dies down and waits go under 2 hrs.  If you go on the early side - grab a seat at the bar for their bar bites menu - good enough for now.  Plus DBGB has an extensive selection of draft beers to try.

DBGB Kitchen & Bar
299 Bowery between Houston and 1st Ave.
212-933-5300

Beauty Bar comes to Brooklyn

New York Magazine has a first look at the new Beauty Bar in Brooklyn.  The Brooklyn location will be the 7th in a successful chain of outlets including locations in San Francisco and Manhattan.

The concept, made popular during Sex and the City days, matches cocktails with manicures.

A perfect first stop for a bachelorette party, Beauty Bar is a great place to have a girls' night out - pink nails to match your pink martini!

The Brooklyn post is set to have its grand opening this weekend with an impressive rotating lineup of DJs including Crooked Disco DJs and Cobra Kanes.  Get ready to rock out in a 70s inspired lounge + 90's style prices for drinks - anywhere from $3-$7.

Count me in!  Girls?

Beauty Bar Brooklyn
921 Broadway (near Melrose), Bushwick, Brooklyn
347-529-0370
http://www.beautybar.com/

Water Taxi Beach Opens This Weekend

South Street Seaport Water Taxi Beach previews this weekend with a full opening next Saturday, May 30th.

Yummy food offerings include classic beach fare like Stahl-Meyer 100% beef hot dogs, beer battered fish & chips, the Coney Joe (beef chili on a bun - NYC's version of a sloppy joe) and even a soy dog for all the vegetarians out there.

During July & August there are Friday night chicken dinners for $45/person (reserve ahead).

$45 gets you a cheese plate starter, slaw, potato salad, hot dogs, BBQ 1/2 fresh chicken. Bread pudding & vanilla ice cream + any three beverages per person (coke, diet coke, water, Sangria, Beer, well drink).

Other yummy treats include roasted corn, made-to order french fries and assorted cookies.

A great way to start the summer weekends off right.

Water Taxi Beach
South Street Seaport (North side of Pier 17)
Hours:
11am-10pm Sun-Thurs
11am-2am Fri-Sat.

Nolita House - More Bar than Restaurant

I consider Nolita House to be more of a bar than a restaurant. While Nolita House does have enough seating and a menu long enough to warrant it being a restaurant - the vibe I got was definitely more dive bar.

Located on East Houston between Mott and Mulberry, Nolita House is a great neighborhood spot serving up classic burgers, mac'n'cheese and pizzas. The food is average for a restaurant, better than average for a bar.

That's why I prefer to call it a bar...

I ordered the Lobster Bake Mac'n'cheese. My expectations were not that high considering it was a lobster dish for only $14. I was right. The lobster was very few and far between...finding a piece of lobster was like finding that golden egg on an Easter egg hunt.

However, more disappointing was the lack of flavor in the mac'n'cheese. Not very cheesy, I would almost describe it more as a "pasta alfredo." Maybe I should have just gone with the Four Cheese Original if I wanted more cheese.

The burger was good - definitely above average with a great side of greasy cut fries. And the guacamole and chips were great - and generous to boot. Usually restaurants are so stingy with that guac!

All in all, Nolita House is a good choice if you live in the neighborhood, but not worth a subway ride.

Last tip - there is a definite draft in the front part of the restaurant so on a cold winter night make sure you ask to sit in the back.

Sit up front and you'll be dining with your scarf and mittens.

Nolita House
47 East Houston, New York, NY 10012
212-625-1712
http://www.nolitahouse.com

Otto - How To Stay Trendy During A Recession

Otto - While Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich standby Otto has always been great...In tough economic times like these, I tend to appreciate its true value proposition even more.

And given the crowds on a recent Saturday night, I'm not the only one trying to save a little more these days. My boyfriend and I arrived at 5:45pm thinking we were early and sure to beat the crowds...

Little did we know that "beating" the crowds is not possible at Otto on a Saturday night.

We were given our ticket and told the wait would be 45 minutes! Resigned, we joined fellow diners in the packed bar area to settle in for the wait.

As we looked around I was continually surprised by the mixed crowd at Otto - on one hand you have the young, trendy 20-30 something former investment bankers and their girlfriends who have been forced to trade down from Babbo to Otto...

While at the same time you are just as likely see 3 generations of families bouncing babies on the tables at the bar...(and changing diapers in the already tiny 2 stall bathroom).

Looking around, we decided it would be more fun to just have our dinner at the bar - I usually love eating at the bar as I find it to be a more social experience. After spending 10 minutes hovering and stalking a twosome at the end of the bar we realized there was a separate wait for the bar.

Big Tip: If you are a deuce and want a shorter wait than the dining room (which I think seems more appropriate for a family affair) - dine at the bar...BUT make sure you tell the bartender you would like a seat.

Otherwise you could be like the older couple stalking our table and wait forever...only to be scolded by the bartender for not telling him you wanted a seat...not fun.

As for the grub - A large variety of antipasti for $4 bucks a pop - a variety of veggies from "Cauliflower alla Siciliana" to "Brussel Sprouts con Vin Cotto" whets your appetite.

Be sure to try the Bruschetta of the day - large pieces of bread smothered with the vegetable of the day - ours was delicious "lillies" sauteed with a spicy peppery finish that gave it just the right amount of heat.

Pizzas and Pastas range from $9 to $14, and just one pizza and one pasta was enough to fill the two of us.

For pasta I am always a fan of Spaghetti alla Carbonara, creamy with pancetta, pepper, egg - thick, served al dente.

Another good choice is the Rigatoni Con Stracotto - pork shoulder (mmmmm) + tomato and basil.

As for pizza I am always partial to the classics like Margherita D.O.P - tomato, bufala mozzarella and basil or the Pepperoni - tomato, spicy salami, cacio and mozzarella. The pizzas are thin and crispy - perfect as an entree or to share as an appetizer depending on how hungry you are.

Finish the meal off with one of the unique desserts. A must try for the adventurous - Olive Oil Copetta - olive oil gelato, concord grape sorbet, candied clementines, lime curd and fennel brittle. I know it sounds weird and frankly unappealing - but the mixture of sweet, tart and tangy is certainly unique. It is worth a try - you may love it or you may hate it...but either way aren't you curious?

Another favorite is the Tangerine Parfait - this flavor combination of coconut creme, tangerine sorbet, candied pineapples, passion fruit granita and a flicker of pomegranate is a sure thing. Sweet and refreshingly crisp.

Oh- and I'm not a big drinker, but the wine list is amazingly long with plenty of choices by the glass - plus the glasses are served with mini carafes - more like 2 glasses per selection.

I along with most other ladies love the classic Blood Orange Bellini - While it's no Cipriani Bellini, at $8 bucks it's one of the most reasonable bellinis in town.

Until times get better, fat chance finding me at Babbo or Del Posto.

I'll be sitting right here at the bar at Otto.
(picture from NY Mag)

Otto Enoteca Pizzeria
1 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10011
212-995-9559
http://www.ottopizzeria.com

Char No. 4 -Smith Street's Modern Twist on Bar Grub

Char No. 4 is a new bar/restaurant on Smith Street in Brooklyn- right off the F train at Bergen.

While Char No. 4's claim to fame is its extensive list Whiskeys and Bourbon, I come for the food.

Deliciously simple, inventive comfort food with a modern twist.

Now I love sitting at the bar to grab a bite to eat- I find it more social and entertaining.

For those of you deuces who prefer a table to dine, one caveat with Char No. 4 is that the main dining room appears to be primarily for larger groups- several long booths await parties of 3 or more.

On a recent night my boyfriend and I came in and were told there was a 45 minute wait for a table but we could eat at the bar. Right after us came a party of 3 who were seated immediately in one of 3 large booths which were empty. Just a warning for those planning on bringing a first date...

As for the food - it is delicious. Portions are on the small side, so while prices are definitely reasonable, it might take several dishes to fill a hungry tummy.

The BLT was filled with thick slabs of fried fatty pork with a kicker of pickled jalapenos and peppers lending it an almost Asian feel.

The Shrimp and Grits were smoky, spicy, with a fresh hint of cilantro to give it that extra crisp.

As a side dish- I recommend the cauliflower gratin with almonds. Creamy and cheesy, its a perfect way to get daily dose of veggies. The almond topping adds that extra crunchy texture that elevates the dish to another level.

For dessert you have a choice of chocolate cheesecake or homemade butter pecan ice cream with bourbon.

As you can guess most of the diners seem to go with the butter pecan ice cream. The strong bourbon is a perfect accompaniment to the sweetness and buttery flavors of the ice cream. The combination is simply to die for.

For those of you die hard Manhattan foodies - Haven't you heard that Brooklyn is the new Manhattan?

At least "The Real World" and "Top Chef" think so.

So venture out on the F train - the restaurant is less than a block off the Bergen stop. You won't be sorry :)
(picture from NY Mag)


Char No. 4
196 Smith St., Carroll Gardens
718-643-2106

Wilfie & Neil - Cheap Eats, Bacon & Cheese....Need I Say More?

Wilfie & Neil is a new Irish pub open on West 4th Street, near 7th Avenue South.

What goes best with beer and cocktails? Why, good bar food of course...as in anything with cheese and bacon I say!

The menu, created by Joaquin Baca (of Rusty Knot and Momofuku) delivers the goods. Grilled cheese on pullman bread (courtesy of Blue Ribbon) with your choice of delectable cheeses - my favorite is Murray Cheese's gruyere.

Add the fries with malt vinegar, and an order of Berkshire pork sliders -and you have a dinner enough to fill you and your mate. And for less than $20 bucks!!! Where else in the West Village can you get a full meal sourced from local purveyors for that cheap?!?

Other notable dishes include the Bacony Split Pea Soup and the Scottish Deviled Egg - a hard boiled egg wrapped in sausage and deep fried. Good for a try - 1 order is enough to split with your date. This ain't like Spotted Pig's teeny deviled eggs.

Cocktails are served up strong - it is bang for your buck down at Wilfie & Neil. The decor is dark wood, communal tables and the odd old fashioned chair and stool here and there. Quirky, a bit Kitschy, no.

Service is a bit spotty for food - best bet is often to sit at the bar. Space is small and gets crowded so assertiveness is necessary for those with an appetite.

Don't be shy, sit at the communal table and make a new friend, maybe a new special friend by the end of the meal.
(picture by NY Magazine)


Wilfie & Neil
228 West 4th Street, New York, NY
212-242-2990

Clo - A Wine Bar for Techies

Opened only for about 2 months now, Clo is a new wine tasting bar located on the 4th floor at the Time Warner Center

It has a nouveau concept - a self service wine tasting bar, where you purchase by the taste...

Sandwiched between the likes of Per Se and Bar Masa, Clo is certainly in good company. The wine bar is located in an open aired area on the 4th floor, with a smart looking white bar running down the middle of the area. The bar has seating for around 10 people - and for this place, you need a seat - that is where the magic happens.

Each seat at the bar has a touch screen navigation tool that lets you search for different wines by price, region, white/red/rose, etc. Reminiscent of the iPhone, the bar will register the slightest of touch, letting you scroll through the various wines offered. Each wine has an info page that has some notes on the particular wine and its "location" at the bar, i.e. where that wine is located at the bar. (All the wines are encased around the bar)

After choosing a wine to taste - you go to the location, insert your "Clo" card and then press the tap and a taste (about half a glass) will pour into your glass.

Clo offers two options - a prepaid card - you can add any amount to a Clo card - perfect for gifting, or you can just give them your credit card and run it like a normal bar tab.

Be careful though - that tab can easily run up, as tastes range from $4 all the way to a sky high $98 for a wine dated back to 1896. Remember, prices are per taste, not per glass...double it and you get the per glass price.

In a couple months Clo will open an accompanying wine shop downstairs where they can use the information on your Clo card to have the wines you tried ready for you to purchase in a jiffy.

Clo is a new and interesting concept utilizing the best that technology has to offer. While there may be some kinks to iron out as there is a fair amount of consumer education necessary...the idea is a good one - A great way to taste some very expensive wines without committing to the bottle.

Open from late afternoon to evening, Clo is a great way to unwind after a long day at the office or a fun place to take a date when you want to impress.

Clo
Time Warner Center, 60 Columbus Circle
4th Floor, New York NY 10019
212-823-9898
www.clowines.com

Delicatessen: Deli Food for the Hip and Glamorous

Delicatessen is a new restaurant that just opened this summer down in Soho, cashing in on the concept of "done up comfort food."

It has a similar feel to the owners' other restaurant, Cafeteria down in Chelsea, in that it serves up casual food in a trendy and hip environment, charging higher prices than your average corner deli.

Delicatessen is located at Prince and Lafayette, making it a perfect place for local Soho and Nolita residents to meet up after a long night on the town. I like it more as a brunch or lunch spot, rather than a dinner date...although there is a small bar located downstairs which probably sees a lot of after-hours action.

The food ranges from classic NYC deli fare including a take on the pastrami sandwich, to international "street foods" like a surprisingly tasty Vietnamese sandwich with ground pork and jalapenos. Sides include anything from the inventive paprika dusted onion rings to classic diner dishes like peas and carrots - which unfortunately tasted a lot like the frozen dinner variety.

The scene is typical NYC/Miami hip restaurant - open air, white space, and beautiful people. Since it recently opened, there are some of the typical problems with service and seating which should be ironed out as time goes by. Prices are steep for deli food, but reasonable relative to other NYC hip eateries.

My advice though- While Delicatessen is an attempt to replicate the success of Cafeteria, I believe it falls short to its predecessor. Cafeteria will remain my go-to place when I want classic comfort food with my girlfriends. The food is better, the ambiance slightly less pretentious, and the wait is shorter.
(picture from NY Post)

Delicatessen
54 Prince Street, New York, NY
212-226-0211

East Side Company Bar - Milk & Honey's More Friendly Sibling

Located deep in the lower east side on Essex and Grand, you have to know where you are going to find this hidden joint with the characteristic no signage and humble abode similar to its older brother, Milk & Honey.

Inside, it has the same speakeasy feel of Milk & Honey - small and dark, with traditional booths good for settling in for some pre or post party cocktails. One feels somewhat transported back to the prohibition era complete with the cool looking bartenders.

Drinks are not as fancy as Milk & Honey, but they are cheaper and there is a large selection of classics from martinis to a surprisingly good strawberry mint margarita.

I see East Side Company Bar as kind of like a Milk & Honey for the "Average Joe."

No reservations needed, no secret number necessary...just show up the old fashioned way and wait for a table.

Just the way I like it.

East Side Company Bar
49 Essex St., New York, NY
212-614-7408
no website

Decibel - Dreams of Tokyo...

Sake Bar Decibel in the east village is a true gem.

Located on the corner of 9th and 2nd ave (right by Max Brenner's), you have to walk downstairs where you enter a hidden sake bar, authentic and true to Japan. It's a tiny space, and the wait can be unpredictable, but it's worth it.

One of the first bars I went to when I moved to NYC in 2003, I've been a devoted customer ever since, bringing new and old friends alike to taste the dozens of sake, drink sweet plum wine, finishing off with a plate of lychees.

While it is mostly a sake bar, Decibel does serve small bites to eat, mostly Japanese treats, both salty and sweet.

Mostly though, I go for the decor, the atmosphere and the relaxed and chill vibe from the wait staff to the customers.

It's a place to escape, where anyone and everyone can fit in - from hipsters to wallstreet boys. No one cares what you wear, what you look like, where you work, or how much you make....a breath of fresh air in Manhattan.

Although it does remain somewhat hidden...unfortunately its mention in Gossip Girl last season has made it more mainstream. (picture from urbansake.com)

Decibel
240 E. 9th, New York, NY
212-878-2733
http://www.sakebardecibel.com/