Double Wide
505 E. 12th Street near Avenue A, East Village
917-261-6461
Getting There: 4,5,6,L,N,Q,R to 14th Street-Union Square
http://www.doublewidebar.com

In exploring some downtown area bars after dinner on a recent night I came upon Double Wide purely by happenstance. The allure of the trailer based moniker, opposite pointing white arrows and the promise of $5 well drinks all night was too much to pass up at the Southern-inspired bar, which had surprisingly been open for a few years prior. Gimmicked to be a special sort of dive, my party and I ‘triple-lindied’ our way inside and grabbed a bar seat at the bourbon based neighborhood spot.

Double Wide is an undeniably charming place- not that you’d drop in for fancy cocktails or anything- but thematically the bar is designed to be a dive, without necessarily being such if that makes sense. Exposed brick walls serve to showcase the ample rows of different liquors stocked up behind the bar, where friendly bartenders are slinging $3 “Moonshines,” Margaritas and nearly a dozen rotating taps. Meanwhile the adjacent lounge room opens up to a collection of different tables and a dartboard, projection screen and other beer related knick-knacks on the wall that make for eye catching commentary. And we didn’t visit the patio on the particularly quiet night we dropped by, but from all accounts, it’s just another fine addition to an already strong area bar.

Double Wide’s Southern brunch is also a big winner at the East Village haunt where entrees like their “Fried Chicken & Waffle” topped with cinnamon sour cream and their “Tex-Mex Grits” are especially authentic. But for a glance at what the place does best, dig into their “Short Rib Frito Pie” made with slow-cooked chili or their “Deviled Eggs,” a creamy and delicious take on the traditional dish. Couple these dishes with a “Michelada” or a “Sweet Tea Vodka Lemonade” made with ginger beer and you may as well spot the dew dropping from the honeysuckle from the old rocking chair on your Texas porch. You get the point- the place is very cool and very Southern- even with The Bachelor on TV during our visit.

The Rundown

Bar Type - Designed to be a friendly neighborhood dive bar with a Southern twang.

When to Visit – Double Wide’s brunch is definitely worth checking out- but for our money, a weeknight trip for Happy Hour is the time to duck in. There’s plenty of beer and wine to appease any drinker at the casual haunt and enough bourbon to curl the hairs on your nose.

Value - Whether it’s $3 Moonshine you’re after or $5 well drinks, you’re likely to find plenty of specials at Double Wide every night. Happy Hour lasts until 8pm and fortunately we enjoyed $3 Tecates, $4 craft brews and a single $5 Margarita during our stay.

The Lowdown – It was particularly shocking to find a trailer park bar that I haven’t visited- which probably made my first foray to Double Wide such a good experience. The place is nothing much from the outside, and that’s exactly what we love about bars of this ilk. But inside there’s plenty of character despite its short history and is going to be an immediate addition to our East Village spots when we’re looking to casually wind down in the area.

Dempsey’s Pub
61 Second Avenue near 4th Street, East Village
212-388-0662
Getting There: 6 to Bleecker Street; F to Second Avenue
http://www.dempseyspub.com

Some days I opt for speakeasy style cocktail spots or enjoying the warm weather at a rooftop bar. And then there are others where I just want to kick back at a no frills place for a round of affordable beers. That’s Dempsey’s for you. An Irish pub and sports bar that’s about as laid back a place as you’ll find in the rapidly changing East Village. Their friendly bartenders are just a part of the story at one of the neighborhood’s best dives, that remains as popular as ever.

If the dark black awning outside doesn’t attract passersby, the outdoor patio surely will, where tables are routinely filled. Inside, the place is dimly lit and far more spacious than its outward appearance might imply. In traditional pub fashion, the places is bereft of much decor where the requisite beer signage is sporadically placed around the flatscreen televisions seemingly found everywhere. Most of the light inside peers in from the front windows which brighten up the tables near the door, but at Dempsey’s no space is left untouched for folks to find space to sit.

 

Fortunately the menu here is a fine step up from run of the mill bar fare, where their tasty, tangy and meaty “Wings” (sm. $8; lg. $12) are a neighborhood standout. The best part about Dempseys though isn’t their impressive selection of draught beers on tap (Goose Island, Bronx Brewery, Sixpoint, Victory, Brooklyn Brewery to name a few) or in bottles- it’s the place’s specials featuring Happy Hours every weeknight until 7pm and a Monday night “Burger and Beer” deal for just $10. And if you find yourself downtown on a Tuesday, make sure to duck in after 8pm for some live and traditional Irish music, sure to have you raising a glass and yelling Slainte. Or at least trying to pronounce it.

 

The Rundown

Bar Type - A sizable Irish pub that doubles as a fun sports bar.

When to Visit – Get in here before 7 during the week and you’re likely to find yourself in the midst of a decent special on beers. But Dempsey’s is also a great spot to frequent on game day or as a spot to grab your first beer of the night.

Value - The Happy Hour at Dempsey’s sure did make our wallets….well, happy. $5 pours of Guinness and $3 bottles of Bud? Done and done.

The Lowdown – Dempsey’s is a fun and versatile bar that’s great for cheap drinking, people watching, sports watching and for drinking Irish whiskey. It’s as unpretentious as it gets and candidly, you’re just as likely to have as much fun here as you are at any similar haunt. There’s nothing fancy about Dempsey’s Pub. Maybe that’s why we dig it so much.

Despite the restaurant’s appropriate name considering the crawly creatures that inhabit much of the black meets white layout inside the place, The Black Ant isn’t a moniker that would seemingly inspire a fickle New York City dining crowd to venture out for a meal. But by avoiding the newly opened East Village spot you’d be discounting the rave reviews that have swarmed the authentic Mexican restaurant in the two brief months since they’ve been open. The sister of under-the-radar West Village haunt Ofrenda is serving up some of the most inspired modernized Mexican fare city-wide with an array creative dishes wherein no ingredient is wasted or goes unrecognized.

The black faded awning sits comfortably on Second Avenue as if the small restaurant has been in business there for years. Just a few steps behind the four outdoor tables, the space opens up to a contemporary twelve seat L-shaped bar which is constantly buzzing and a long leather banquette with cocktail tables, providing ample room for imbibing and enjoying some of the place’s lighter fare. Black tiles inscribed with elaborate white ant images surround much of the main space which culminates with a massive cartoonishly colorful art piece that towers over the back of the dining room. Fortunately, the decor and dimly lit ambiance result in a fairly casual and utterly comfortable setting- where the menu is the real standout.

You’ll find fairly some fairly standard Mexican options on the relatively extensive dinner menu- except that nothing at The Black Ant is standard at all. Salads are rife with brilliantly inventive ingredients, mole dishes are prepared with tender morsels of suckling pig and even the restaurant’s dumplings are overstuffed with hunks of duck meat as opposed to more traditional fillings. It’s these unconventional risks that pay off in perpetuity at The Black Ant- where even their “Smoky Jalapeno Margarita” ($12) infuses a touch of orange liqueur and agave with a smoky salt laden rim to yield a sweet and fiery cocktail blend.

“Alegria De Camarones” ($13)

Passing on the “Black Ant Guacamole” ($13; and purported to be excellent with similar hints of orange), we immediately dig into the “Alegria De Camarones” ($13), an exceptional and tastefully plated bed of fresh soft-shelled shrimp, served with the head and shell (meant to be eaten) over an array of seasonal vegetables. Three dollops of avocado cream richly mesh with each tender pluck of savory and flavorfully charred shrimp and the tang of tuxtita vinaigrette brings out the best of the crunchy slices of radish and squash atop the field of greens beneath them.

“Tacos Enchapulinados” ($14) & “Tacos de Cocochas” ($13)

 

Speaking of shrimp- lets get into the “Tacos Enchapulinados” ($14). Each homemade tortilla envelopes one bulbous piece of shrimp that’s been swarmed in a grasshopper crust. Let that sink in for a moment. Though the tacos are served two per order ($7 per), damn are they exquisite. A subtly sweet slaw joins more of the aforementioned avocado cream in each wrapped up delicacy but the smattering of flavors from savory to crunchy to spicy to the hot and cold contrast in temperature- it’s all happening with each bite and it’s amongst the most distinctively delicious tacos we’ve tasted in recent memory. And not to be outdone, the “Tacos De Cocochas” ($13) were perhaps even better. The mango slaw and creamy garlic aioli complimented the smooth buttery slices of warm fish- in this case, cod cheeks. From the soft fish to the intricacy of the purposeful ingredients here, these tacos are perhaps the finest of the grilled variety in all of Manhattan and are certainly a must try during your visit.

The fact that we barely touched the menu at The Black Ant and still hold the place in such high regard has us yearning for a return trip already. Every bite of food that we tasted was worthy of recommendation, the cocktails were delicious and the service was quite strong. Perhaps the Spanish translation ‘Hormigas Negro‘ would make a visit to the restaurant more enticing for some- considering that normally, we’re among the first to shrug off and shoo away these dark six legged creatures. But when it comes to the City’s finest new Mexican restaurant, we embrace The Black Ant with open arms.

Rundown of the Meal

Entradas – For The Antgirls
Alegria De Camarones ($13)*

Los Tacos
Tacos De Cocochas ($13)*
Tacos Enchapulinados ($14)*

*Meal Highlight

Each newly opened ode to a niche of regional Italian cuisine courtesy of the latest celebrity chef of the week can certainly cast a shadow upon the traditional neighborhood restaurant. Perhaps that’s what makes the definitively Sicilian fare served at East Village bistro Cacio e Vino so refreshing. It’s a rustic style relic of a more simplistic New York City. It’s small and quiet and it sits just a few blocks from sister restaurant Cacio e Pepe, equally as charming in the same neighborhood.

Translated, the restaurant’s name is the Italian equivalent to ‘cheese and wine,’ more than hinted by a blue awning that sits underneath some hand drawn bottles of red and white varietals. The entirely open door layout makes dining here a different experience altogether in warmer months with the buzz from a busy Second Avenue working its way inside a normally quaint little spot. Exposed brick walls surround much of the space with wine bottles serving as a border to the room. Small wooden tables are positioned closely to each other around the space adjacent to a four person countertop which acts as Cacio e Vino’s bar during more crowded times.

Though the menu is far more expansive than that would imply, the friendly service during our experience was a bit uneven. Our chilled platter of eighteen oysters, made up of some “Blue Points” ($1.50) and some “Malpeques” ($2.50) is the last piece of our order delivered to our table- despite requesting otherwise. But our server’s demeanor and attentiveness to our remaining needs salvaged what would have been an otherwise frustrating experience as we dug into the “Bufala Caprese” ($14). Three thick, creamy slices of fresh bufala mozzarella were decadently delivered in a tower layered with crisp tomato and basil with ample dollops of extra virgin olive oil for flavoring. Despite being a bit pricey for its size, the dish was delicious nonetheless.

We were less impressed by the “Wild Arugula” ($12) which was basically a plate of greens with lemon and capers and four pieces of unseasoned shrimp. The simple dish was enhanced slightly by the tangy and flavorful slices of Primosale cheese, but overall was far too basic to be anything special. The “Eggplant Parmigiana Timbale” ($10) however was particularly delicious. Mounds of melted pecorino cheese oozed from the cylindrical serving, reminiscent of a dessert dish but covered in thick red tomato sauce and a sprinkling of freshly grated parmesan. The sauce was traditional without being overly sweet and the perfectly cooked unraveled eggplant sopped up every bit of melted gooey cheese with each sauce covered bite.

Rather than load up on homemade pastas or oversized entrees, we decided to simply pop a bottle of Prosecco and enjoy some of Cacio e Vino’s smaller dishes- with mixed results. The cozy atmosphere and friendly staff managed to make our experience sufficiently better than it would have been otherwise and the Sicilian style preparation of the eggplant was good enough that we’d be willing to give Cacio e Vino another go. But in a more competitive dining environment than ever before, we’d like to see some more consistency from a relaxed and comfortable neighborhood restaurant that’s battling some culinary big boys for your dinner dollar.

Rundown of the Meal

Appetizers
Bufala Caprese ($14)
Eggplant Parmigiana Timbale ($10)*
Oysters (m/p) Blue Point, CT ($1.50) Malpeque, Canada ($2.50)

Salads
Wild Arugula ($12)

*Meal Highlight

The Belfry
222 East 14th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenue, East Village
212-473-6590
Getting There: L,N,Q,R,4,5,6 to 14th Street-Union Square
http://www.belfrynyc.com/

The down to earth, old-fashioned feel at the East Village haunt The Belfry is evident long before we enter the place’s inside. Long before we find a place that’s jam packed with a young crowd. Long before we find a seat inside of the dimly lit setting, surrounded by old exposed brick, dated candelabras and candle lighting along the walls. From the outside though, the place is certainly buzzing. A live but young five piece jazz band is pumping out some sultry tunes that draw us further inside curiously, in our very first visit to this tucked away neighborhood gem.

It’s roughly 9:30pm on a weeknight and The Belfry is particularly mobbed. Though seats are hard to come by, a long countertop which extends from the brick wall opposite the bar is sufficient for our small group to get comfortable. While space is certainly narrow, the setup inside is fairly impressive. The bar is backed by close to 20 draught beer taps, an endless supply of liquor bottles and an alternating array of laid brick, mirrors and light fixtures descending from the ceiling. We arrive just as the live band is packing up their gear, but the frenzy of energy inside The Belfry hardly skips a beat and the bartenders continue to hustle in slinging out their affordably priced cocktails from the “Moscow Mule” ($11) to their inventive Michelada style drink “The Fixings” ($6) made with worchesterchire and hot sauce.

The Belfry’s beer list is also no joke where Guinness and Magic Hat #9 sit beside the likes of “Blueberry Wheat,” “Benediktiner,” and two selections from Bell’s to name a few. Moreover, with five (5!!) different styles of “Pickleback” shots, ranging from $5 to $9, you’ll be smelling like brine and garlic practically all evening long. Fortunately for us, we arrive just in time for $4 New York draughts and grab a couple of pours of “Allagash White,” a perfectly seasonal refresher to sandwich our pours of old standby- Hendrick’s Gin, club soda and muddled cucumber. From there on out, it was about making conversation, watching people and toasting to ourselves and to the bar owners for allowing us to stumble into another solid local haunt.

The Rundown

Bar Type - A cool, quirky bar with plenty of beer, wine, cocktails and character to keep your party humming throughout the night.

When to Visit – The area here is always bound to be busy and much like The Winslow just across the street, you can and should visit on virtually any night of the week. There are plenty of interactive things going on – plenty of Trivia Nights for instance, but the beauty of The Belfry is that you can drop in for a first drink, a last drink, or to stick around and drink all night long. Like The Winslow though, you won’t catch any sports games here, so you’d be best served in dropping by on a night where you’re looking to meet people. And no, you should not wear your Mets jersey either.

Value - Specials are hardly few and far between here between $5 “Picklebacks,” discounts on local brews and competitively priced cocktails every single day. I didn’t say we like spending $11 a drink, I just said that it’s less than $14.

The Lowdown – Though the place has been open for a few years now, finding The Belfry ranks among the quintessential reasons why I began writing in this space so many moons ago. Like many of us, I’ve run in and out of dingy, poorly run, slop-holes in the East Village- not many of which I’ve returned to, save for a forced birthday party here or there. The older I’ve gotten though, I’ve learned to appreciate a place that does many of the little things well and offers up more than just an icy bottle of domestic light beer at a $7 clip. Today, there are several very solid bars in the surrounding vicinity of the area and The Belfry becomes the latest on our short list of recommends of spots where you should ‘Drink Here Now.’ And ‘Thank Us Later.’

Mama’s Bar
34 Avenue B at 3rd Street, East Village
917-972-7107
Getting There: F to Second Avenue
http://www.mamasbarnyc.com

New York City is a place known for making something out of nothing. In that vein, there are dozens upon dozens of seemingly ordinary bars that for one reason or another always seem to pack in crowds despite of nothing unusual to attract them. The East Village is replete with these and among the most strangely busy and often visited sits Mama’s Bar, a small little dive that perhaps resulting from a great location or a great loyalty from its neighborhood of patrons is perpetually packed and organically fun.

From the outside, Mama’s Bar isn’t much to look at. Adorned with a cool logo and amid a street corner setting, the open doors in warmer months are presumably inviting, considering the layout of couches and high top tables which take up much of the space near the entrance. The bar itself is relatively small, but the selection of drinks is particularly vast, including a surprising amount of cocktail options which are reasonably priced. The walls are covered with different signs and designs as well which really links Mama’s to the spirit of the Alphabet City neighborhood.

Though we’d recommend trips out to Mama’s on weekend afternoons or evenings when the place gets truly going, it’s hard to ignore their Happy Hour specials during the week. With $3 whiskies, $4 domestic beers and “PBR and Shot” combos for just $5 until 7pm, the bar is an ideal place to kick off a night of imbibing. They also offer a late night Happy Hour from 1 – 4am featuring frozen drink specials and $5 Jack Daniels of Jameson shots to really put you out for the night. And what’s more, the place’s cocktail list features items sure to blush your face when ordering the likes of a “Sour Pussy” ($8), the “Big Bad Dick” ($7), “Muff Magic” ($7) or our favorite, the butterscotch infused “Layla’s Blue Balls” ($6). The comically named drinks make this a fun spot to drop by with a (down-to-earth) lady or non beer drinker and throw back some affordably priced alternatives with monikers that work as proverbial ice breakers. There are a ton of viable options in the vicinity so even if you’re stopping by Mama’s Bar for a drink or two, it’s definitely a haunt worth visiting at least once if you’re hopping around the East Village and looking for a place that’s way more fun than your usual go-to dive bar.

The Rundown

Bar Type - A more fun dive style bar than you’re used to. And one that actually has girls inside. A big plus!

When to Visit – Again, we’d push your visit out until the weekend, but their happy hour specials are unbeatable until 7pm during the week. Stop by after work with a small group and start your night here.

Value - If you’re looking to drink on the cheap, then Mama’s Bar is your spot. Great Happy Hour specials but reasonably priced cocktails and domestic beers are available at Happy Hour or otherwise.

The Lowdown – Mama’s Bar has the charm of a dive bar and yet, it’s somehow deserving of a more fitting label. Perhaps a fun, everyday, neighborhood bar would be more appropriate. I’ve stumbled out of these doors on several occasions, often waking up with an entirely affordable bill despite a tally of drinks that I (might) remember having ordered. Life at Mama’s Bar is hardly ever dull and if it happens to be when you’re inside, then maybe it’s you that’s the big bore.

Any short list of the City’s best boozy brunches will have East Village tapas restaurant Poco at or near the very top. Though securing a reservation is surprisingly easy considering the restaurant’s burgeoning popularity, be advised that the brunches here are not necessarily equipped for the finicky foodie. The restaurant has one main agenda during the weekend afternoon hours from 11:30am to 5:00pm and that’s to make sure that for an hour and a half and for just $28, you leave their restaurant with a full on buzz. Their endless pours of mimosas, bloody marys, and sangria demand no less.

The scene at dinner is vastly different than the jam-packed boisterous crowd that you’ll find spilling over from the ground level dining area to the stuffy (but perpetually fun) basement during the frenzied brunch. That’s because Poco also fancies itself as a full on tapas restaurant serving small bites like “Bacon Wrapped Dates” ($9), “Poco Sliders” ($12) and “Croquetas” ($10-$11) for their guests. Happy hour here delivers a particularly terrific value meanwhile with items like $1 oysters and $6 tapas dishes until 8pm, making Poco an ideal visit for after work hours.

But if you’re a first timer to the restaurant, then visiting for their boozy brunch is an absolute must. Just be prepared for a whirlwind of an afternoon. We arrive for an early afternoon seating and the place is already completely buzzing. The first floor is packed to the gills with large parties, waiters whizzing around the tables with drink pitchers and music bumping out into the street. Once our party arrives, we are whisked downstairs to the basement which smells a bit like we’ve just shown up late to a party that’s been going on for quite awhile but somehow, this perfectly suits our expectations as the staff wastes little time in filling our glasses with sugary pours of mimosas and sangria. At this point, Poco is running their brunches like well-oiled machines. We waited nary a moment for our half-empty glasses to be quickly refilled and our orders seemed to arrive just minutes after placing them. But to the place’s credit, they were more than generous with allowing us to remain at our table far past the designated ninety minutes and the drinks continued to be poured by the friendly servers downstairs.

As for the food itself, our brunch meal was certainly passable. We ordered “The Cure,” considered a traditional Mexican hangover remedy, topped with mounds of pulled chicken (add $2) but were essentially served a plate of tortilla chips. Though the chicken was serviceable, the tangy green salsa verde coupled with two runny fried eggs meshed together just fine. Far superior though was the “Lobster Benedict” (add $2) which was served on a crispy arepa bed with a creamy pimento hollandaise sauce that covered the hunks of pink lobster meat. Sided by some crispy breakfast potatoes, the dish was tasty despite being quickly washed away by each swig of mimosa.

Surrounding us downstairs was the beginning (or the end) of a bachelorette party and behind us a group of twenty guys and girls that dropped at least two glasses by our last count. When possible, sitting upstairs is clearly a more ideal option with the natural light from Avenue B trickling in and the ability to people watch abundant at all times. But at just $28 all-in, it’s hard to find flaws in Poco’s brunch game. The drinks are fairly strong and entirely delicious, the setting is a wild one, the service is absolutely exceptional and the food does its job in filling you up just enough to continue to put back those drinks. Make no mistake, brunch at Poco is a festive party and while you might not be able to handle it every weekend, it’s an experience worth repeating for any New Yorker looking for an outright good time.

Rundown of the Meal

Brunch* – Each item includes 1.5 hours of unlimited Bloody Mary, Mimosa & Sangria

Lobster Benedict (add $2)*

“The Cure” (add $2 pulled chicken)

*Meal Highlight

To those not in the know, the fall arrival of Sichuan style restaurant Han Dynasty was likely received as just another Chinese restaurant on an East Village street corner. But to dismiss it as such would be utterly ignorant to the restaurant’s lineage, what with five successful locales in the Philadelphia area and one actually just outside of the city limits in southern New Jersey. But with ample buzz and lengthy dinner time table waits which stretch outside the place’s red cold weather corridor and onto Third Avenue, even passersby are forced to take notice that something special is brewing inside of Han Dynasty, the first such Manhattan outpost of the Pennsylvania staple.

Whether you’re waiting for a table or you’re seated right away, there’s not much in the restaurant’s barren decor to keep you engaged. Instead, your eyes are drawn to the many tables and dishes buzzing all around you, the flurry of waiters weaving between the closely placed tables or the smoke rising from the unique looking hot pots shared amongst a given group. But more often than not, dining out for Chinese is rarely about the ambiance and the lack thereof here really allows guests to extend laser like focus on each dish.

Just about every line item on Han Dynasty’s expansive menu has a parenthetic bold red number which reveals not the number of dumplings in an order, but each selection’s level of spice, ranging from the mild (1) to the hot (10). While each order can be prepared more toward a guest’s liking, we’re of the opinion that one is to eat as the restaurant intends and as such, we left each item ordered without customization- at times to our tongue’s detriment. The chilled “Dan Dan Noodles” ($7.95) should be at the forefront of any order but be forewarned that they are considerably spicy if you are unprepared for them. Tasty strands of golden flour noodles are meshed with hunks of ground pork amid a bevy of Asian inspired ingredients from sesame paste to vegetable, peppercorn and chile oils and the resulting flavors are outstanding. You also can’t go wrong with either the “Wontons in Chili Oil” or the “Dumplings in Chili Oil,” both priced at $6.95. If pressed, we prefer the latter which delicately laid a handful of oversized soft dumplings stacked in a bowl saturated in tangy oil and sprinkled with ample sesame seeds. Flavorful without being spicy, each bite served up exactly what you would hope for from an expertly prepared dumpling.

The entree portion of the menu is reflective of the restaurant’s versatility with an array of different styles that cater to the appetites of each diner, who can mix and match cooking preparations with a protein to their liking. From the “Dry Pot Style” which utilizes a sizzling tabletop mini-wok to the “Pickled Chili Style” which incorporates leeks and hot peppers alongside the requisite chili oil, there are sixty different combinations of entrees from which to choose. Surprisingly, it was Han Dynasty’s “Black Bean Style Shrimp” ($18.95) that was an absolute home run for us. Bulbous jumbo shrimp comprised the main focus of the dish, but the subtly sweet thicker soy based sauce lacquered the bed of red and green peppers, onions and mushrooms brilliantly with a touch of Asian inspired authenticity that’s just not available at your run of the mill takeout restaurant. Equally as mouthwatering is the truly distinctive “Dry Pepper Style Chicken” ($13.95) which is among Han Dynasty’s most popular dishes. The presentation is artistically plated with dark red peppers and green scallion slices surrounding the soft chunks of popcorn-style chicken. Be forewarned, the dish ranks at a heat level of 8, so make sure to eschew the hot chili peppers where you can or have a glass of milk by your side. Served delectably dry (sounds funny, I know), each morsel packs a unique wallop of flavor where the spice creeps up after each bite. Though fried, there is minimal grease and though the health conscious eater may have a hard time falling asleep at night, the confluence of different flavors here add to the distinction of being among the restaurant’s finest creations. The admirable “Scallion Style Pork” ($11.95) more than held its own here, but proved inferior to the other two dishes, despite a preponderance of succulent hoisin and oyster sauce in this stir-fry setting.

Of the reports we’ve read, we were admittedly skeptical about our first foray into Han Dynasty. Rumors of a boisterous atmosphere, lengthy table waits and inconsistent fare had us scratching our heads as we sat immediately and thoroughly enjoyed each dish presented to us amid a festive and energetic weekend afternoon. We couldn’t have been more impressed by our initial trip to Han Dynasty, which in our estimation is Philadelphia’s greatest export since the cream cheese. Alright fine, the cheesesteak.

Rundown of the Meal

Hot Appetizers

Dumplings in Chili Oil ($6.95)*

Wontons in Chili Oil ($6.95)

Noodles

Dan Dan Noodles ($7.95)*

Entrees

Dry Pepper Style Chicken ($13.95)*

Scallion Style Pork ($11.95)

Black Bean Style Shrimp ($18.95)*

*Meal Highlight

The Bloody Mary has long been a staple of the weekend brunch here in New York City, be it to kick off a day of drinking or to rally from the previous night’s hangover with a ‘hair of the dog.’ On Saturday afternoon, more than fifteen notable local restaurants gathered at East Village Italian-nouveau restaurant L’Apicio for a three hour all you can taste event entitled “Eat, Drink & Bloody Mary,” a friendly competition between bartenders and their staffs to crown New York’s finest Mary maker. And if we learned one thing by being up to our eyes in tomato juice, it’s that all Bloody Marys are not created equal.

Now, it’s been awhile since we took the time to slurp down this many Bloodys and we weren’t the only ones yearning for a Zantac as the day wore on- thick tomato juice, horseradish, Tobasco- you get the picture. Fortunately there was plenty of free bottles of Fiji Water and Vita Coco to go around to wash down some of the heartier drinks from the event. But that said, more often than not we were impressed by the sheer creativity that went into each drink, which were not only deliciously tasty but also aesthetically pleasing with an array of distinctive garnishes. Attendees were handed a plastic golden coin upon checking in which would be used to cast their vote for their favorite concoction of the afternoon. Some of the competitors let their drinks speak for themselves while others went out of their way to be both engaging and persuasive in vying for each elusive vote.

Tito’s Handmade Vodka, as the event’s official liquor sponsor, was the sole ingredient incorporated by every participant to ensure parity amongst the competing restaurants, but the similarities truly ended there. Rather than run down the elements that comprised each tasty entry into “Eat, Drink & Bloody Mary, it’s probably more important that we hand out our own superlatives. The first Bloody Mary that we tasted happened to be the spiciest of the entire event as the expert mixologists at Booker and Dax served up a “Bloody Mahabharata,” which thankfully offered up a slice of sweet pineapple to cool down the mixture of yellow curry and birdseye chili that served to ignite our taste buds. The flavors worked together admirably despite the drink’s fiery flavor profile.

The day’s most refreshing Bloody Mary came courtesy of The Wren, where Melissa Derfler’s “Happy As A Clam” sported a fresh baby clam atop each bright red cup, mixing in a sprig of dill and a thin cucumber slice for good measure. There’s something about raw shellfish and cucumber that exude a sense of summer, and The Wren captured the feeling perfectly, despite a cold winter afternoon outside. Nourish Table & Kitchen’s “Beauty and the Beet” was hands down the most inventive drink of the event, utilizing beet-infused vodka as the purple base punched up by Worcestershire sauce, jalapeno, pepper and lemon juice. Though we’re no fans of beets, there’s something to be said for style points and Nourish’s drink stood out amongst the fray. Finally, best garnish goes to the folks at Burger & Barrel, fittingly bringing the “B&B Burger Bloody” as their entrant. Sticking out from their crimson colored cup, rim rubbed with tangy spices were all the accoutrements you’d expect atop a savory hamburger- tomato, cheese, salty bacon, and a gherkin- all of which worked together with a beef stock infused drink brilliantly. Their take on a liquified burger was decidedly outrageous and equally delicious.

As we sipped around the toom, two Bloody Marys took our palates by storm. First, midtown haunt Harlow prepared a “Canary Mary,” a yellow colored drink with bell pepper, lemongrass and ginger with a salty seasoned rub that was reminiscent to a warm weather picnic. The hints of fresh corn could also be savored with each passing sip. Meanwhile, the “Mary Pibil” from Rouge Tomate was our favorite of the day’s offerings. Served with thin strained tomato juice, the chilled sweeter drink sipped like tasty gazpacho with roasted pineapple and espelette pepper thrown in. Though we didn’t anticipate preferring sweet to savory, the creation of Cristian Molina & Zach Moore collaborated ideally and was the recipient of our golden coins. The people clearly didn’t agree with LocalBozo.com however, voting “Extra Fancy’s Bloody Mary” (an outstanding take on a traditional Bloody) the People’s Choice winner and newcomer Dover (“Phuket Mary” with crispy crab, peanuts, fish sauce and Thai chili) the Judge’s Choice. At the end of the day, everyone in attendance had their particular favorites, be it based upon taste, appearance and even in garnish. The buzz inside of L’Apicio was undeniable though as New Yorkers were treated to an afternoon of imbibing at the hands of some of the City’s most renowned and celebrated drink-makers.

Golden Cadillac
13 First Avenue near 1st Street, East Village
212-995-5151
Getting There: 6 to Bleecker Street; B,D,F,M to Broadway-Lafayette Street
http://www.goldencadillacnyc.com

I often find myself stuttering through descriptions of bars in the East Village as I try to justify to a friend why one particularly tacky, divey, packed spot is bumping club music and slapping $9 price tags on their beers while the cozy, couch filled basement with an empathetic folk singer is happy to grab you one for $4.  Perhaps that’s why it was so refreshing to walk into the Golden Cadillac, a bar where you know exactly what you are getting yourself into. The pleasantly cheesy yellow fluorescent sign outside gives way to a cozy, dimly lit bar filled with small groups chatting happily amidst the 70s era decor.

We sidled past them as we were brought to one of a few tables lining the walls and seated in a plush pleather booth. I half expected the waitress to saunter over in gogo boots and fishnets as I perused over the short menu of revamped 70′s food classics and the full page dedicated to their signature cocktails.  After I managed to sneak away for a quick trip to the bathroom and was greeted with the festive wallpaper of vintage playboy magazine covers (don’t get too excited kids, there’s no full nudity here), I settled in to enjoy a “Benton’s Old Fashioned” made with bacon-infused bourbon, maple syrup and bitters as we waited for our food to arrive.

 

With some good old-fashioned rock and roll set as background noise, the vibe of the Golden Cadillac was friendly with a definitively local feel. The menu was full of fun, modernized 70′s classics, including “Tuna Casserole” ($7), “Poutine Disco Fries” ($8), and “Knish Fondue” ($12) and while the presentation and ideas were unique inside of this trendy environment, the food was not something I would come back for.

The friendly staff in satin vests and off the shoulder baseball tees made us feel totally at home though. The cocktails were delicious and festive with some of the frozen daiquiri types sporting umbrellas and maraschino cherries. This is, however, not the spot to come for a cheap drink (our pair of Old Fashioneds” tallied up to a hefty $25)- although there was talk of a happy hour that will be implemented in the not-so-distant future where some of their selected cocktails will be offered for $8, a price they also offer for brunch drinks on Saturdays and Sundays.

The Rundown

Bar Type - A modernized take on a classic 70s bar.

When to Visit – More of a weekend night spot, at least until the happy hour is introduced.

Value - $8 Brunch cocktails, but not much else.

The Lowdown – At the Golden Cadillac, you walk in and feel the funk. The dim lighting, friendly staff, and sassy yet classy 70s theme makes it the perfect spot to come solo or with a couple of friends to sip on some delicious-while expensive- cocktails.