Cocktail bar food is better than ever. I named some of my favorites in today’s post. What are yours? What did I miss, either in New York or any other city or town in the U.S.? Or anywhere in the world, for that matter?
I forgot to mention Saint Julivert in Brooklyn, which is more a restaurant, but nonetheless has great cocktails (including Martinis), and bar snacks to go with them, including the unique Whipped Mackerel pate.
Feb 7, 2022Liked by Robert Simonson, Mary Kate Murray
I heartily agree with most of your calls in the article. The Goto bars are killing it. Maison Premiere is a long-time favorite of mine. I do think the shrimp crisp at SHC is pretty special. Also, I’m a dumpling fiend, prepared to eat them under virtually any circumstance. I always enjoyed the calamari at Pegu Club (now gone). On the simpler end, I’ve always appreciated the hard boiled egg, which was provided gratis at a couple (long gone) holes-I-once-watered-at.
Feb 7, 2022Liked by Robert Simonson, Mary Kate Murray
May not be traditional “cocktail” bar food, but nothing beats some oysters and charcuterie and they both go beyond wine. Amazing with martinis, beers, and well balanced cocktails (no high fructose concoctions).
My favorite neighborhood craft cocktail bars all serve good food: Long Island Bar, Clover Club (both which you mentioned), and also Leyenda and Grand Army. Thankfully these places have survived the pandemic thus far.
I heard Boilermaker had a great burger but I didn't get to try before it closed recently because of the pandemic.
This winter I've been really enjoying the chilli at Porchlight Bar. The soup at Henry Public is also good winter food.
Sea Witch in South Slope/Sunset Park gets an honorable mention with their good drinks and solid standard bar food eg burgers & sandwiches etc.
The best burger in NJ (so says NJ Monthly & several others) and one-time best burger in NYC (winner of CitySearch Best Burger in NY 2000) is at NJ's premier cocktail joint. Stage Left Steak (est. 1992). Not sure if it counts as cocktail bar food but it's been served with our craft cocktails since the beginning.
Feb 7, 2022Liked by Robert Simonson, Mary Kate Murray
Sek'end Sun in Astoria has a great chicken sandwich and a good burger/drink deal at least one night of the week. Terre in Tribeca, although it's technically a wine bar. I also remember some good bites at Jewel of the South in New Orleans. And of course there's the stuffed celery with roquefort at Musso & Frank's in LA.
This is slightly off topic but related - since I started hanging out in bars in the late 60’s, the only bar food I ever recall was big jars of pickled products, especially pickled tongue 👅. Usually on the back bar, 3 or 4 large jars in a row, right next to the Old Thompson and Canadian Club. When I moved to Rhode Island around 1974, more Portuguese products started showing up, like chorizo. Sometimes there were boiled Weiners available.
As to Martin’s point….at the B-Side Lounge, greater Boston’s first modern cocktail bar circa 1998 - 2007, we always had hard boiled eggs on 3 separate circular 3 row stands, positioned around the horseshoe bar, every night. Black pepper and hot sauce were provided. As a bartender there, it was always delightful to clean out the hot sauce moistened cigarette butt filled ashtrays, stuffed with egg shells throughout the course of the night. And especially after last call! Yum 😵💫 They we’re delicious though!!
I'm looking forward to trying some of these next time I make it to NYC. The okonomiyaki tots at Palo Santo in Oklahoma City are dynamite and same goes for the smash burger at Bar Arbolada.
Kimball House; Decatur, GA: 1) Oysters w/ Peat Monster for Oysters and 2) Caviar & Middlins, with a side of chicken skins for scooping... All washed down with a New Tokyo, the best cocktail on the planet.
The Coney dog at Nickel City in Austin is exactly what you want after a few drinks (and they make really great drinks!). I'm also a fan of a good French onion soup at a bar, and the one at Marliave (RIP) in Boston was a great one. And in Portland, the tinned fish board at Hunt & Alpine Club is a favorite.
I forgot to mention Saint Julivert in Brooklyn, which is more a restaurant, but nonetheless has great cocktails (including Martinis), and bar snacks to go with them, including the unique Whipped Mackerel pate.
I heartily agree with most of your calls in the article. The Goto bars are killing it. Maison Premiere is a long-time favorite of mine. I do think the shrimp crisp at SHC is pretty special. Also, I’m a dumpling fiend, prepared to eat them under virtually any circumstance. I always enjoyed the calamari at Pegu Club (now gone). On the simpler end, I’ve always appreciated the hard boiled egg, which was provided gratis at a couple (long gone) holes-I-once-watered-at.
May not be traditional “cocktail” bar food, but nothing beats some oysters and charcuterie and they both go beyond wine. Amazing with martinis, beers, and well balanced cocktails (no high fructose concoctions).
My favorite neighborhood craft cocktail bars all serve good food: Long Island Bar, Clover Club (both which you mentioned), and also Leyenda and Grand Army. Thankfully these places have survived the pandemic thus far.
I heard Boilermaker had a great burger but I didn't get to try before it closed recently because of the pandemic.
This winter I've been really enjoying the chilli at Porchlight Bar. The soup at Henry Public is also good winter food.
Sea Witch in South Slope/Sunset Park gets an honorable mention with their good drinks and solid standard bar food eg burgers & sandwiches etc.
In DC, Jose' Andres' barmini has fantastic small bites - the Foieffel (foie gras and peanut butter on a tiny waffle) is a favorite.
The best burger in NJ (so says NJ Monthly & several others) and one-time best burger in NYC (winner of CitySearch Best Burger in NY 2000) is at NJ's premier cocktail joint. Stage Left Steak (est. 1992). Not sure if it counts as cocktail bar food but it's been served with our craft cocktails since the beginning.
A-Frame in Los Angeles (long gone) had a kind of Japanese kettle corn with furikake and Corn Pops. I had a hard time restraining myself.
Sek'end Sun in Astoria has a great chicken sandwich and a good burger/drink deal at least one night of the week. Terre in Tribeca, although it's technically a wine bar. I also remember some good bites at Jewel of the South in New Orleans. And of course there's the stuffed celery with roquefort at Musso & Frank's in LA.
This is slightly off topic but related - since I started hanging out in bars in the late 60’s, the only bar food I ever recall was big jars of pickled products, especially pickled tongue 👅. Usually on the back bar, 3 or 4 large jars in a row, right next to the Old Thompson and Canadian Club. When I moved to Rhode Island around 1974, more Portuguese products started showing up, like chorizo. Sometimes there were boiled Weiners available.
As to Martin’s point….at the B-Side Lounge, greater Boston’s first modern cocktail bar circa 1998 - 2007, we always had hard boiled eggs on 3 separate circular 3 row stands, positioned around the horseshoe bar, every night. Black pepper and hot sauce were provided. As a bartender there, it was always delightful to clean out the hot sauce moistened cigarette butt filled ashtrays, stuffed with egg shells throughout the course of the night. And especially after last call! Yum 😵💫 They we’re delicious though!!
I'm looking forward to trying some of these next time I make it to NYC. The okonomiyaki tots at Palo Santo in Oklahoma City are dynamite and same goes for the smash burger at Bar Arbolada.
Ticonderoga Club; Atlanta, GA: 1) Fried Ipswich clams and 2) Veal Sweetbreads Piccata...
Kimball House; Decatur, GA: 1) Oysters w/ Peat Monster for Oysters and 2) Caviar & Middlins, with a side of chicken skins for scooping... All washed down with a New Tokyo, the best cocktail on the planet.
The Coney dog at Nickel City in Austin is exactly what you want after a few drinks (and they make really great drinks!). I'm also a fan of a good French onion soup at a bar, and the one at Marliave (RIP) in Boston was a great one. And in Portland, the tinned fish board at Hunt & Alpine Club is a favorite.
Well since we're focusing on New York, I've always been partial to the Raines sandwich.
The fries at the Nomad with the crispy fried herbs
Love the wings & celery, and that I can get them at Niban, but Bar Goto LES's okonomiyaki are the bar food that I regularly crave.