Quick Review: Cocktails at the Waldorf Bar

The Peacock
++ // Refreshing // Sweet, Fruity, Sage

1860 Manhattan
++ // Smokey // Smokey, Sweet

Quick Review: Cocktails at Sir Harry's Bar

Pear Sidecar
+ // Fruity // Pear with hints of heat and sour

Waldorf Sunset
+ // Sweet & Sour // cocoa comes through sweet alcohol flavors

Return of The Bearded Lady

While we enjoy cocktails, we have a lot to learn about them. With wine, you get what the vintner wants you to have, and, barring any serious aging problems, typically bottle over bottle of the same wine tastes basically the same. Cocktails are much more varied and flexible. After being challenged on our original review of the Bearded Lady, we were eager to get back, and see if our opinion would change. This time, we had a better appreciation of what goes into a good cocktail, and give a thumbs up to Bearded Lady for satisfying our palates.

Cocktails at The Bearded Lady

It came as a great disappointment when we wandered over to our local watering hole for an after-dinner drink, only to find it closed for a few days. Standing outside, we debated going to another standby, but Tina wanted to try something new. After a few seconds, she remembered a new cocktail lounge that opened just a few blocks away, in the "other" direction we normally don't go. That’s how we found ourselves sitting down at a window table at The Bearded Lady, watching the evening traffic roll down Washington Avenue, in Brooklyn.

In these troubled times, as so many small businesses close their doors, it's heartening to see a new place opening up. The Bearded Lady is decorated in a simple fashion, a mix of minimalism, with bare, white walls accentuated with heavy retro plastic furniture. The wine list is minimal, the beer list interesting, yet we embraced their specialty cocktails. Tina ordered their Kinky Crown: Gin, Cointreau, Lillet Blanc, Benedictine, and Lemon Juice. I went with the Good Manners: Cava, Bourbon, Mint, Cucumber, and Cane Syrup. Both were enjoyable, though the ingredients might have been a bit fresher. The bar itself was a nice find. Busy enough that we didn’t feel all alone, but quiet enough that we didn’t have to fight through a crowd to place our order at the bar.

In all, it was a good choice for the evening. Well-crafted drinks, at a reasonable price. Easy, comfortable atmosphere. We've already added it to our list of standbys.

Courtesy Bearded Lady

Henry Public

For something a bit different, we met friends on Governor's Island, an historic military base on a small island within spitting distance of downtown Manhattan. We'd been once before, and enjoyed an afternoon exploring the old fort and other historic buildings. This time, we rented bicycles and rode around the island a few times, checking the harbor views of New York City that we seldom get to see. It was a beautiful afternoon, with good friends, and a real joy.

Views of Lower Manhattan from Governor's Island

After we left our friends, we took the free ferry back to downtown Brooklyn’s Atlantic Terminal. We seldom venture that far towards the East River, so we decided to explore that area of Atlantic Avenue, check out some stores, and maybe find a pub to while away some time before dinner. We were reminded how small a city NYC really is: as we stood outside The Roebling Inn debating if we wanted to stop there, a former co-worker of Tina's darted out from the bar and invited us to join her and her husband. They were enjoying a quiet afternoon at their neighborhood bar with the two dogs they were dog sitting. We ordered a couple of glasses of house wine. While the wine was nothing special, the company more than made up for it. We chatted for some time, and enjoyed watching the neighborhood dogs hanging out. We learned the bar was both dog and child friendly, a bonus in New York City. Our host gifted us a bag of coffee from his company, Kitten Coffee. And when we parted ways, they recommended we stop by another local bar for some interesting cocktails and food.

The Roebling Inn

Just around the corner, just south of Atlantic and nearly hidden from sight was Henry Public, a bar that specializes in quality cocktails and British inspired local food. It ended up being quite the find. We seldom order cocktails, but we couldn't resist. I am fond of whiskey sours, but I seldom order them at a bar. The fresh ingredients used here, crafted with care, made a real difference. The Kings County Sour was the best whiskey sour I have ever tasted, the balanced sweetness, tartness, and smokiness resulting in a smooth drink. Tina was equally pleased with her drink, the Blackthorn Fix--this in spite of the fact that she doesn't by habit drink Gin and can’t , in fact, ever remember a time that she’s had it before. For dinner, we focused on their small plates. I had a chance to try something new--marrow bones--while Tina ordered the grilled summer beets. We shared a plate of NY cheeses, as well. Even better, their wine menu features New York State wines. Remembering our recent trip upstate, Tina selected the Fox Run Lemberger. Although we didn't visit Fox Run on our most recent trip, the vineyard is just down the road from where we were married; we’ve been there many times. I tried a Claret from Shinn Estate Vineyards, a recommendation from our friends earlier in the day. Both wines were rich, fruity, and medium bodied. The Lemberger was probably the lightest of the two, and had a distinct earthy quality that caused Tina to exclaim, “oh, I can taste the Finger Lakes, I can taste them, there they are!” The marrow was rich and buttery, the beets fresh, and the cheeses tasted of fresh grass. The food balanced well with the sweeter flavors of the wine. We sat around and enjoyed our time, watching people come and go, watching the bartender craft her delicious cocktails, and savoring our food and drink. As the evening wore on, costumed flappers from a party on Governor's Island began filling up the bar, blending perfectly with the bar’s classic British theme. We enjoyed the unintentional show before wandering home.

Henry Public

It is great to explore our City from time to time. There are so many hidden gems, its tough to find them all. Sometimes the recommendations of locals can help you find the best parts.

The Local

We called this blog “Speaking the Local Vin-acular” for a simple reason. Whenever we can, we like to support local businesses. Even if it means paying a little more for something, we can only see the benefits of patronizing the local, small businesses in our immediate area.

Sometimes, its a struggle to remember why it’s important to support our local place. Because it is on the same block, we share a rear courtyard with our local bar. On nice summer nights, when we are home watching TV, patrons linger outside on the bar's rear patio, smoking and having a good time. When midnight rolls around and we are trying to fall asleep, the party goers are out, causing quite a stir. The sounds and smells seek out our open windows, almost as if we are on the patio with them.

Not everyone is convinced that it’s a good thing. I had to work to convince Tina that the having a bar nearby was a pleasant convenience, when I moved in. There was talk around the block of pushing them out, by finding violations in City codes or complaining enough to law enforcement.  And yet.  As much as I've cursed the noise coming through our windows, as much as my wife (an "early to bed" sort of person) threatens never to go back to the bar, we keep on going.

If I want to go out for a beer after dinner on a cold winter night, or in summer when I don't feel like venturing too far, I like being able to walk around the corner. Sometimes it's the convenience that matters. It’s not too expensive, and it's got some interesting character, so it's worth putting up with the noise I don't like to help a small business succeed. But we’re not going to join them on the patio.