New Restaurant and Bar Radar: From Dram to Covet
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<em>Courtesy <a href="http://jackiephoto.com">Jackie Neale Chadwick</a></em><p></p><strong>Dram:</strong> Way back in the winter of Aught Seven, cocktail maker Tom Chadwick (you'll know his work from the menu <a href="http://gothamist.com/2009/04/14/new_restaurants_on_the_radar_rye.php">at Rye</a>) <a href="http://gothamist.com/2007/12/04/dram.php">told us</a> that he'd soon be opening a bar called <a href="http://drambar.com">Dram</a> in the Southside Williamsburg space formerly occupied by Zak Pelaccio's Chickenbone. Well, the seasons changed, America elected a black president, and the world forgot all about Chadwick's dream. But not Chadwick! Earlier this month he finally quietly opened his charming little lounge, just across the street from <a href="http://gothamist.com/2010/03/01/pies_n_thighs_reopens_in_new_souths.php">the new Pies 'n' Thighs</a>, and blocks from Pelaccio's return to the neighborhood <a href="http://gothamist.com/2010/03/19/fatty_cue_now_open_in_williamsburg.php">with Fatty 'Cue</a>.<p></p>During a recent visit, the place was almost completely packed with merry imbibers, and the unassuming Chadwick told us about his idea for Dram, which features a different cocktail menu every few days and a rotating staff of bartenders who do time at other cocktail hotspots like <a href="http://gothamist.com/2009/11/19/restaurant_and_bar_radar_spot_desse.php?gallery0Pic=5">Death & Co.</a>, Clover Club, and Flatiron Lounge. Chadwick sees his role as "curating" the talent behind the bar, and a tiny kitchen area in the corner will soon serve as a "sort of DJ booth" for a variety of rotating chefs. <p></p>The dimly lit interior has a warm vibe and a tiki influence, with an illuminated kayak hanging over the bar, where some patrons sip mysterious drinks out of vintage tiki mugs. Recent cocktail options included the "Knuck If You Buck" Buck (Rye, Housemade Ginger Beer, Lemon, Lime, $9), and the Devilâs Pocket (Armagnac, Madeira, Vecchio Amaro Del Capo, Maraschino, $9). Beers on tap range from Six Point Diesel Stout to Kulmbacher Pilsner, and if you want to roll the dice you can choose the Bartenderâs Choice, which comes with two instructions: 1. Name Your Spirit 2. Then Choose Stirred & Spirit Forward or Shaken & Refreshing.<p></p><em>177 South 4th Street, (718) 486-DRAM, open daily from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m.</em>
<strong>The Parlour Midtown:</strong> The Parlour Midtown is touting itself as "Manhattan's First Irish Gastro-Steakhouse," featuring traditional Irish cuisine and some standard American steakhouse fare. Up front the bar serves Guinness and local brews, while in the back the dining room features plush, leather booths lined with portraits of Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett. For the Irish folk there's Irish rabbit stew, fried sheep's cheese, shepherd's pie, and of course bacon and boiled cabbage. For the steakhouse traditionalists there's rib eye steak and a double cut pork chop. Rounding things out, there are also crispy duck gizzards, for whichever cuisine that fits into. Entrees and steaks run $15-$39.<p></p> <em>247 West 30th Street, 212-967-1070</em>
<strong>Project Sandwich:</strong> <a href="http://www.projectsandwich.com/">Project Sandwich</a>'s goal is to offer "gourmet-on-the-go," with sandwiches, a rotation of homemade soups, chips & hummus and teas. Their menu spans all tastes, from the French sandwich with smoked duck and egg salad to the Brazilian sandwich with steak and chimichurri sauce, and soups like Roman Tomato with Pastini and Chunky Potato Leek. Project Sandwich is open Monday-Saturday and will soon be open on Sundays. Their sandwiches run $4-$8.50. <p></p><em>105 Thompson Street, 212-625-2388</em>
<strong>Covet:</strong> Taking its design cues from New York clubs and Switzerland's ski lounges, and its menu inspiration from Asia, Europe and the Mediterranean, Covet seems to have something for everyone. There's a street level restaurant and a hidden basement lounge, both decorated with raw wood, cow-hide ottomans and bear pillows (not for PETA sympathizers). Chef John Keller (Nobu, Le Bernardin) has designed the menu to feature sustainable, simple dishes. Entrees include Black Cod with gingered edamame puree or a wild boar tenderloin with agave-wasabi mustard. <p></p>The downstairs lounge will serve signature cocktails for $18-$24, like the Cupid with vodka, strawberries and rosemary. Or you can splurge on the $160 Icarus, with House Essence Flambé, saffron, Louis XIII cognac and "Hand Chiseled Ice." The fun begins Friday, so prepare your product, gentlemen.<p></p><em>137 East 55th Street, no phone</em>