Cocktail Gossip
Speaking at length with Ryan the bartender at Flatiron Lounge, on account of he and I being the only people in the place the whole hour-plus I was there, I turned the conversation to cocktails and got some tidbits of information and gossip.
- Flatiron will likely release its Fall cocktail menu next week; they’re having an all-bartender powwow with Flatiron partner Julie Reiner on Tuesday or Wednesday, during which the bartenders get to present new creations; if a majority of bartenders and Julie like the drink, it goes on the menu. Nice.
- There’s an unused chunk of Pegu Club that Audrey Saunders thought could be a VIP area but it’s been unused since the place opened. There’s a obscured partition near the restrooms that slides open to allow access to this back area, with room for 30 to 40 more seats. Apparently you can see the secret-room windows from Houston but they’re papered over. Secret rooms are cool
- Beyond the usual suspects, Ryan’s recommendations for great new(ish) places to get cocktails are Tailor and Apotheke, the latter of which is a former Chinatown opium den that is now known for its cocktails made with homemade herb infusions and bitters
- Ryan confirms Milk & Honey has changed its “secret” phone number for reservations. Reportedly, even local barkeeps were left in the dark and most of them still don’t have it. Although I was thinking, “Maybe it’s just YOU, Ryan, who doesn’t have the new number.”) Or he had it and didn’t want to give it to me.
- Lenell’s may move to Manhattan. Apparently they’re having legal trouble with their lease renewal. That and they thirst for the big-time of Manhattan. Don’t we all.
- Lenell herself has been trying to open a bar for some time and it will finally come to fruition in 2009 under the name “Mason Dixon Line” or somesuch. She wants the place to have an herb garden and live hens, so she can use fresh raw eggs in her drinks that require them. Hmm.