Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City
Bars in New York often transport you to a different time and place. We have bars modeled after Japan in the 1920’s, Hawaii in the 40’s, and Cuba in the 1950’s. But Banzarbar takes you somewhere that I never imagined a bar could. Antarctica
This new exciting speakeasy is inspired by British, Australian, and New Zealand expeditions in Antarctica in the 1930’s. Sure, there are photos on the wall and names that harken back to that time, but more immediately the menu takes its cue from the idea of exploration.
And I find that very exciting. The star of the show is a cocktail and small bites tasting menu that features lower ABV drinks. I didn’t have the money ($95) or the time for that when I stopped by on a very quiet Sunday night. So I was happy I could explore just one drink at a time.
Finding your way in is also part of the experience. I told the host at Freeman’s restaurant that I wanted to go to Banzarbar. He repeated my request as if we were speaking in code and then after a moment took me through a hallway, up a dark set of stairs, and had me sit in another hallway. Eventually someone came out and brought me in to the tiny bar.
The staff was great. It’s comprised of major players in the cocktail world, including Eryn Reece, the beverage director, who previously worked at Mayahuel and Death & Co. The bartender I had was very patient with my questions and led me to the Close Encounters cocktail.
I was looking for something unique and unusual and this hit the spot. On the surface, it’s a darker nightcap but with a light complex body and featured some surprising ingredients. Most surprising was a rhum agricole from Oaxaca. Yes, a rum from Mexico. The flavor is hard to explain but it had some herbal and fruity notes with a backbone of brown sugar. It was also 54% alcohol.
To play with the Oaxacan rum, they stir earthy smoky mezcal (my favorite), dry vermouth, and a base of bittersweet amaro. It was a light bodied cocktail that packed a punch in terms of flavor. It made me want to keep going on other expeditions from this barstool. Price: $20
| BANZARBAR |
| Freeman Alley (between Bowery and Chrystie Street), Inside Freeman’s Lower East Side (212) 420-0012 |
| banzarbar.com |
