La Biblioteca

By 4:00pm on any given weekday I'm just about ready to leave work and the first thing on my mind is.... happy hour. Where is the best place around here to meet up with a friend for a quick drink and small bite of food before heading home and relaxing? It's a weekday so you can't stay out too late with work in the morning. Working in midtown manhattan means there are a lot of nice restaurants around and plenty of bar choices but not necessarily good happy hour options that have good drinks and food at a reasonable price.

I have a few favorites but my top-choice at the moment is a little basement bar, La Biblioteca. It's a discreet little bar tucked underneath Zengo that specializes in tequila. Anyone who knows me at all knows tequila is NOT my drink of choice, but the seductive charm of this place is undeniable. The dim lighting, the plush leather chairs. The antique shelves full of labeled tequila that composes their 'library' and even the 'librarian' of their collection, a leggy blond who knows more about tequila than I would ever want to. Their short happy hour menu keeps me happy and satisfied after a long day at work.
 

 Library Cards

Tequila Lockers for those who buy bottles - free storage until your next visit

 Mahi Mahi Tacos - 2 for $5 during happy hour

 Tuesday Tequila Tastings - every week a different distillery

Black Jack

Under the managing group as Black's Bar and Kitchen, Black Jack is a bar in Washington DC that is owned by Black Restaurant Group. Upstairs from their sister restaurant, Pearl Dive (also owned by Black Restaurant Group), Black Jack is a whimsically goth/retro lounge. The dark wood tables tattooed with red complements the red ambiance lighting. Their main bar has movies projected onto the brick wall behind the liquor, during my time there they had Beetlejuice playing followed by Edward Scissorhands if that gives you any idea of the bar's atmosphere.

In the back of the bar the mood changes considerably. There are television playing sports games and two bocce courts for those interested in throwing around some heavy balls after a few drinks and riling up their competitive spirit.  The cocktail menu at Black Jack is unique and innovative just like the decor and spirit of the bar. With cocktails like Peep Show and Bull's Blood (pictured to the right) the drinks are as exciting as the bocce ball games. My favorite of the night was The Cigar, a tequila concoction with a huge cube of smoked peach ice and proscuitto to accompany the cocktail. It was the epitome of delicious sweet, smoky and salty all in a cocktail. And honestly, how could I turn down a drink that had meat on a stick? I couldn't.

After a few drinks up front, my friends and I made our way back to the bocce ball courts under the Black Jack sign reminiscent of old Las Vegas. The majority of the crowd was young professional aged 25-35 all looking to have a few drinks and good company. If you're ever in the DC area, check it out because I had a blast. Have a good seafood dinner down stairs at Pearl Dive and make your way upstairs for after dinner drinks.

 The Cigar - Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, Lemon, Smoked Peach Ice, Charcuterie

Black's Bar and Kitchen

After three days of binge eating while visiting my friend in the greater Washington DC area, I am going to need a month of dieting to counter this gluttonous President's Day weekend.

On Sunday morning, we had a glorious brunch in Bethesda at Black's Bar and Kitchen. Their seafood buffet was one of the nicest brunch's I have had. This includes New York and Las Vegas. The quality of the food was unlike a typical buffet of mediocre food that is perpetually refilled. All of it had good flavors and fresh ingredients.

They had a wonderful raw bar that was full of oysters and clams, seasoned shrimp cocktail, and assorted seafood salads. The mignonette sauce that went with the oysters/clams was subpar compared to my favorite at Fish. I prefer the vinegar to be more prominent; the sauce should be tangy so it adds freshness to the seafood, not weigh it down. They had a nice smoked salmon with a spread of creme fraiche, cream cheese, capers, onions, and even caviar. My favorite from the cold section of the buffet was the duck liver pate with caramelized onions, spread across their parsley toast point... yum!

Around the corner from the raw bar was the hot food; grits, applewood smoked bacon, breakfast sausage, eggs Pontchartrain. Their omelet station was made to everyone's taste and my friend's omelet was perfectly light and fluffy. Grilled asparagus topped with a beet and grape salad, charcuterie, pasta salad, grilled mushrooms in balsamic vinaigrette, and assorted grilled vegetables were all delicious sides to the craving station. Thick juicy cuts of molasses-peppercorn crusted prime rib with the usual accompaniments - au jus, horseradish cream, caramelized onions; the horseradish cream was divine.

$36 for the buffet only and $48 if you want unlimited champagne cocktails with brunch. A little pricier than I usually aim for brunch but well worth it.

Winegasm

My "go-to" bar in the neighborhood of Astoria, Queens - Winegasm. This quaint little bar which seats about 25 people has an note-worthy selection of wines from all around the world. Their staff is knowledgeable and enjoy conversing and educating their customers. Their candle-lit cozy atmosphere is perfect for dates and the long bar-height table in the middle of the bar is perfect for larger groups.

 Cucumber Martini

They also have a very classic cocktail list; sidecars and vesper martinis included. Their new chef, Brian, hails from a two-Michelin star restaurant and has transformed their menu. Some of my favorites off the menu: Chicken liver pate, chick pea fries, cheese fondue, mushroom panini, and many more. Happy hour at my local watering hold is until 8:00pm and they also have a great prix-fixe three-course menu during that time for only $19. MUST TRY IF YOU'RE EVER IN ASTORIA!