By now it should be painfully obvious that to us, there is no such thing as too much of a good thing. Another round? Yes. Dessert? But of course. One more spot before heading home? We can never say no. There is rarely just one destination for a night out. We usually have a list a mile long with places we’ve heard about, frequented separately or walked passed during a different adventure. K’s amazing memory is an encyclopedia of unique places, and when we aren’t sure where to go, she blurts out countless options about how we could mold the rest of the evening.

When we want action, downtown never fails. For an expensive evening, but one that won’t disappoint, the Meatpacking District is jumping every night. As this previously dilapidated section of town housed over 200 slaughter houses in the 1900s, venues are most often large scale establishments in big buildings, now boasting over the top décor and big name chefs. But if you want a more unique vibe with a whole lot less pretension, the Lower East Side is your spot. What originally housed the lower-class, working immigrant in tenement buildings at the turn of the century, now features fashionable boutiques, and one quaint, unique eatery after another. The options are entirely endless. We love parking the car and discovering!

Walking the narrow streets teeming with youth, you will notice that bar hopping is the favorite past time in the LES. During warmer months, many venues have open air dining allowing music to fill the air and slews of patrons to overflow out on to the sidewalk. During the colder seasons, there is nothing better than finding a quaint wine bar in which to set up shop for many glasses of red, some French jazz ,and a little candlelit conversation.

While M was away for a family event, the rest of the crew couldn’t wait to embrace Fall with some comforting eats and a warm and cozy atmosphere. Immediately after arriving in the LES, exciting salsa music caught our attention. Casa Mezcal has a bold décor and a lively ambiance. To our surprise, we had luck on our side and snagged a table that had just opened up, beating a crowd of multiple other groups also looking for dinner. The style was Mexican, but with a traditional flair… think ingredients like cactus, grasshoppers, and mezcal (a tequila-like liquor also made from the agave plant). After some amazing drinks and some hearty eats, we moved on to The Ten Bells, a wine and tapas bar just around the corner.

With only the glow of candlelight, the feeling is intimate. Accepting recommendations from the bartender, we savored our wine selections and let the time pass. As often is the case, as the night progressed, we got funnier and more ridiculous! With iPhones in hand, we proceeded to change our New Year’s Vegas plans to an excursion to Moscow and then created a song in which to pitch it to M using Songify, an AMAZING auto-tuning app. We don’t know how these things happen! Wait, are we really going to Moscow? It seemed like a good idea.

Just a couple of blocks away, finish your night at the hot spot Beauty and Essex. Although dinner is served, reservations are not easy to come by; however, stopping in for drinks is always an option. The glittery décor and the happening atmosphere will make you feel in-the-know. Squeeze yourself into the bar for a creative drink and some snacks, or just hit ladies’ room for the free champagne!

Check out all of our pictures on Facebook!

Cocktails and Dinner- A+K+L

Casa Mezcal

Outside Casa Mezcal is Manhattan; step one foot in the door and get the instant feeling of being in Mexico. With three floors of food, music, and art that take up the entire building, it may feel like the place has an identity crisis or that they are trying to do too much. Then you remember that this is New York and anything goes. It wouldn’t surprise you if they offered seasonal tax preparation or motorcycle repair. Ok, we went too far there, back on topic.

With M out of commission for the night and A+K+L fiending for Mexican like a mouse craves cheese, we decided to check out Casa Mezcal to see what the buzz was about. With no reservation, we knew it was going to be difficult to snag a table on a Saturday night. Just our luck, a few minutes after walking in, a table near the door opened up. It was a perfect spot to take in all the action.

First, it was drink time. A+K ordered a few cocktails with the restaurant’s namesake, Mezcal. For those of you who don’t know, Mezcal is the other Mexican alcohol made from the Agave plant. The bar has more varieties of the stuff than we have ever seen before. Like most alcohols, some are for mixing and some are strictly for sipping. Our suggestion is to ask the wait staff or bartender for a recommendation. As for L, just after walking in he noticed the bar had a bottle of rum that is typically not allowed to be sold in this country. Being one if his favorite brands in the world and nearly impossible to purchase in the States, he furiously lapped it up throughout the night. It was too good to be true.

The menu is mostly classic authentic Mexican, specifically with Oaxacan influence, with a few fusion dishes mixed in. We shared a bowl of fresh made guacamole and chips and our appetites were officially whet. L had some very moist and authentic corn tamales with a very light cream sauce. Filling and fresh, they may have been the star of the meal. K’s Adobo De Puerco Taco de Cazuela with Jalapenos (Tacos of pork cooked in a dry chile ancho and garlic sauce) were flavorful and spicy. The Tlayuda Tasajo (Oversized toasted corn tortilla with refried and black beans, avocado, oaxacan cheese, tomato, onion, chiles toreados and beef) was more of an open faced Burrito than a Mexican Pizza. It lacked a little identity and flavor, but the ingredients were certainly fresh.

Throughout the dinner the Salsa and Mexican music were pumping and everyone was having a great time. Spontaneous outbreaks of dancing from around the room were more common than not. It gave the atmosphere a sense of excitement, which is something you don’t get every day from dinner. We didn’t get to go downstairs for the live music, but by the time we left, the line was getting long and the music was pumping. There is always next time.

What we ate…

Drinks

• Cactus Pear Margarita (A)
• Spicy Llano en Llamas (A+K)
• A Secret White Rum on the Rocks (L)

Food

• Guacamole Con Totopos [House made tortillas] (A+K+L)
• Tlayuda Tasajo [Oversized toasted corn tortilla with refried and black beans, avocado, Oaxacan cheese, tomato, onion, chiles toreados and beef] (A)
• Adobo De Puerco Taco de Cazuela with Jalapenos [Tacos of pork cooked in a dry chile ancho and garlic sauce] (K)
• Corn Tamales with a Light Cream Sauce (L)

A: My cocktails were ridiculously good! Plus the decor keeps you constantly looking, continually discovering more and more interesting displays. A great atmosphere with unique and delicious drinks! We must come back for the burlesque and jazz shows they do downstairs!

L: I would come back here for the rum alone. It sure does help that the atmosphere is awesome, the food is good, and there is live music and burlesque shows downstairs.

K: Stepping into Casa Mezcal may make you feel as if you’ve just entered a celebration of el dia de los muertos! This resto is so vibrant, offering unique flavors all around. I hope to get back soon for a little salsa (the shake-your-hips kind)!

Our Rating Scales…

• Scene- Vibrant, traditional Mexican with Oaxacan influences
• Food- 3: Pleasantly surprised
• Drinks- 4: Stellar! Wouldn’t change a thing
• Tip Worthy- 3: Gratuity Included
• Coordinates- 5: Block- Fun is right next door!
• Restaurant Return Rate- Green Light

Wine- A+K+L

The Ten Bells

Ah, The Ten Bells. A perfect New York City hideaway, inconspicuously tucked away on a quiet Lower East Side street. The Ten Bells is the quintessential wine bar… enter into a cozy little wine den with dim lighting where you will instantly become enveloped by exposed brick and copper-donned ceilings. With a complete menu on the overhead chalkboard and knowledgeable wine lovers to recommend your perfect glass, you’ll be on your way to the complete pairing in no time. Offering a smattering of options from only the best of Europe’s wine regions, The Ten Bells offers up some bubbly from Italy and France, whites from France and Spain, and a long list of rosés and reds from France (Vive le France!), including their own signature wines of each variety.

Their small plates highlight many tastes and flavors of the Old World, including delicious bite size options, such as the staple cheese and charcuterie selections (local when possible!), tortilla espagnola, baked mussels with fragola (strawberry), meatballs, empanadas, a pulled pork sandwich and more. Calling all oyster lovers: there is a daily oyster happy hour until 7:00pm. Get your oysters for $1 a piece! This intimate little cave is a perfect microcosm of the best of Europe.

On a warmer evening, A+K sampled the signature Cuvée 10 Bells Rosé, made in France. A delicious vintage! It took us back to our days on the Côte d’Azur. And on a cooler evening, we sampled a plethora of reds, in search of the perfect taste. They offer a greater selection of wines by the bottle, which is probably a better bet, as the pours are a bit shallow. Definitely ask for a few tastes before you commit! And have no fear, there are a few beer selections, of which L partook.

The Ten Bells is a perfect spot for those cold New York nights… we can’t wait for our next visit!

What we drank…

• Cuvée 10 Bells [Comptoir de Magdala] (A+K)
• A variety of tastes and glasses of red! (A+K)
• Several Beers (L)

A: So cozy… if only I could bring my blanket with me and I may never leave! Dark, candlelit and friendly. A perfect spot to finish out your night.

L: The layout of the space is very inventive. The U shaped bar is the centerpiece of the space and everything happens around it. Gets packed early but it’s a great late night spot when the place clears out a bit.

K: What a cozy little spot with a careful selection of wines and delicious small plates! If I lived closer, it is certain I’d be a regular… for now, I’ll do my best to get back here over and over again…especially on those cold NY nights.

Our Rating Scales…

• Scene- A cozy, candlelit wine den, sure to give you the warm and fuzzies.
• Drinks- 3.5: Pleasantly Stellar
• Tip Worthy- 3: Gratuity Included
  
• Coordinates- 5: Block- Fun is right next door!
• Restaurant Return Rate- Green Light!

Cocktails- A+L+1

Beauty & Essex

There’s been plenty of buzz, but we had to see for ourselves. Talks of entry through a hidden door, a luxe late night scene and champagne in the bathroom? Intriguing. Upon our arrival, we made our way into the pawn shop façade with guitars lining the walls and a case of funky, for-show, junk… a fantastic disguise Beauty and Essex! The giant bouncer opened the door to ‘the back room’ and we entered upon one sparkly establishment! It felt a little like Christmas, as you just didn’t know where to look first. The massive glowing chandelier above the spiral staircase connecting the three floors made for a splendid entry way. The feel was lavish and over the top, and a bit retro. Each room had a display… one boasting intricately arranged necklaces; another with rows of tiny glittery boxes… eye candy was all around you! An atmosphere you wanted to jump into.

Even on a week night, the venue was standing room only. Shoulder to shoulder patrons crowded the bars on the first and second floors, and hovered over the reserved lounge seating hoping that they could sneakily squeeze onto a couch without the staff noticing (it’s a no-go). Dining rooms on both floors were full as well and a table without reservations days to weeks in advance is pretty unlikely. Using some expert NYC skills, we obtained seats at the second floor bar after only a couple of minutes. The concoctions offered were unique and interesting with ingredients like Cinnamon Avion Anejo Tequila and Luscombe Raspberry-Lemon Soda. Instead of a cocktail list focused solely around vodka as most places do, key ingredients included Bombay Sapphire, Don Julio Silver Tequila and Woodford Reserve Bourbon. There is even a Brooklyn Chocolate Stout beer and Prosecco potion called the Dark Chocolate Velvet (though, we’re not sure we recommend it!). It was awesome to see such innovation.

Although we only intended to sip our dinner, the plates that walked passed us all smelled so good. We ordered up some snacks at the bar to get a taste. As space was quite limited, we went with finger foods. Although they were among the more simple items on the menu, we were quite pleased (surprised even). We had been expecting the ultimate bar scene, but superior food usually does not go hand and hand. Our tasty morsels evoked the ‘Yum!’ response, and we knew that we would have to return with L+M for a full dinner.

Prior to exiting, we had one last item to confirm. Descending two floors to the lower level, we entered the ladies bathroom… and there it was. Next to the rows of vanity style mirrors was the free champagne bar. It looked like we would have to have one more drink! Ladies that had decided to stay a while chatted on the couches and sipped glass after glass. If someone had come by to hand feed us grapes we would be positive this bathroom was heaven… (or the Caesar’s Palace pool in Las Vegas).

What we ate…

Drinks

• Ruby Mojito [Zacapa Rum, St. Germain, Lemon Juice, Mint, Luscombe Raspberry-Lemon Soda] (A)
• Brooklyn Blossoms [Cinnamon Avion Anejo Tequila, Antica Artisanal Vermouth, Lemon, Honey] (A+K)
• Rose Champagne (A+K)

Food

• Classic Pan Con Tomate (A+K)
• Braised Short Rib Tamales (A+K)
• Sweet Roasted Tomato Pizzetta (A+K)
• Salt and Vinegar French Fries (A+K)

A: Analogy: This place is to girls, as a giant, juice steak is to my hound dogs… it makes them drool, hungry for more. Between the jewelry lined walls, sparkle and mirrors and the champagne bar in the bathroom, you feel as though you are hang out inside a popstar’s giant, awesome closet. Why can’t I have a closet like that?

K: If I could have that ladies’ room in my home, I’d be happy for the rest of my life. Beauty & Essex encompasses all that girls’ dreams are made of. The sparkly decor, delicious food & drink, and champagne bar made for a completely awesome experience all around!

Our Rating Scales…

• Scene- Like sipping champagne inside every girl’s fantasy walk-in closet!
• Food/Drinks- 3.5: Pleasantly Stellar
• Tip Worthy- 3: Gratuity Included
• Coordinates- 5: Block- Fun is right next door
• Restaurant Return Rate- Green Light!