Monday: Bluegrass and New York's Most Bucolic Bar Room
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Don't let Monday get you down. Celebrate the start of the week with this itinerary.
STOP 1: GRAMERCY TAVERN
Dinner at Gramercy Tavern, particularly in the magnificent front "Tavern Room," often feels like an occasion.
Tables are set under a tall wood beam ceiling, below which a beautiful mural by Robert Kushner, entitled "Cornucopia," envelops the room. The stunning floral arrangements and antique ornaments evoke fantasies of farm weddings, while all around, fathers and sons, aunts and nieces, old friends and old flames settle into their seats, smile and with a deep sigh of satisfaction say, "It's been a while."
Simply scoring a stool for a meal at the bar is enough to elicit that same sentiment, as any interval of time between your last dinner here and your current one will no doubt feel too long. The space is a rustic retreat from the city, where the staff brings you in from the cold, even on a hot summer evening.
marinated beets with strawberries and ricotta, ordered without pecans, from the today menu at gramercy tavern
Nearly everything coming off the wood-burning grill is delicious. If you have the time, order the 4-course "Today Menu," a constantly changing selection of seasonal dishes, usually offered with a wine or beer pairing, available daily after 5:30pm in the Tavern Room. This affordable tasting, usually priced around $50, is a great way to sample several dishes from the kitchen in one sitting.
STOP 2: THE FLATIRON ROOM
After dinner, head north to The Flatiron Room for drinks in an opulent parlor and cabaret.
The room is gorgeous, with velvet stage curtains and vintage library ladders that roll along walls of whiskey bottles containing the spirit that The Flatiron Room is famous for.
Boasting one of the most extensive whiskey lists this side of anywhere, The Flatiron Room is a true drinking destination for fans of what George Bernard Shaw once called "liquid sunshine." Countless selections from all over the world can be sampled by the dram or flight, with most tastings ranging from $40-$60. Then there is the Dream Whiskey Flight, which costs a whopping $950 and includes tastes of Balvenie 40 and Glenmorangie Pride. Big spenders can also purchase their favorite bottles and store them in the "Bottle Keep," where they are tagged and tucked away until your next visit. If you're someone for whom "any Glen" will do, the knowledgeable staff will gladly guide you to a choice you will love.
The Flatiron Room supplements its spirits with nightly live music. Check it out on Monday evenings, when you can relax comfortably at a cocktail table and listen to great bluegrass from 6:30-10:30pm.
RECAP:
- Gramercy Tavern: A Michelin starred Danny Meyer restaurant with a formal dining room and beautiful bar room. Drop by for the $48 daily prix fixe after 5:30pm in the Tavern Room.
- The Flatiron Room: A dimly lit cocktail parlor and cabaret with an extensive whiskey list and live music nightly. Monday night is bluegrass night.
ESSENTIAL INFO:
-Gramercy Tavern is located at 42 East 20th Street. The Flatiron Room is located at 37 West 26th Street.
-Total Cost: About $125 per person for the "Today Menu" prix fixe + drinks at Gramercy Tavern and whiskey or cocktails at The Flatiron Room. Tax and tip included.
-The Tavern Room at Gramercy Tavern accepts walk-ins only and is always busy. However, on Monday evenings, a wait for a table or a couple of spots at the bar won't be too long, if there is one at all. While the formal dining room does accept reservations, the bar room is where you want to be. If you have to wait, hang out by the bar and order a cocktail or a beer from the excellent draft list.
-The famous and not-so-secret off-menu burger at Gramercy Tavern is usually still available by 7:00pm on a Monday evening, an excellent option if you want to skip the prix fixe.
-The Flatiron Room is a "seated bar" with no standing room. Reservations are highly recommended and should be made at least a few days in advance by calling the bar directly. NB: The bar stools are terribly uncomfortable, so you should make a reservation for a table closer to the stage where you can better hear the music.
