Bongos - Dinner through comtemporary noir lens
Bongos (85 Orchard St) — a new neighborhood bistro and cocktail bar located in the LES — has officially opened on May 17.
Owners Michael Beaumont Bray and Noble Harris, who also operate Kind Regards and Dingaling, bring their distinct sensibility to Bongos (Bongos is their first full service restaurant as owners). Bongos is the neighborhood's new go-to spot for group dining, conviviality, and shared experiences, drawing inspiration from supper clubs and designed to feel like a sophisticated and dynamic dinner party every night of the week.
Bongos has a laid-back, welcoming ambience that brings back memories for everyone who walks through its doors. Imagining the dinner party through a contemporary noir lens, they pay tribute to the Lower East Side as they live it – with dinner served until midnight, along with a curated beverage menu and weekend brunch.
Bongos’s menu features modern renditions of classic American Dishes. Popular bites include:
Charbroiled Oysters with pecorino, Aleppo, and herbs
Steak Tartare with black sesame, ancho, and pickled mustard seed
Bongos Chicken with Calabrian relish, house pickles, and herbs
Pacific Whiting with guajillo mojo, sourdough, and fennel
The cocktail menu offers something for everyone; options include:
The Chamomile Martini, plus classic and dirty martinis
"Negronis-ish” – a selection of Negronis and “Negroni-adjacent” libations, including Rum-Banana-Coconut, Mexican Coffee and Mezcal-Coffee-Amaro options
The Bongos Highball (scotch, honey, ginger, lemon)
The Orange Julius (vodka, vanilla, tangerine, lemon)
The Southside (gin, mint, cucumber, lime)
The restaurant's four separate areas (including the amber-hued grand dining room and rear atrium) are all inspired by the Lower East Side's personality and based on the concept of a dinner party in a private residence. Enjoy B-grade noir films on repeat, as well as terrazzo and handpicked outsider art in the decor.
Bongos's menus can be found online here.
Interior photos by Bongos
Bell Book & Candle
Photos: Michael Weber
Went here with a small group of friends for a private dinner on Tuesday night. The place could be a bit hard to find. It's in the middle of the street and in a basement, but don’t let the confined entrance waver you from stepping in and having a grand time.
Bell Book & Candle (BB&C) has a snug yet rustic decor. It's an intimate space, dimly lit. After a long day, I especially appreciated the tranquil setting so we didn’t feel like we had to yell to talk to each other.
BB&C revolves around homegrown, organic, sustainable and overall responsible procurement. The menu rotations are seasonal and heavily influenced on creations from the aeroponic roof-top tower garden. Finding muse in the regions of America and focusing on the modern aspect and range of the melting pot, BB&C's food strives for a component of innovation and uniqueness.
Everything on the tasting menu were delectable, cooked just right, and full of flavor. No disappointments! The most outstanding dish, however, was definitely the “crab stuffed Montauk fluke” which came with sautéed spinach lemon seaweed butter sauce. I have now told all my friends about this dish which was the most delicious crab I have ever had. The main dish was the Chicken in a Pot – a whole roasted chicken with potatoes, carrots and chicken gravy. The chicken is served with skin, and is succulent. The rich and juicy gravy was the perfect compliment to the dish.
Photos by Michael Weber
Drinks were flowing all night. BB&C offers a list of classic American cocktails crafted with seasonal ingredients. The wine list features both American and international selections. Drinks are mostly $15 which is very reasonable for this area and experience. The cocktails are fantastically named and just as delicious. You can taste the careful thought and the personality of the bartender that goes into each drink. There is a great variety, however, I particularly enjoyed “Soup of the day” which was a brilliant concoction with extra dirty martini and house made blue cheese olives. The service was great, everyone was welcoming and worked as a team to make sure all was well taken care of.
This probably will become one of my favorite restaurants in NYC, hands down one of the best in the west village, perfect for a date but also fun for a group dinner. And with the food changing seasonally, there is always a reason to go back.
Bell Book & Candle is located at 141 W 10th Street. or more information or to make your reservation, please visit bbandcnyc.com and call 212.414.2355.
BB&C is having specials for the Super bowl and Valentine’s day.
Valentine's Day - 7-Course Vegan Tasting Menu in addition to a 7-Course Non-Vegan Tasting menu so that vegans and meat lovers alike can enjoy their very own individual tasting menus together, side by side. Executive Chef John Mooney will prepare Caramelized Tofu, Roasted Cauliflower Soup with Toasted Hazelnuts & Black Truffle and Spinach and Wild Mushroom Taco for the vegan menu. Non Vegan items include Surf & Turf with grass fed beef filet & Crab Stuffed Montauk Fluke with potato gratin, wilted spinach, and Old Bay butter, a Quail Egg Benedict with Osetra, house cured salmon and béarnaise as well as Lobster Tacos with tomatillo avocado salsa. Both menus are $75 per person or $200 per couple, which includes a bottle of Cremant de Bourgogne Brut.
Super Bowl - Bell Book & Candle will offer an exclusive Super Bowl Sunday menu while guests watch the game on two 75" HD projectors complete with surround sound. Menu items include BB&C Smoked Whole Wings with Chipotle BBQ, blue cheese and hot sauce for $3 each, Drunken Bean Dip with goat cheese, tomato, and grilled flatbread for $10 and a BB&C Patty Melt Burger with grilled onions, vintage cheddar and rooftop pickles for $17.
Photos by Michael Weber
Rock'n'Roll at SUSHI ROXX
If you’re looking for a restaurant experience unlike any other, turn to Sushi Roxx. Located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, this Japanese restaurant offers both delicious food and a live dance show, performed by none other than the waiters and waitresses, who are also talented singers and dancers. But this isn't the Stardust Diner. Sushi Roxx is a little more selective with their musical choices: their show “We Will Roxx You” only features music from world famous rock artists such as Aerosmith, AC/DC, Lenny Kravitz, and Journey.
Although the restaurant has been open for a few years, it has recently launched a series of new menu items in order to go along with the musical dining experience. The venue, which exudes romantic Asiatic influences, offers delicious specialty cocktails named after Marvel and DC superheroes, such as the Green Lantern (Jameson, blue curacao, peach, lemon), the Skywalker (Avion Silver, honeydew, agave, lime, jalapeno, basil), and the Black Panther (Aviation, Creme De Cassis, blackberry, lime), as well as additional food items, such as sushi pizzas and rolls with combinations varying from spicy tuna to lobster. There is something for everyone to enjoy while singing along to some of the most popular throwback songs of the 20th Century.
For those craving something sweet to finish off the night, fun desserts, such as Nutella S’mores (nutella, marshmallow, graham cracker), Berries and Creme (seasonal berries, lemon, schlag), and Death by Birthday Cake (chocolate cake, whipped cream, chocolate fudge, vanilla cream) are just a few choices of sweets available for anyone interested in getting a sugar rush after a gleeful night.
If you’re up for some old school music with a fun twist and delicious food, or would like to spice things up by visiting a new restaurant in the midst of New York City, make sure to reserve a table at Sushi Roxx by visiting http://sushiroxxnyc.com/, and check out the menu by clicking here.
Photos courtesy of SUSHI ROXX