Eel Bar

[Wilfrid]

I had been curious about this place from the owners of Cervo's. Basque-style tapas it said. Also I was out of cheese, and it occurred to me that a visit to Eel Bar is easily paired with shopping at Formaggio Essex.

It's larger inside than I expected, with a long and very comfortable bar. I did make a reservation and when I first walked in I thought I needn't have bothered; but the place filled up fast. The "wet martini" features gin, Dolin dry vermouth, Comoz Blanc (another vermouth) and orange bitters. It was good with the gildas, made here with pickled cucumber instead of the traditional pepper plus big, fat olives.

I wasn't sure about the cara caras with Murcian goat cheese, but I'm glad I tried the dish. The cara cara is a red-fleshed orange but not a blood orange (per Wikipedia). The pieces were dusted with sea salt and served alongside the creamy cheese, over a dressing made with good vinegar. Interesting and thoughtful although the portion of oranges was unnecessarily generous. Like most NYC tapas, really a plate for sharing.

Then the ambitious burger. A medium rare but crisply charred patty served with Roquefort (now over $50 per lb at Formaggio, incidentally), a couple of boquerones and a mound of thinly sliced raw onion. Boquerones do enhance red meat, but I had to remove most of the onions. Otherwise very good. I moved from the martini to a Catalunyan orange.

Intriguing food, delightful service, nice room.

[MitchW]

Though I've never posted, Eel Bar has been in regular rotation for us almost since it opened. Once every few weeks at least.   Since we sit at the bar, it's way more comfortable, for us at least, than Cervo's counter.

The fried potatoes now are some of the best, in a non-French fry sort of way...they're bigger, triple-cooked, and just great.  We usually get them to share on the main with the meatballs, which are also pretty damn good.

And when they have a special...

like these fried smelts, I find them hard to pass up.  The grilled quail, when it's on the menu, is another fave.

And yes, lovely service.

Edited February 3 by MitchW

[Wilfrid]

The bar is especially spacious and comfortable. I went expecting a small room with a busy counter. If it was in my neighborhood I could see being a regular, but like I said, I get down to Essex Market often enough.

 

ETA: I did wonder if there was an existing thread, but since our search engine cannot detect either "eel" nor "bar" I took a chance. 😄

[SethG]

We've been a few times since they opened. Just there last night, actually. Fun vibe, pleasant unpretentious staff. The cheesecake is dynamite. The wine list is well-curated, 

Only complaint is unless they install a vestibule or something I won't sit at the bar in the winter months again. I can do without the rush of frigid air every thirty seconds when someone opens the door. Our once-hot plates literally felt like they'd come out of a refrigerator after a few blasts. 

Have not tried the famous "stink-burger" yet but it has me curious. Maybe next time. 

[Wilfrid]

Oh no, it's a long bar and I was at the other end from the door, but I do remember other customers refusing seats near the door.

[MitchW]

11 hours ago, SethG said:

Only complaint is unless they install a vestibule or something I won't sit at the bar in the winter months again. I can do without the rush of frigid air every thirty seconds when someone opens the door. Our once-hot plates literally felt like they'd come out of a refrigerator after a few blasts. 

Cute story:  We walked over the night after Wilfred's dinner posted above, on Tuesday, sans reservation.  We like to sit at the bar, and not at the seats close to the door, but from the middle over toward the kitchen.  They're usually able to accommodate, but the bar was almost full - the only seats left were by the door.  I said we'd rather not, so instead they sat us a table in the dining room.  Shrimp croquettes were new to us, and great - they fry really well here.

Chef comped us that Cara Cara salad, which was quite nice.

I know Cervo's has a vestibule, but I think because of the step up to get into Eel Bar, they're not able to do that there.