Employees Only - 510 Hudson Street (Bar)
A classy bar, with classy drinks. Okay, it's a bit on the expensive side, but not a bad experience at all...and the back room is really pretty. (PS: I still think that Mt. Fuji's Femme, and Cheesecake Factory's Chocolate Martinis are my best drinks to date. But what the heck do I know? I'm just your average prole....!)
Pegu Club - 77 West Houston Street (near Wooster) (Cocktails)
I have now found my favorite place for cocktails...at least for very special occasions. Unobtrusively located between Laguardia Place and Wooster--and marked solely by a glass-etched lion--Pegu Club is very easy to miss. But once upstairs, the (extremely) high class atmosphere is hard to forget. And so are the signature cocktails, running from their own version of mojitos to sake laced beverages, and my favorite - a Rum/Ginger beer mix known as a Jamaican Firefly. (It's also known as a Dark and Stormy, but that name is trademarked.) The drinks are reasonably priced for upscale Manhattan - $12.00 for the standards, and a little more for specialty drinks. (You also get a decent amount...at least there was for my D&S.) They also serve tapas type eats, but who cares? Patrons of Pegu are there for the atmosphere and the liquid refreshment. This place is class personified - perfect for that special date, or celebratory drink. So take a trip and see for yourself. And have one on me.
Chikalicious - 203 E. 10th Street (Dessert and Wine Bar)
I'd heard about Chikalicious, and had wanted to try it for awhile. Finally I was in the neighborhood (actually, I'm around there often), and stopped in. The place is small, pristine, with an upper middle class preppie vibe. I must say this: the service is a real class act - nice, sweet friendly people that go out of your way to make it a pleasant experience. As you probably already know, Chickalicious only serves desserts and wine (usually paired), with a prixe fixe available. So I had some. The dessert was nice, enjoyable - the port wine was terrific. The sizes...well...I had been forewarned, and the sizes were nouvelle cuisine, laughably small. And the tab came to $20 plus tip. Now, I'm famous for being a skinflint with money. I'm also more comfortable in places with a homey slightly grunge touch. I am glad to have tried the place out. It was fun., and I recommend everyone either try it once, or just stick your head in to take a look. But honestly? Once was just enough.
Elizabeth Street Wine and Liquor Store - 86 Elizabeth Street This place seems to be pretty well stocked, better than the place I found previously on Mott Street. Lots of brands of sake, and they even have baby, tiny bottles of plum wine (Umeshu) for sale. Can't wait to start sampling the wares here...
