A Manhattan spinoff of Queens's Astoria Bier & Cheese arrives on Broadway this weekend with a soft opening slated for Saturday. The smallish shop run by Yang Gao—known as Milk & Hops—opens between 9th and 10th streets, with the same menu as the Broadway location of AB&C. "We will offer an extensive mind-blowing craft beer/cider bottle and growler program for take away," explains food curator Mike Fisher. Plus "a well stocked cooler with grab and go cheeses and salami, crackers, pickles, chocolate, hard to find specialty import food products and a thorough selection of cocktail ingredients!"
On the menu: lots of cheese, as one would expect, including the popular "The Works" ($22) platter, consisting of a selection of five cheeses plus four different meats served with a squeeze of mustard, cornichons and toasted bread. Sandwiches run from super cheesy—the grilled cheese Trio ($8) with fresh mozzarella, raclette and cheddar—to more meat-oriented, like the Bacon Banh Mi ($10) with country pate, pastured bacon, cilantro, mayonnaise and vegetables on a crunchy baguette.
The hops proportion will consist of 10 taps, which will flow with local beers from breweries the shop already has a relationship with. Pints can be poured for on-site consumption—plus pairing with the cheeses—or taken home via growlers. Same goes for the 275 bottles—a mix of local craft and imported labels—which can be purchased by the six pack.
Jacob Berg, who's in charge of the cider and beer program, tells us that the "beauty about this business model is that it's based on the taste of the neighborhood, so even though our opening bottle and tap list will be very similar to our Astoria stores, our inventory will ultimately evolve to reflect what breweries/styles people in the Astor Place/Union Square neighborhood like to buy."
779 Broadway, 212-995-5588; website
Milk & Hops Menu
Vermont Cheddar Cheese Curds $4
served with sourdough bread
Ricotta Plate $4
served with raw honey and crunchy breadsticks
Housemade Bier Cheese $5.50
Served with a warm pretzel and mustard
Pickle Plate $5.50
A selection of five artisanal pickles
Small Cheese Plate $7
3 of our favorites
Large Cheese Plate $12
selection of 5
Meat Plate $12
4 of our favorites
The Works $22
Large cheese plate + meat plate
Bier and Cheese Pairing Plate $18
4 cheeses matched up with 4 draught beers
Bacon Plate $13
Lamb, belly, and jowl bacons with sourdough, pickles, and a shot of spicy pickle brine
Trio $8
Fresh mozz, raclette, and cheddar
B.M.T. $8
Smoked mozzarella, roasted tomatoes, and basil
Bacon Blue $10
Cambozola blue and pastured bacon on raisin fennel semolina with Vermont maple syrup
Truffle Shuffle $13
Truffle gouda, fresh mozzarella, and a touch of raw honey
B.L.T. $8.50
Our take on the classic with the best bacon you have ever tasted. Add avocado and chipotle $1
Bacon Banh Mi $10
Country pate, pastured bacon, cilantro, mayo and veggies on crunchy baguette
Jamon Serrano $9
Cave-aged gruyere, roasted tomatoes, and Serrano ham on crunchy baguette
Mr. Crispy $10
Pastured ham and cave-aged gruyere with sweet mustard coated in crispy parmigiano
The Italiano $8.50
Prosciutto, fresh mozz and marinated piquillo peppers on crunchy baguette
The Spaniard $9.50
Serrano ham, manchego, piquillos, sherry vinegar and olive oil on crunchy baguette
Ham and Brie Pretzelwich $9
Pastured ham, brie fermier, mustard and cornichon on a warm pretzel bun
Hot Muffaletta $10
Our take on the classic with house spicy olive salad, Italian meats and fresh mozz
