On a windswept block of 11th Avenue you'll find Danny Meyer's latest contribution to the NYC dining scene, a casual cocktail bar called Porchlight, which is set to debut on Monday. Unlike the Porsche dealership across the street, there's not much fanfare to set the bar apart from the brick facade of the newly-renovated Terminal Stores. The low-key vibe continues inside, where Blue Smoke co-founder Mark Maynard-Parisi, along with Meyer, have created a kind of outdoors-indoors atmosphere redolent of a squeaky clean barn. It's not honky tonk, but it's a far cry from fine dining.
The 3,800 square foot space wasn't fully completed during a press preview earlier this week, but the early makings of an indoor porch were on their way to completion. During our visit, it was occupied by a band playing countrified versions of pop songs, but once the doors open to the public, it'll host chairs for lounging and sipping peach tea-flavored cocktails. Touches like these contribute to the bar's "Southern accent," as its being described, which has been tempered by some time living in the Big City.
Sherry Cobbler (Andrew Kist)
Chef Jean-Paul Bourgeois hails from Louisiana, bringing some more down South cred to the party. He's installed a hickory smoker in the kitchen, where he's making excellent, tender beef jerky and smoked swordfish. Fried frog's legs, a take on hummus using boiled peanuts and jalapeno-cheddar cornbread further the bar's theme.
They're making an excellent case for cognac-drinking with their Sazerac ($14), a bone-warming mix of Louis Royer Cognac, Herbsaint (instead of absinthe) and Peychaud's bitters served up. The previously mentioned sweet tea-type drink would be the Stay All Night ($14), made with Tito's vodka, Amaro Cio Caro, lemon, peach preserve and black tea. Their version of a Whiskey & Cola uses a homemade cola syrup—served, delightfully, from its own little bottle—with Mellow Corn Whiskey and syrupy Fernet Vallet from Mexico.
