A New York food fixture for four decades, restaurateur Eli Zabar now partners with son Oliver for the first time to expand the Zabar’s empire with this drinks den moonlighting in the Upper East Side grocery-café Eli’s Essentials. After unveiling a similar wine concept at the 91st Street location of Essentials earlier in 2015, Zabar switches gears to beer, with 10 rotating brews—many from homegrown operations like Queens’ Big Alice Brewing and the Bronx’s Gun Hill Brewery—on tap, poured through nozzles protruding from a menu-scrawled chalkboard.
The vibe: It almost feels like an old school diner or deli that serves beer and cocktails because it virtually is that. Stool seating only.
The food: This menu eschews Jewish appetizing and goes full gastropub i.e. burgers, tacos, dips, and pizzas.
The drink: The P, B(ourbon) & J cocktail is a peanut-infused bourbon and berry syrup affair that was novel and surprisingly well-balanced.Cocktails are definitely fun but this place is all about celebrating hyperlocal beer. There’s also wine.
Time Out tip: Great as it is, this isn’t a place you would take a first date–it’s maybe a little too casual if not off-beat. That said, it’s definitely a fun place for a more casual date with somebody who appreciates a neighborhood insider’s acumen.