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Caesar salad martinis? You may have seen this inventive (or monstrous) take on the classic cocktail circling the socials early last year. Under the tag of #FoodTok, various content creators shook up their version of salad-based tinis' with anchovy oil, Parmesan rind-infused spirits and cherry tomato garnishes. What started as a trend can now be found at one of Chelsea’s latest cocktail bars.
RECOMMENDED: The best martinis in NYC
Landing in Chelsea early last month comes Shy Shy (169 8th Avenue). Sister bar to Jungle Bird, which can be seen across the street, Shy Shy is the second bar from Krissy Harris and Marissa Cheshier. While Jungle Bird is all about escaping to a tropical paradise, Shy Shy channels the secluded beaches of the West Coast.
“The childhood memories Marissa and I have of the verdant lushness and salty coastal feel of the West Coast are recreated in our cocktails, food, and every detail of the design,” said Harris in a press release. “One bar is a tropical vacation, the other is a coastal cabin getaway, both offer a little escape from the hustle and bustle of our city.”
And what better way to start a beach escape than with a few martinis in hand? The aforementioned Caesar is a standout, starting with a dressed up Ketel One Vodka infused with EVOO, black pepper and lemon zest. As a finishing touch, the cocktail comes with a garnish of Romaine lettuce, Parmesan and an anchovy. Creative riffs continue with bay leaf-infused gin martinis and their filthiest take on the classic: Oh! You Like It Dirty, served up with pebble ice and fat olives. But if you just need a teaser over getting tanked, the 1.5-ounce Noontini is a ready drink that won’t slow you down. But if martinis aren’t the name of your game, don’t worry, the bar has plenty more creative cocktails like the Spritz SZN with Xila Mexican Apertif and Aperol or the green apple and celery-spiked Green Gimlet. Drafts, wines and zero-proof cocktails round out the menu.
Need to balance your beachtime boozing? Shy Shy’s coastal-inspired snacks will get your legs back on land. A weekly rotation of tinned fish, aptly named Tinned Things, kicks off the menu, always served with a plate of aioli, crackers and pickled veggies. Tarragon broiled oysters with bearnaise butter are on deck, while Fridays bring freshly shucked bivalves. But if seafood isn’t your thing, the French Onion Labneh Dip or the Short Kings in a Blanket aka Wagyu beef mini sausages wrapped in a puff pastry, might just be.
So if you are feeling like a beachside escape without actually leaving the city, set your sails toward Shy Shy.