[title]
The latest bar to land in the West Village keeps a simple motto: Don’t be a stranger.
On Tuesday, November 19, you can finally meet Dear Strangers, a Latin-inspired bar from some of New York's heavy hitters. Previously of Employees Only and Macao Trading Company, Ivan Papic, Ivan Radulovic and Bratislav Glisic are behind the bar here, bringing over 20 years of experience and hospitality know-how with them. Glisic and Radulovic also helped to open sister bar to Employees Only, The Strangers Club in Panama City, which is credited with changing the cocktail culture of the region.
RECOMMENDED: The 14 best bars in NYC’s West Village
Influences from across Latin America are shaken and stirred here. The Angie, for example, features gin, matcha and maracuya (a Brazilian passion fruit). Meanwhile, the Star Treatment goes down smooth with a blend of sotol, cilantro syrup, coconut milk and lime. While more of a popular cocktail in Spain than in Latin America, the bar features a dedicated section of Gin & Tonics thanks to Radulovic’s personal affinity toward them. Thumb through the menu to find traditional G&Ts to riffs on the classic, like The Hindu Times with toasted cumin, fenugreek and pomelo.
The food menu is just as rooted in Latin culture thanks to chef Diego Rodriguez. Cooking in kitchens across New York, Mexico and Latin America—including a stint at Panama's Restaurante Madrigal by Andres Madrigal—Chef Rodriguez, who consulted on the menu, traverses around the region for his fare. Starters include the refreshing Green Aguachile with clarified cucumber, serrano, shrimp, jicama and cilantro. The Bisque de Tigre Chilaquiles leans heartier with chunks of lobster and prawn, all tucked under a fried quail egg. And if you need something sweet, the dessert menu includes the deconstructed Cheesecake Buñuelo with a dollop of soft cream cheese, buñuelo toast and sweet potato.
The bar opens tomorrow at 5pm with a limited menu. So, as they say, don’t be a stranger and come on by.