Onieals Grand Street

A former brothel, speakeasy and gambling parlor, Onieals had quite the heydey during the Prohibition era. Though imbibing is legal once again, some of the vestiges of the bar’s nefarious origins still survive; the tunnel that bootleggers used to use to smuggle in booze now serves as the wine cellar. With an extensive menu of beer, wine, spirits and inventive cocktails, the bar has something for anyone looking to take the edge off. These days, Onieals also serves an upscale menu of classic American dishes with hints of influence from other cuisines. At brunch, try the shrimp and grits ($15) or the omelette with goat cheese, shiitake mushrooms and asparagus ($14). For dinner, start with the filet mignon carpaccio with parmesan and horseradish creme ($19) or grilled oysters on the half shell ($15), then move on to sesame-crusted tuna with tempura green beans ($26) or hammered chicken in a shallot wine sauce ($23).