You might already be aware of my love (or obsession?) for Speakeasy. There are a few places in NYC, like The Honey Well, The Bar Downstairs, and Apothéke. Some of them have more of the real speakeasy feel, with their “secret” entrance, and that is the kind of place I love. This spot, The Little Shop, has just that, the secret entrance!
So, what is so special about The Little Shop? Well, when you walk in, all you see is a bodega, a nice little grocery store. And there is this white, unmarked door in the back, which makes you think it is just a closet that holds some extra grocery products. But, that is the SECRET entrance to the speakeasy! What! Even with the secrecy, they are quite popular, so it is highly recommended to make a reservation. We did exactly that, and we went to the store clerk at the time of our reservation, and she took us through the secret white door.
We had the earliest reservation time available, as we were planning to have drinks and appetizers here, and then off to a dinner afterwards. It was nice to be able to see the place almost empty, to be able to appreciate all the decors and the atmosphere.
And I loved everything about this spot! All the antique-looking furniture, including lamps, artworks, and the wallpapers! It really takes you back into the good old days…
They have a nice bar by the entrance, and it was full by the timer we left, every seat in The Little Shop was taken. My goodness they are popular! I am so glad we had a reservation!
Once we were settled and comfy, our server brought us some welcome drinks on the house! Love! It was Strawberry-Kiwi Paloma with Mezcal. It had a little heat and spiciness to it, which was nice. It was really refreshing, what a great way to be welcomed!
We placed drink orders, and I went with Black Cherry ($18). It is made with Scotch, Amaro Montenegro, Cherry Heering, Grapefruit, Lemon, and Luxardo. This cocktail was excellent! Elegantly sweet with the Luxado, and beautiful flavor of cherry with the Cherry Heering! Had a pitted cherry on the bottom, soaking up all the goodness. Great cocktail!
My hubby Ordered Purple Vesper ($18), made with Empress Gin, Vodka, Lillet, and Lavender. He went through a lavender-cocktail-phase during the summer… It had a beautiful lavender color, and super boozy! It had a really nice lavender aroma and flavor without being overwhelming. Elegant and tasty.
To go with our delicious cocktails, we ordered Whitefish Dip ($14), topped with lemon preserve gremolata, served with salt and pepper chips. It was a bit bigger in portion than we expected, which was great. They brought us two serving plates, which were beautifully mismatched.
The Whitefish Dip was amazing! Perfect level of salty flavor, and the fish was moist, creamy, and perfectly seasoned. The lemon added refreshing flavor. Every bite was delightful. We loved it!
We also ordered Mini Beef Empanadas ($14), with Spanish Sofrito, Ground Beef, and a side of salsa.
As the menu says, it is “mini” but big with flavor! It was also packed with a nice amount of beef in there as well. The salsa (green salsa, even though the red light makes it look red in some photos) was spicy but tasty! We liked these mini empanadas!
For the second drinks, my hubby chose Basil ($18), and I went with Chilled Espresso ($18). Since the first time we tried delicious cocktail with basil in it, we do tend to try basil-type cocktails. It is made with Vodka, Lillet Blanc, Cantaloupe, and Basil. It had the beautiful light green color, and tasted incredible! Perfect sweetness, elegant aroma and flavor. Loved everything about it. Who knew basil and cantaloupe goes so perfectly together…
Chilled Espresso is made with Reposado, Espresso, Cinnamon, Allspice, and Coffee Liquor. It came in a glass teacup, so cute! It had a strong coffee flavor, with perfect amount of spice. It was really nice, and the addition of chocolate Pocky as a stir stick was just great!
Their bathroom is located by the entrance. They have a couple of bathroom stalls, with a shared sink in the middle. The flower wallpaper is so gorgeous! The bathroom itself is small, but not too tiny. It was clean and organized.
The Little Shop sure is a great fun, cozy, and romantic atmosphere all in one! The staff were all very friendly and welcoming. We had an amazing time here! We would definitely go back for more in a future!
The Little Shop – 252 Front St, New York, NY 10038