Openings

New York’s First Cider-Centric Bar, Wassail, Opens on Tuesday

Cider! Cider! Cider!
Cider! Cider! Cider! Photo: Melissa Hom

The team behind Queens Kickshaw has shifted its focus to cider for its second project: a Lower East Side bar named Wassail, which will offer close to 100 varieties by draught, in bottles, and by the glass. Apparently, America is in the midst of a cider renaissance, and Wassail will feature many local producers — as well as French, Spanish, British, Italian, and Irish ciders.

As for the food: Chef Joseph Buenconsejo’s all-vegetarian, British-leaning menu includes a mix of bar snacks (Scotch Eggs, jalapeño fritters, fried pastie) and composed dishes, like peas with smoked ricotta, asparagus, and morels, and layered potatoes with turnips, mustard greens, and gribiche. Take a look:

Fava, feta, tahini.
Fava, feta, tahini. Photo: Melissa Hom
Duck egg with barley, hedgehog mushroom, Brussels sprouts, and sorrel.
Duck egg with barley, hedgehog mushroom, Brussels sprouts, and sorrel. Photo: Melissa Hom
English-pea cremeux with fenugreek and sugar-snap peas.
English-pea cremeux with fenugreek and sugar-snap peas. Photo: Melissa Hom
Bunker’s Love Affair: suze, pommel, cidre.
Bunker’s Love Affair: suze, pommel, cidre. Photo: Melissa Hom
Black Oxford: mezcal, Basque vermouth, Eden Orleans bitters, mole bitters.
Black Oxford: mezcal, Basque vermouth, Eden Orleans bitters, mole bitters. Photo: Melissa Hom
Summer of Rambo: scotch, Pimm’s, lemon, cucumber, and cider.
Summer of Rambo: scotch, Pimm’s, lemon, cucumber, and cider. Photo: Melissa Hom
The space.
The space. Photo: Melissa Hom

Food [PDF]

Wassail, 162 Orchard St., 646-918-6835

NYC’s First Cider-Centric Bar Opens