On our recent cocktail travels throughout the city, we’ve come to a conclusion: Midtown gets an undeserved bad rap. We understand that many New Yorkers are currently in a Top Chef tizzy, but there are numerous places that have been quietly breaking down the boundaries of food & drink for years without having to be validated by the Bravo watching hoards. To prove our point, we headed to Beacon Restaurant & Bar on 56th Street. We entered this almost 10 year old haunt determined to drink as many classy fall cocktails as it took to show that great mixing goes on in Midtown.
Not to mention, it was cold out. That hot pumpkin drink on their menu sounded good. We were exhausted from trying to purchase scalped tickets to the hottest show in town. Who would have known how hard it would be to score a seat to the Rockettes? Those New Jersey families sure don’t want to sell the little one’s seat!
The restaurant was vast, the warm lighting and high ceilings evoke classic New York in a way that some “Bravo worthy” restaurants try to do in a more artificial way (think The Libertine, BLT Prime, a six figure design bill). The evening crowd was clustered in tables that faced the open kitchen. It seems that the Rockettes weren’t the only show in this neighborhood.
We decided on a perch at the bar for our cocktail study. Our favorite was the Spiced Apple Mojito. The cool smell of muddled apples and kick of the rum proved that this restaurant isn’t just a beacon shining light throughout the neighborhood, it is a comforting refuge from the Times Square madness that lies only a few blocks away.
We were so comforted that we started to nibble on the complimentary parmesan breadsticks that are available on the bar. It's touches like these that the down towners miss when scoffing about New York above 42nd street. Believe us, if they could try a few of these breadsticks with a sip of a Mojito (at last count we could fit at least 5 in our mouth at once), they would come up and join us for a drink.
We may have felt a bit hot and bothered by Midtown’s bad rap, but our feelings of chagrin quickly started to lull once the bartender put their pumpkin cocktail in front of us. This Hot N’ Bothered Pumpkin warmed us up right away, but we couldn’t tell if it was from the temperature of the drink or from the healthy serving of Makers Mark Bourbon that it contained. We were perhaps a little too excited by all that Beacon had to offer. Please learn from our mistakes: parmesan breadsticks do not make a good stirring rod for your pumpkin cocktail.
Although the setting is decidedly swank, the restaurant definitely has a deal for those who still want to feel fancy in times of recession. Their “Live after 5” cocktail hour lets you enjoy the flavors of fall without having to pay for it into spring. Order 2 seasonal cocktails and one of the restaurant's signature pizzas for only $19.95 from 5 – 6:30PM. For the adventurous frugal folk among you, we think that’s enough time for two rounds.
We will be back to Beacon (we still haven’t scored those Radio City tickets), especially during the cold months of New York winter. We are glad to see that the restaurant breaks silly stereotypes of Midtown. It’s possible to still be growing strong without nightly visits from Padma. In fact, this block has its own little trifecta of perfection. Start at Town for some classic cocktails, head to Beacon for a taste of fall, and then run over to Benihana for a drunken dinner. With a combo like that, you’ll never want to leave Midtown again.
Cocktails from Beacon Restaurant and Bar:
Spiced Apple Mojito: Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, Mulled Cider, Wood Roasted Hudson Valley Apples
Hot N’ Bothered Pumpkin: Steamed Makers Mark Bourbon, Butter, Pumpkin Puree, Nutmeg Whipped Cream
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