Little Branch
New York, NY 10011
Phone: (212) 929-4360
- Cross Street:
- Leroy Street
Editorial Review for Little Branch – by Erin Behan
The Scene
A perilous flight of stairs initiates drinkers into a strikingly bare room, accented by a corrugated metal ceiling, unadorned walls and a distressed concrete floor. A tin-wrapped bar anchors the dimly lit space, and high-backed booths line one wall. A curio cabinet filled with antique bar ware and an upright piano add flourish to the subdued mix of couples and friends lingering over drinks.
The Draw
Devotees of mixologist Sasha Petraske, who owns New York's hidden speakeasy Milk & Honey and the open-to-all East Side Company Bar, come for the cocktails with an emphasis on simplicity rather than grandiose flair. The devotion to purity is such that many of the drinks come with one oversized ice cube to minimize melting. The effects can be transforming: Those who swore off daiquiris after high school should try the bar's delicate, hand-shaken version, the La Floridita, made with white rum, lime and a touch of maraschino liqueur.
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Insider Tips
The ExtrasA complimentary tray of crispy Indian crackers is often served with the drinks.
What to DrinkIf nothing suits your fancy on the menu, ask the bartender to whip you up something original. Additionally, Little Branch also serves Czechvar, Newcastle Brown Ale and Hoegaarden, plus a red and a white wine.
User Reviews for Little Branch
03/31/2008 Posted by cobraman332
Little Branch is one of those places that I'd never have tried if my friend didn't suggest it. The nearly unmarked on the corner of Leroy and 7th Ave door leads downstairs to a fairly small bar with only a handful of tables -- and sometimes it can take a while to procure one. My group of 4 got to LB around 11:30pm this past Saturday night... we waited on line for around 20 minutes, which was acceptable. I understood that this kind of bar isn't one where you want to be knocking elbows and rubbing against people just to use the restroom. LB does a great job of making sure its customers feel like they are being taken care of and feel comfortable. There's nothing worse (in my opinion) than a small, dark, crowded bar filled with guys groping women looking to get sloppy and hook up -- and I'm a guy so I know what I am talking about. LB is about having a drink, trying something new, and keeping yourself under control... in fact the back of the drink menus tell customers the proper way to enjoy a drink. You won't find people puk*ng in the bathrooms here (thank goodness). Anyway our group waited about a half hour for a table to open up, and then I tried a few drinks in the sweet variety... capirina to start, then two bartender's choice drinks, one of which contained apple brandy. I would never order a drink with apple brandy at a bar, and I never have in the past... but I told the waitress what kind of drink I wanted and she relayed that to the bartender, who created something great. I'll definitely head back to Little Branch to try some more interesting drinks and to relax with friends at a cool place. I'm really tired of following people I know to bars where the goal is to get drunk and pick up random girls. Little Branch is a lot better than those places, it's not packed inside, and it is low-key but still trendy. All that combined with excellent drinks makes for a great experience. (5 Stars if I didn't have to wait on line.)
Pros: Awesome Drinks, Not Crowded, Low-Key but Trendy, Great Space, Not Your Typical Spot
Cons: Short Line at the Door (Understandable), Pricey Drinks
11/25/2007 Posted by worshma
I went to Little Branch last night with two friends. We got there early (around 8pm) and easily got a table, which was great - as two hours later, there was a long line outside the door and only standing room at the bar. The atmosphere of the bar is okay, but the decor and low ceiling gives an extremely cramped feeling. I had hear through reviews that their drinks were above avergae but found them to be overpriced glasses of ice. I ordered one drink that had crushed ice and there was really not much room for the drink - WAY too much ice. For the price of the drinks, you would think you could get more alcohol.
Pros: Cozy, intimate
Cons: Price, Very little for the $, cramped
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