East Side Company Bar

Frequently referred to as Plan B for those with sights set originally for Milk and Honey, the mellow East Side Company Bar nonetheless stands on its own.

Though the “unmarked speakeasy” has been done to death, the ESCB somehow manages to keep its edge. A small, brass nameplate on the windowless, boarded façade gleams faintly from the light of the kosher pickle shop next door. Behind a heavy curtain lies a dimly lit space hushed by the soft, haunting sounds of Massive Attack, remixed Nina Simone classics, or the DJ’s choice on weekend evenings.

A friendly bartender motions to grab a seat at the bar or follow the string of candles to the small leather booths in the back. Pressed tin walls and low ceilings reflect flickering candlelight for an intimate, cozy ambiance; the long, narrow space evokes the interior of a railcar.

In mixologist Sasha Petraske’s signature style that pays attention to fresh ingredients and tradition rather than gimmicks, bartenders pour cocktails such as Manhattans with Old Overholt rye whiskey, instead of bourbon. A list of stiff drinks off the menu or by request take time to craft, but by the last drop no one remembers the holdup that was actually the sign of a cocktail chef at work.