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A classy but not too fussy spot brought to you by Greg Seider, the man responsible for the booze program at Minetta Tavern (among other notable drinking destinations), Summit Bar is being billed as the high-end cocktail bar of Avenue C, a street apparently under-cocktailed. (Yes, even though the two-block stretch where Summit lives is practically lined with places to drink—Zum Schneider, The Porch, Lava Gina, Babel Lounge, Duke's, etc. Oh well, whatever. The East Village is thirsty.)
Digs: Masculine chic, with a shiny streak. There's a beautiful black-marble bar, slender blue-velvet couches, exposed brick walls and low gold lighting, as well as three small chandeliers so pretty and sparkly they'd make a five-year-old girl lose her mind. Or a 26-year-old woman! The space only seats 60, so when it fills up, guests are turned away and sent a text when room becomes available—which is nice, since long, thin-ish bars feel like prisons when they're too crowded. You know, just the worst prisons imaginable, the kind with velvet wallpaper, and that you can leave whenever you want. Anyway, Summit is not a prison at all, it's lovely.
Drinks: The menu is currently split into two categories—"Classic" (all $9) and "Alchemist" (all $12)—offering three drinks each, although an expanded menu is in the works, thankfully. We expected more from The Gov'nor, a cocktail from the alchemy section made with Yamazaki 12-year whiskey, toasted cardamom-infused agave, Japanese yuzu and fresh orange juice, but the syrup was overwhelming, and it just ended up tasting like a masking-the-alcohol sweet drink. On the other hand, the Vesper, from the classic section, was perfectly crisp and citrus-clean. Off-the-menu ordering was the most successful, however, as it yielded a nice Manhattan and a good selection of Scotches. Service was excellent. Also, handsome and male.
Food: There's a brief food menu offering tiny bites of cheese, charcuterie and vegetables, $5 each. Skip the vegetables—an odd plate of olives, dripping wet peppadew peppers and cold marinated artichokes—but the cheeses and meats, both from Murray's, are tasty and decently priced, if not too generously plated. The buttery wedge of Fromage d'Affinois, a soft and mild cow cheese, came nicely enhanced with a sour cherry compote. And a cute little knife.
Crowd: Thirtysomething and well put together. So far the spot has been a hit, which means weekends can get jostle-y, although early in the week is still a good bet for after-work and after-after-work drinking. Also a good spot to visit alone.
Soundtrack: Pleasantly uncool. Unrecognizable, non-agressive indie, Eric Clapton and such.
Silly, tangential complaint: Summit proudly doesn't have a phone number. And while it's true there's rarely a reason to call a bar, it's written on the glass out front, right under its name, like a brag: "Summit Bar, No phone." What are you, too good for a phone? Everyone needs a phone! Phones are useful!
The bottom line: Not yet the cocktail spot it fancies itself—the specialty drinks are uneven, although admittedly we haven't tried them all—but it's a nice spot in a neighborhood that very much needs a nice spot. Or so they're saying about a neighborhood that's overrun with bars. Regardless, the crowd is appealing, the service is great, the atmosphere is comfortable, and no one seems to be trying too hard, which in the age of the cocktail bars is a welcome development.
Summit Bar
133 Avenue C between 8 and 9 Sts.
No phone
Photo by Sam Horine
