Margaritas and mahi-mahi? Daiquiris and Dover sole? It’s rare to find a seafood restaurant whose bar manages to think outside the white wine-beer-Bloody Mary box. But Ed’s Chowder Bar, a part of Ed’s Chowder House on Broadway and 63rd St., is good enough to be considered an entity unto itself, with a first-rate cocktail selection that isn’t just meant for pairing with fish.
Ed’s Chowder Bar is the latest creation of Ed Brown, the restaurateur who’s best known in New York for China Grill and Asia de Cuba. Since it opened in September, it’s attracted a steadily growing clientele of tourists who come from the Empire Hotel in which Ed’s is housed, as well as locals who stop by after work or before events at Lincoln Center.
Ed’s cocktail prices are very reasonable for New York, but at $9-12 each, they’re no bargain, either. Fortunately, the friendly barkeeps make sure you’ll get your money’s worth. A fantastic margarita is given an extra kick by the addition of fresh jalapeños along with Milagro tequila, triple sec and lime. Their “Hemingway Daiquiri” employs Bacardi Limon as a base, with fresh grapefruit and lemon juice in place of lime. The result is a surprising burst of flavor along with the citric tang. Ed’s mai tai looks clearer and paler than the ones you’ll find at a typical tiki bar (thanks to the absence of pineapple juice or grenadine) but it tastes just as good; and their Elderflower Royale is a refreshing concoction that mixes St. Germain elderflower liqueur with Imperia vodka, lemon and prosecco.
Ed’s wine selection runs to about 150 bottles of both red and white, with a dozen or so available by the glass, and they also stock half a dozen beers, mostly microbrews. Their bar menu is perfect for snacking or a full meal, with selections like spicy tuna sliders at $5 apiece; a “chowder sampler” (a cup each of Manhattan blue crab, New England clam and seasonal veggie chowders) for $12; and of course a daily selection of super-fresh Atlantic oysters for $2.75 each. The perfect complement to an ice-cold martini or a spicy Bloody Mary! And for land-lubbers, their burgers and fries are out of this world.
Ed’s Chowder Bar doesn’t have any happy hour specials, at least not yet. But the drinks, eats and lively atmosphere ensure that whenever you come in (they’re open from 5:00 to 11:30 PM), you’re going to leave happy and satisfied.