Brinkley's Pub & Kitchen In New York City
One of the trendy terms in the restaurant world is "gastropub." Swarming all over Manhattan, they're mostly synonymous with late-night nibbling. Nolita outpost, Brinkley's, is no different — serving elevated British pub food to hipsters and twenty something's nightly until 2 a.m. The classic Victorian-esque designed location pumps out quality pub-grub and potent libations for all the English in us to enjoy.
Owners Tom and Anthony Martignetti transformed a failing bistro bar (Martignetti's) to a cozy, yet elegant pub design. Signature white subway tiles, black and white checkered floors and red leather banquettes, which are all too often the décor staples of casual eateries, create the surroundings for an evening or post-evening of warm comfort food.
The tea candle illuminated bar, is a quaint little perch to sample Brinkley's delicious cocktails (all $12) such as a Mexican Red Eye with Don Julio tequila, honey, lemon, and Tabasco, or the Jamboni with Carpano Antigua Vermouth Landy VSOP, and sweet fig jam.
Boutique beers are here too, draft ales (all $7) mostly from New York, include Ommegang Witte (Cooperstown, N.Y.), Keegan Old Capital Ale (Kingston, N.Y.), and Six Points Sweet Action (Brooklyn, N.Y.) to name a few. Keeping up with the British punter and soccer hooliganism tradition, all draft beers at Brinkley's are conveniently available, and somewhat suggested, in 64-oz growlers ($26) — for over-drinking and public-intoxicating entertainment purposes.
For the late-night food lover with your growler in tow of course, try the thick cut fries ($10) cooked in duck fat, and showered in Parmesan cheese. Pigs in a blanket ($9), gooey mac and cheese with Italian fontina ($11), and wild mushroom gnocchi with fine herbs ($17) are just some of the treats from the "Plates" section of the menu. As for the "Classics" you'll love the wild boar bangers and mash ($14), a twist on the hearty but "commoner" type British export of sausages and mashed taters.
A decent grass-fed hamburger ($15) is present, along with a fresh and tasty lobster sandwich ($21) with avocado, bacon, and garlic. There's also "Duck Duck Duck" ($26). It's so good they say it three times! A crispy Long Island duck breast with confit hash and duck foie gras sausage.
Brinkley's gets the art of gastropub cooking right and brings its elevated British-inspired casual cuisine to a late-night downtown crowd. This all comes in the setting of a homely and friendly environment and is definitely worth a gander!