NoMad Bar at The NoMad Hotel - NYC

First impression? The feeling of walking into the NoMad Bar is that of "I've made it!"....even if you haven't. I was transported from New York Citys Flatiron to chic London Town.

With The NoMad Bar, Team NoMad has decided to move into the world of next-level bar food and fancy cocktails. The space is unattached to the formal restaurant (and when I say formal...I mean it!), though it has a similar feel: it’s elegant, it’s dark, and it’s the kind of place that makes you feel frickin awesome. And for what it is - a bar that offers a full, expensive, menu full of casual(ish) food - it’s really damn good. Just know that this isn’t the “after work with your crew” bar. This is the once-in-a-while bar, best saved for those times you want to impress someone, or maybe just impress yourself a little bit.

What's the crowd like? The cafe has “social” in its name, and that’s the best word to describe its regulars. You’ll mostly find groups of friends chatting away, here. We wouldn’t say the patrons are the most hardcore coffee fans (you probably won’t hear many guests asking about the origins of beans), but they flock to Boxcar Social for the quaint atmosphere—and the opportunity to drink whiskey, wine, and beer, too.

Drink Review Boxcar Social works with ten or so coffee roasters on a rotating basis, so you might get something a little different every time you visit. There’s also a constantly changing wine selection of natural and biodynamic varietals, a long list of drafts and cans from local craft breweries, and global whiskeys.

Should you eat as well?

Yes, but it'll cost ya.

Carrot Tartare

There are a bunch of vegetables on the NoMad bar menu, but who wants to eat vegetables when there’s a pot pie at the table next to you? If you are going to go the veggie route, this carrot tartare is the way to go. It’s pretty much the best coleslaw you’ll ever eat.

Clams In Broth With Corn, Bacon & Tomato

I will eat anything that comes out of the ocean...ANYTHING. And if you put bacon in it my heart does mini foodie flips. Go with these local steamed clams in broth and thank me later.

Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dog

If you’ve had a couple of stiff drinks, the carrot tartare goes out the window and this guy sounds pretty damn appetizing. You can get an equally-enjoyable bacon-wrapped dog at Crif Dogs for a quarter of the price, but whatever. Live in the moment. It also has black truffle on it, which is the only way we can justify paying $16 for ground-up pig parts in a bun.

Burger

As previously stated, I love this burger. It’s laced with bone marrow, so it has a very rich, meaty flavor to it. The size of it is disappointing so you'll need to continue to explore the menu.

Chicken Pot Pie With Black Truffle & Foie Gras

The crown jewel of the menu here is the pot pie - a re-imagined version of the Chicken for Two with Foie Gras next door at The NoMad. It’s a $40 production that includes table-side preparation, and it’s definitely delicious and Perfect For a cold winter night. Just make sure you’re sharing it with someone. No one should be eating like this alone.

Cookies & Cream

If I could have three things on a deserted island they would be my iPhone, pickles and THIS dessert. This dish consists of what basically looks like frozen Cadbury eggs, but the outside is made of the chocolate crunchy bits you find in the middle of Carvel cakes, and the inside is made with homemade vanilla ice cream. It’s absurd and amazing, and they need to start selling these in grocery stores ASAP.

Is it a YAY or NAY? Regardless of who you’re impressing, they should probably be someone that you’d also take to a nice dinner because the NoMad bar will cost you about the same. That being said this is a 100% YAY...just maybe once a year unless you have the company card ;)

The NoMad Bar is located at 10 W. 28th St. Hours are 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. every day of the week.

Entrance on 28th street

The Restaurant

The Burger

Best Old Fashioned in NYC

Sexy AF