Schiller’s Liquor Bar (New York)
Schiller's Liquor Bar
131 Rivington St.
New York, NY 10002
(212) 260-4555
Mon.- Wed. 11:00am-1:00am
Thurs. 11:00am-2:00am
Fri. 11:00am-3:00am
Sat. 10:00am-5:00pm, 6:00pm-3:00am
Sun. 10:00am-5:00pm, 6:00pm-1:00am
Cuisine: American
Brunch entrees $6-$19, dinner appetizers $8-$11, salads $11-15, entrees $12-21
Lots of cheap and solid wine options
A recent New York trip found me and some gal pals shivering on the sidewalk, looking forlornly up at our intended brunch destination (which had moved to a new — and undisclosed — location). What to do, what to do…. Luckily, fate was on our side. A toasty-warm cab came right along and had us shooting downtown to Schiller’s, a favorite standby, in no time at all.
I always seem to wind up at Schiller’s when I’m visiting friends in Manhattan because it’s good, cheap, and relatively painless if you arrive on the early side. (We sat right down on this most recent visit, just before 11:00am, but the wait tends to be notable at 12 or 12:30.)
If you’re starving, be smart and order the house-made donuts right away ($1 each), which are not the hefty hockey pucks of chain shops but warm, sugar-dusted cakes that cry out to be dipped in coffee as you peruse the rest of the menu.
Located on the Lower East Side (at Rivington and Norfolk Sts.), Schiller’s is part of the group that runs Pastis and the once-white hot Balthazar. It’s laid-back and a little quirky, serving its water in square glass containers and boasting row after row of old-style liquor bottles on the walls. The checkered floor and stamped tin ceiling mean it’s noisy but the tables are small — you’ll be able to cozy up to your dining companions without a problem.
The food? As I said: cheap, good, reliable. The French toast is crunchy and sweet, served with blueberries, raspberries and strawberries. The cheeseburger is a solid bet with a heaping of delicious, standard fries on the side. A recurring favorite breakfast dish is the scrambled eggs with lox and onions, which are smoky from the salmon and served with roasted potatoes.
I haven’t been for dinner yet, but Schiller’s is open nice and late, offering casual entrees like steak frites and a “supper” menu that includes macaroni and cheese, fish and chips, and fried calamari. The only shortcoming may be the place’s indifferent wait staff, which can leave you hanging at times.
Schiller’s offers house red or white wines by the glass, half-carafe, and carafe (which yields 3-4 glasses). A carafe of the “cheap” will set you back $15, while the “decent” runs $18 and the “good” $19. If you’re like me and are highly suspicious of house pours, you’ll be pleased to know that the wine list specifies the varietal, winery, and vintage on offer in each cheeky category.
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By Alison L. McConnell
Alison L. McConnell is a Washington, D.C.-based journalist and writer. A native of New Jersey and upstate New York, she attended Bowdoin College in Maine and the London School of Economics before settling in Washington, where she works as a financial reporter and pursues her zeal for cooking on the side. Some of her favorite things to make are risottos, roast chickens, and cakes. She abides by a long-standing family motto: McConnells always finish their desserts.
About The Humble Gourmand
The Humble Gourmand is a monthly online publication edited by Alison L. McConnell, a Washington, D.C.-based journalist and writer. It is designed to offer straightforward lessons and advice to aspiring cooks, oenophiles, and all other eaters and drinkers.
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