The Owl’s Tail, a new cafe at at 215 West 75th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam, had its “soft opening” this week. Amy, who went on one of the first nights, gave us her take: “Cute place! Huge cocktail menu. It was like 4 pages. Also had small food menu with snacks/tapas. Hoping they will offer a happy hour menu at some point. $15 cocktails add up!” The website calls the restaurant “a cocktail parlor and social eatery.” And it’s run by locals! “Upper West Side & New York native, Lawrence Bondulich, teams up with baking/cocktail-savvy wife, singer-songwriter Stephanie Bondulich, to bring this establishment to the neighborhood. Their seasonal cocktails and kitchen are inspired by global spirits, fresh local herbs, fruits & vegetables & house made bitters & syrups. From bar snacks to global tapas & homemade pasta, to baked goods made with love by Stephanie.” Thanks to Sayle for the photo.
Sala Thai is opening at 307 Amsterdam Ave between 74-75th, the former home of Grand Sichuan and then Lily’s 74. Sala Thai “is an extension (same owners?) of our favorite UES Thai restaurant, Up Thai,” says Carl. Here’s the menu at Up Thai. Thanks to Lauren, Carl, Hilary and Ken for the tips and photos.
Famous Famiglia, which closed temporarily because of a building problem, reopened at 96th Street and Amsterdam. Thanks to Rob for the photo.
West Side Pilates has opened up in a lower-level space at 301 West 96th Street. Thanks to Aaron for the photo.
$15 cocktails?
No thanks.
You may not be their target customer. Neither is the senior citizen living in the co-op above the bar.
Think twice before slinging a gratuitous ageist comment, Sean. With some luck you might be a senior,too, someday. Or were you just recently rejected by a cougar?
Dear Joan, I am a 70 year old senior. There was nothing ageist about my comment. I have a feeling you are family with the building housing the new bar.
Should read not familiar.
It’s the extra dollop of pretension that adds $5 to the price of a drink. 🙂
I’ll continue patronizing asocial eateries, thank you. 🙂
Hey, how about a list of your favorite “asocial” drinks places? I am always looking for “my bar” in the 90’s.
Bodega for one.
***CRICKETS***
Are you new here? This is not out of the norm…
Minx, if you don’t know where to find a good cocktail for a reasonable price, you must be the new one.
You’re twisting his words. $15 cocktails is in FACT NOT out of the norm for this area. Not by a long shot. Lighten up.
People, can we all get along here. We all live in rent stabilized apartments with ceiling to floor bookshelves and voted for Hillary in the election even though we secretly liked Bernie. Ooops,wait! I think that’s just me. No wait, I did vote for Bernie in the primary. I think I was the only one on the UWS. I was. I Was. Anyway, what was I saying. Oh, yeah. Oh, I usually never vote for Jerry Nadler because he always runs unopposed in the primary every two years. Then, the Republicans run some flunky to run against him. I’m pretty liberal too. Isn’t that crazy? I guess my point is that even a rent stabilized gypsy crazy neighbor like myself needs a $15.00 cocktail sometime! Now what did I just say?
Fine, you drink it.
There’s always a 40 ounce to be had from the corner deli.
lol!
Another place that overcharges for a drink! 15 bucks? Forget it!
Bluestone Lane! Will have a soft opening this Saturday at 80th St. and Amsterdam Avenue.
Super excited to try Owl Tail, there aren’t enough good cocktails in the neighborhood and sometimes a schlepp downtown is just not on my agenda.
Is that a new pilates studio or a former one just moving to a new space?
Surely the lord has smiled on we sad pilgrims of the Upper West Side. Up Thai is great!!! Sometimes good things really do happen in NYC!!
A number of of the new buildings on the Upper West Side are homes for wealthy people. I certainly find it upsetting, but I try not to think about it. I believe these people can easily afford $15 cocktails. Fortunately, there are a few bars that remain where $3 pints of Bud Lite are offered – that’s where you will be finding me on a Thursday afternoon!
You’ll find most of us at work on a Thursday afternoon! 😉 That said, please share your $3 draft places – the last one I knew of was McAleers. Hoping Frank Mac’s will continue the ‘tradition’!
People keep saying this and to some extent it is true. But most either dismiss or not take into account New York City is the most expensive place in entire USA to build *anything*.
Hospitals, schools, apartment buildings, private residences, infrastructure, and anything else costs more to build here and those costs are reflected in prices to own or rent housing.
People also forget reason why state/city began the 421 and other tax breaks is because without them no one was building low or moderate income housing.
It is also worth noting that all these “wealthy” households coming into Manhattan do have a multiplier effect. That is they spend money on goods and services which keep many a person’s butter stuck to his/her bread.
New York City is raking in so much money BdeB and city council don’t know what to do with it all (a one billion surplus currently). Well actually they do as much of that money is going to fund the vast and bewildering array of liberal/democratic/progressive schemes rolled out by current mayor and the city council.
You haven’t heard the word “layoffs” in regards to NYC labor force in over a decade. In fact quite the opposite; the city’s workforce has grown immensely, and BdeB has doled out generous raises.
New York City lone among several urban areas in USA has gone from a place people were fleeing in droves, to quite the opposite.
You couldn’t pay me enough to drink Bud Light.
I’m pretty sure West Side Pilates has been there for a couple of years.
Famous Famiglia????
Go to a real home cooked Italian restaurant, V&T’s on Amsterdam and 110th. Its been there since 1949, with the same family running it.
Probably worth mentioning that the local person running The Owl’s Tail also seems to be the owner of Bin 71 and formerly Barcibo Enoteca.
@Tom Do you know if it was the original owners or the 2nd owners(that were opened less than 3 months)?
What does “social eatery” mean?
A pretentious term for a restaurant.
A bar with some food. No grill.