6th Stop – Lea – 230 Park Avenue
(In the Helmsley East Walkway)
So I am back on Park Avenue, I can’t help myself – I have to check this place out for the sheer challenge of finding it! In doing so, what I discover, is that even Native NYers have a hard time directing me to the “Helmsley East Walkway.” This area around Grand Central is a bit of an enigma….but with my coordinates and instincts in tow, i seek out this inpenetrable hideaway, and eventually, after a few too many circles around one too many blocks, I happen upon it. From the outside it’s barely noticeable, no prominent sign to guide you.
But once I enter through the narrow door, the beautiful interior definitely catches my eye. My sights are immediately drawn to the disco balls dangling from the ceiling, though in the same tilt of the head, these ostentatious props lead to an unexpected gang of eloquent, romantic era paintings featuring volumptuous female figures which adorn the high-reaching red walls around me. The long, slender bar sits before an immense back-drop that reaches 7 shelves high, lined with what seems, never-ending bottles of liquor.
The Martini (Berrytini) -
I want to try a signature drink so I veer from my norm and opt for something sweet – the berrytini – not too bad actually. It has a nice subtle tartness to tame the sweet berry beast. A beautiful presentation, with its rich red color in a tall solid martini glass, this drink is quite enjoyable. Still, as I look around this modern day parlor I can’t help longing for my usual dirty gin martini. That being said, i must interject to point out that when I first came into the bar I was alone for the moment, still awaiting the arrival of my 2nd party, but I settled into a table for 2 anyway. Moments later, I was asked kindly to move to accommodate a party of 2 who were both present – the place was hopping. I was happy to oblige them. In fact I was moved to another 2 seater, but just in a more snug position near the bar. So why is this important to my chronicle? Okay, back in the moment – as that last sip of berrytini lingers on my tongue and my tastebuds tingle for some gin, the waitress approaches me and tells me that the “House” would like to buy me another drink as a way to thank me for being so amenable to moving my seat earlier. And some people refuse to believe in karma. My dirty gin martini is just as good as the first – though I must admit, everything tastes a little better when it’s free!
Rating: 
2.75 olives
Join me next time for a drink in NoHo at Madame Geneva’s
3 olives
very overwhelming to decide where to go. Your options range from small, down and dirty open mike haunts to distinguished jazz night clubs to massive arenas like Madison Square Garden. The options are endless. So today, I attempt to narrow your search, at least for one night. Upon recommendation from a friend, I decided to check out the pianist at Rue B Bar in the East Village, and I am surely glad I did so.
with framed photos of Pop icons of the past such as James Dean and Dean Martin – so you are immediately thrown back to another time upon entry into the bar. The physical bar itself is set up to entice your thirst for a martini – right in the middle of the structure, standing poised, are 5 martini glasses, chilling with ice – waiting to be suited up and offered to a thirsty patron.
2.5 olives
This is your typical Mid-town Manhattan after-work hot spot. Even in the cold months this immense bar/restaurant, housing 3 floors and a rooftop patio, tends to pack a crowd. I believe it classifies as a Sports Bar, considering the 18 televisions and large-screen projection screens. So be forewarned, you will likely find the place filled wall to wall with jock and meathead types and the ladies who love them (although you will find these lettermen disguised in traditional work garb at this hour – surely descending upon this watering hole after a long day of work at the firm and 
appropriately suited for the occasion). If that isn’t the type of crowd you are interested in, then you might just want to pass this bar market by! Still, on a beautiful sunny evening in NYC, the rooftop patio is quite alluring. If you can squeeze your way through the rowdy flock to check out the long, granite-stone bar, it’s sure to impress. And the awnings with ceiling fans provide a soft breeze and welcoming shade from the setting sun.
usually attains from splashing around in a martini glass that has been bathed in icy rocks prior to the pour). I do get it, no glass on the rooftop, and yet I do believe that there must exist, an alternative to this Dixie cup style martini goblet that confounds me on this warm Thursday evening! In any case, despite its temperature, it’s a fairly decent drink….the right amount of olive juice, and plump, firm olives buoying in my cocktail, give it a half step up from a total disaster.
1.5 olives
Tuesday night, I thought to myself…this sounds fanciful and very New York of us, count me in! While I wouldn’t consider myself a foodie, I have come to know a lot of the Notable Chef’s out there (admittedly I have received most of my culinary education through pretty colloquial means– i.e., tuning into Top Chef and watching The Food Network on a regular basis!)….so I do know the name Daniel Boulud, and this name is definitely synonymous with good eats and drink! Turns out, on this particular evening what we are seeking is a $25 nightly special, (Mon-Thurs. which includes a choice of a signature cocktail plus dessert), available in the lounge of Daniel, adjacent to the four star restaurant.
From entrance to exit, I am treated with genuine hospitality, pampering and overall impeccable service. The Staff, groomed from head to toe, looks to have just stepped out of an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel – they are polished, handsome, and welcoming. The environment is subtle and unassuming, the décor – elegant and sophisticated. I get what feels to me like celebrity treatment – waiters scurrying to pull out my chair and scoot me in or out. Some pass by carrying full, heavy trays stacked with intoxicating delicacies and yet don’t allow ME to step aside or open a door for THEM. Bright white smiles take, bring and clear away my order with precision and respect. All of this behavior is part and parcel of this restaurant’s modus operandi, truly unnecessary but impressive none the less.
essence tickles my taste buds and this martini waterfall in my mouth takes me on a slow adventure to a pleasure Island. Like that nipping breeze on a warm summer’s day, this drink exhilarates. I indulge with juvenile excitement, and then finish it feeling mature and completely assured. And of course I would be remiss if I did not mention that the dessert served alongside my martini is just as delightful as is the nice surprise of complementary petits fours and madeleines delivered to our table! Truly a remarkable experience and I dare say worth the $25 price tag!
Blink and you might miss this hidden gem on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
separate rocks glass alongside the Martini…this is a presentation I have not seen before….I am skeptical…I pick up my string of olive pearls and place them into my Martini glass – at this point the bartender fills my rocks glass with water….interesting…. The drink is nice – not too strong, not too dirty, but a little bit too icy, which takes away from its full flavor. The price tag: $14. While I know a good dirty Martini is worth something special in coin – even for Manhattan, this is a bit steep. I come to my last sip, look around and take in the sights – the indoor waterfall, the cascading shadows from the myriad of candles illuminating this beautiful, dark chasm and then I understand that I am not only paying for this Martini but the sexy ambience as well. So I gin and bear it, and as I begin to grab for my wallet – the bartender approaches and the following surprisingly fantastic conversation ensues – “Are you in a hurry?” he asks me…I smile, and reply “not really” “In that case, can I buy you another Martini?” ….he delivers these nine irresistible words to me with ownership and prowess ….I accept without hesitation, and my Shalel experience is complete. Had I not been charmed by all of the nuances of this little jewel of a speakeasy up to this point, I certainly would have been now.
