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Inside Bishops & Barons, A New Supper Club Cocktail Lounge On East 14th Street
By
John Del Signore
Published May 11, 2012
Modified May 11, 2012
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By
John Del Signore
Published May 11, 2012
Modified May 11, 2012
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And here we have Bishops & Barons, a new cocktail lounge and supper club from the man who brought you The Gates, the infamously awkward Chelsea nightclub that got so exclusive it went out of business. This time around, co-owner Danny Kane promises a more inclusive environment that will somehow still attract a high percentage of pretty people—but he's reviving The Gates' "Ambassador Program," which entitled members to a golden key, a membership card, and the right to bring five guests.
But where The Gates failed—supposedly because the doorman repeatedly rejected Ambassadors trying to bring in undesirable guests—Bishops & Barons will succeed, Kane contends. In an interview with The Local, he declares, "This ambassador program will work 10 times more effectively because people will get in. But don’t get me wrong, it’s not going to be a bridge and tunnel crowd. There will still be great ratio of women to men."
Named for two Brooklyn street gangs from the 1950s, Bishops & Barons features cocktails from the well-respected Dushan Zaric (Employees Only). See the menu below—all we can say is that at a media preview this week, we enjoyed the tart and refreshing Short Shade, made with Bison Grass Vodka, Aperol, Agave nectar, lemon juice, and Mandarin puree, garnished with a sprig of Bison Grass. ($13)
The decor, as you can see, is a little over the top, what with the zebra patterns and the peacock sculptures, but the tufted banquettes are reliably comfortable, the bar is enormous, and the sound system is booming. That middle room features seated dining, and serves a dinner menu that includes options like a Slow Roasted B&T Tomato Salad with horseradish leaves and jersey cheese ($14) and Wagyu Flank Steak with spicy spring greens and "grandma's hash browns." ($23) See, even grandma's welcome!
243 East 14th Street // (212) 253-2112
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bishops and barons
cocktails
east village
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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