PDT

Critics' Pick

113 St. Marks Pl. , New York, NY 10009
nr. First Ave. See Map | Subway Directions Hopstop Popup
212-614-0386 Send to Phone

Reader Rating:
5.1 out of 10
|
19 Reviews | Write a Review
Scene: Bar Food, Hot Spot, Private Party Space, Swank

Photo by Shanna Ravindra

Map Rate & Review

Hours

Sun-Thu, 6pm-2am; Fri-Sat, 6pm-3am

Nearby Subway Stops

6 at Astor Pl.; N, R, W at 8th St.-NYU

Payment Methods

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Profile

PDT is the hot-dog joint for grown-ups. Actually, it’s the cocktail-lounge annex to Crif Dogs, an East Village mainstay known for its deep-fried Jersey-style franks. Accessed through a vintage phone booth within Crif Dogs, PDT (short for Please Don’t Tell) is a snug, sexy speakeasy with a twist: Along with its high-quality classic cocktails and a well-chosen selection of beer and wine, patrons can order food from Crif’s kitchen next door. Oddly, it works: A paper boat of foil-wrapped waffle fries goes nicely with the Astoria Bianco, a refreshing martini derivative. PDT’s abbreviated menu offers a smallish, bowling-alley-style burger, and four kinds of deep-fried dogs—although you can put in special requests from the full Crif Dog menu next door, which includes our favorite, the New Yorker, Crif’s sole grilled all-beef frank. The idea is genius and a time-saver: food you eat when you’re drunk, served while you’re in the process of getting that way. — Rob Patronite and Robin Rainsfeld

Cocktails

As well as rendering classic cocktails with unparalleled expertise, mixologist Jim Meehan (formerly of Gramercy Tavern and Pegu Club) offers up irresistible seasonal creations (an old-fashioned made from bacon-infused bourbon and maple syrup) and delicious infusions (buttered-popcorn rum). The highlight of the $22 “high roller menu” is the Staggerac, a potent Sazerac made with 140-proof bourbon and absinthe. — Daniel Maurer

The worst thing about PDT is getting in the door: you need to call and get a reservation if you plan to come and they are hard to get. For just two people though, sometimes you can get a spot at the bar if you just show up. The gimmick -the entrance is through the phone both at the hot dog shop next door - is amusing and the drinks are actually quite good; I strongly recommend their Gin & Tonic, made with homemade tonic syrup. The decor is a little different but pretty interesting (lots of wood and stuffed animal heads). All-in-all this is a fun place to come with two or three people to have a quiet drink and chat.

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