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Even at ten on a Tuesday night, all of Silver Lining's cream-colored booths are filled and there’s a boisterous din loud enough to challenge the jazz trio's tunes. Up front, friendly but exacting barkeeps keep ‘em coming—continuously shaking drinks, cracking ice, and peeling orange rinds into perfect swirls. This Tribeca faux speakeasy from disciples of cocktail guru Sasha Petraske opened in 2011 and continues to enjoy popularity. The vibe and décor don’t strike the same pitch-perfect Prohibition-chic note that Little Branch does and Milk and Honey did, but the beverages carry that refined Petraske imprimatur (the hallmarks of which are all over the drink list: tons of Rye, bitters abound, and raw eggs are not uncommon). As always, if you don’t see what you like on the menu, pick your poison and leave your drink in the hands of experts. Stay on your liquid diet—there is no silver lining to the menu of small plates. Cheese and charcuterie selections suffice, but avoid the bland, Mediterranean choices. A salad of tomatoes and Haloumi cheese is flavorless and rubbery; a weak mezze trio comes with rock-hard, useless toasts; and the sliders are nondescript little yawns. Luckily, the concoctions in your cup and the nightly live jazz performances provide plenty of entertainment. — Edna Ishayik

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