Day 184—Monday, July 12th, 2010
Painkiller
This morning I was happily awakened with the PayPal bell ringing joyfully once again. Darleya who pens the entertaining review blog, Stuffed Ashes sent in ten dollars to buy me a drink. Thanks Darleya! I encourage everyone to check out her blog here: Stuffed Ashes.
Alright, Saturday I went to Knuckles Tiki Bar in Long Island and tonight I thought I’d check out the newest tiki bar in the city, Painkiller. Are you ready to get tikitized? I know Tiki Bar Susie is, let’s go.
There's no glitzy sign hanging outside, just look for the tiki bar emblazoned doors and you're here. And here we are.
Lots of bamboo and a nice bar with some seats available. I'm officially hau`oli!
Co-owner and master bartender Giuseppe expertly crafts the signature drink of the house, The Painkiller. Giuseppe is a third generation bartender and takes pride in his work and cocktails.
The tiki bar is open!
The Painkiller is delicious and a decent reliever of pain as well.
Valentin was on duty as well. He tends bar, is the bar back and does a little of everything here at Painkiller.
Some tiki knick-knacks and bric-a-brac behind the bar.
There's comfortable booths in the back room.
And that's exactly where Jim and Christina were enjoying some tiki cocktails.
Original tiki artwork hangs on the bamboo walls.
A vintage ad for Ballantine Ale with Ernest Hemmingway hangs on the front wall. Ballantine Ale is available at the bar along with Brooklyn Lager and Red Stripe on occasion.
Here's tiki drink number two: the Missionary's Downfall. It was very refreshing and green.
Topless tiki beauties adorn the top of the glass bar.
Chris and Loretta were chilling out at the front of the bar.
Tiki gods line the bamboo walls.
Hello there, tiki god.
Brian lives across the street and is a semi-regular at the bar.
I love the Painkiller logo.
Giusppe and Valentin work together to mix a batch of Island inspired cocktails.
I asked Brian for a potent drink for my last cocktail and he mixed me up a 151 Swizzle that did the trick. It was time to say aloha after this drink.
Giuseppe poured shots of Zaya rum as a parting gift and let me keep the skull shotglass. Thanks for a great night, Giuseppe, cheers and goodnight, everybody.
Review
Being that Manhattan is an Island, you’d think there’d be more tiki bars here. I like tiki bars so the very first bar I hit on this bar crawl was Otto’s Shrunken Head and it was a welcome oasis back in the winter and in the early days of this bar crawl. Well in May a brand new tiki bar opened its doors and the name of this island hideaway is Painkiller. There’s no flashy sign outside, just look for the doors that say, “Tiki Bar” and you’re here. Inside you’ll find a bar covered with tropical beauties and walls that are brick and bamboo. Original tiki art hangs on the wall alongside graffiti tags to remind you that the island you’re drinking on is Manhattan. The front room is narrow and leads to a more spacious backroom with comfortable booths and tiki gods on the walls. The bartenders are friendly and happy to help you with your drink choices.
And the drinks are crafted with care here. Co-owners Giuseppe Gonzalez and Richard Boccato are believers in quality cocktails and all the juices are squeezed fresh daily and the syrups and creams are homemade. Giuseppe was manning the bar the night I was there and laughingly told me, “If you’re not using fresh juices, you’re an asshole.”
All the drinks are carefully concocted, Guiseppe was on duty the night I was there and he looked a little like a mad scientist behind the bar carefully pouring jiggers and shots into glasses of chopped ice and meticulously topping them off with garnishes, shavings and umbrellas. It’s a show unto itself just watching the man at work. There’s a large variety of drinks including frozen concoctions, Maii Tais, Swizzles, Daiquiris and Zombie and Scorpion Punch Bowls. There’s no food, but rumors of free hot dogs in the future loom largely.
Stop by Painkiller for a little Island relaxation on the island of Manhattan. Okole maluna and Mahalo nui.
Painkiller
49 Essex St. (between Grand & Hester Sts.)
212-777-8454