Thursday, February 25th, 2010—Bar 46

Day 46—Wednesday, February 24th
Café Charbon (Original Destination: Gallery Bar)

When I first heard of Gallery Bar, my mind immediately flashed to a mid-’70’s, cheap porno rag and I wondered if it was something like the Hustler Club. But upon further investigation, they mean Gallery as in Art Gallery. I guess I should get my mind out of the gutter, but that isn’t going to happen anytime soon. Basically in the day this place is a working art gallery with art exhibitions and at night they throw booze into the mix and it becomes the Gallery Bar. While I admit I’m a little sad there won’t be any ‘70’s porn stars there, it still sounds like a cool concept, so let’s go check it out.

I walked past this place like three times because there's no sign outside. Already I'm a little wary of this joint.

As I walk inside I'm really wary of this joint, there's painted guys in their underwear everywhere. It's like a bad Jackson Pollock painting come to life.

It's hotter than fuck in here, there's no chairs, bad techno music is blaring at ear-shattering volume and there's painted guys drinking in their underwear. Auntie Em, we're not in Kansas anymore. Help!

I have to try and wade through these motherfucking painted guys in their underwear just to get a drink. I'm not that thirsty, maybe the downstairs bar will be a little better.

Holy Mother of Fuck! The bad techno music is just as bad down here and those that aren't covered in body paint and underwear look like real pretentious assholes. Hi Assholes! I think it's time to find someplace else for tonight's bar crawl. Exit, stage left!

I peeked in the window here and there are no painted underwear men and it looks like a nice place to soothe my jangled nerves. Hello Café Charbon!

It looks like a nice place to relax and booze it up in here.

The two bartenders on duty were really friendly. They are Michelle and Cyriaque.

Here's the beer list available at Café Charbon. A nice selection of drafts and bottled beer to be had here.

Here's Greg the manager who wanted super-cute Michelle to be included in the picture.

Since everybody else was getting to have their picture taken with Michelle, I decided to join in.

The draft beer selection at Café Charbon.

Seated next to me was Alan, who was enjoying a fresh glass of Stella Artois.

Some of the wine specials for the night, this is just a partial list.

They've got a whole freakin' wall of wine here!

Birger and Patricia were having a nice quiet time at the end of the bar.

Hey who's that tucked away in the corner of the back room?

It's Alex and Anna! Cheers!

Occasional bathroom mirror shot! Goodnight everybody!

Review

Café Charbon is a great French-themed, easy-going Lower East Side bar and café. The bar is low-lit, relaxing and roomy. There’s plenty of room at the spacious bar and comfortable well worn leather couches and tables surround it. The bartenders are friendly and it’s a nice chill bar scene.

The café menu is full of French delights including, Escargots a L Ail, Pate De Canard Aux Poivre, Jarret D'Agneau and Raviolis Aux Champignons. I of course was more interested in the bar and it has a large selection of bottled beers featuring Red Stripe, Tsing Tao and Negra Modelo. They have a huge wine list and there are eight martinis to choose from as well as a number of signature cocktails.

If you want to unwind after work, Café Charbon has a daily Happy Hour, Monday through Friday from five till eight. And best of all there’s no painted men in underwear to be found within blocks from the café!

Cafe Charbon
168 Orchard St. (@ Stanton St.)
212-420-7520