Monday, July 19th, 2010—Bar 190

Day 190—Sunday, July 18th, 2010
The Rusty Knot
The Village Voice recently named their top 10 Manhattan bars. Coming in at number 10 was a naughtical themed bar called the Rusty Knot. Upon further investigation I learned that the bar serves up what New York Magazine food critic Adam Platt calls the best hot dog in the city. It’s a pretzel dog and since Sunday’s are all about Sunday dinner in a bar, this looks like a good port of call for the 365 bar crawl. Anchors aweigh.

Here's the Rusty Knot. I like the unassuming non-glitzy look of the place. Let's go inside.

Wow, a lot of people in here for an early Sunday evening.

Here's Ted the bartender who quickly serves up a bottle of Red Stripe.

The woman with the umbrella hair is Jennie. It was her birthday and a majority of the crowd were here celebrating this wonderful event.

Here's Jennie and her friend T.J.

Sonya and Krissy were also part of the party.

Birthday shots are being handed out...

And here's the birthday girl drinking one. Happy birthday, Jennie!

Some of the naughtical-themed kitsch in the bar. I have to admit, the clown painting freaked me out a little.

The "autographed" celebrity photos are a hoot. Tony Curtis' says, "I'm really drunk."

John stopped by for a quick beer, he had spent a night in the bushes. It's a long story folks and one you'll have to get it from him!

I like the vintage topless bar sign, but there's that clown painting again, aaaahhhh!

There's lots of comfortable chairs to relax in up front and a nice aquarium to gaze at.

That's a great view of the Hudson River out of the front windows.

There's a well-worn pool table off to the side of the bar.

Meanwhile back at the bar, Ted is busy mixing Island style drinks.

Here's Greg, a regular at the bar and the official Four Square Mayor of the joint.

And a couple of surprise guests show up! 365 commentators, Zioum Zioum the Chainsaw and Jason Hwang.

Cheers!

And dinner is served. Jason and Zioum Zioum split the guacamole and chips and I had the pretzel dog with the house mustard. Adam Platt was right, it's the best hot dog around town. And Jason and Zioum Zioum loved the fresh guacamole and chips.

On my way out I met Paul who decided to dine on the 365 biz card. Goodnight, everybody!

Review
The Rusty Knot is a combination beach shack/tiki bar and a comfortable spot to hang out. The bar is a cozy setting with a small bar up front that seats about seven people on stools. Up front the setting is decked out like a comfortable living room with pillowy easy chairs and sturdy tables with ships on them. An aquarium adds to the fishy atmosphere and there’s a pool table off to the side. The jukebox (which offers free selections!) has some great selections with diverse artists ranging from Desmond Dekker and the Aces, The Small Faces, Nick Lowe, The Flying Burrito Brothers and The Byrds. The bartenders and patrons are a friendly bunch and there’s a great view of the Hudson River out of the front window.

The beer selection is somewhat limited, there’s cans of Budweiser and Tecate, bottled beers include Red Stripe and Brooklyn Lager and on tap you’ve got a choice of Busch, Stella and Bass. The mixed drinks are island themed and include a Zombie, a Singapore Sling, a Mai Tai and the house specialty and signature drink, The Rusty Knot. There’s also red and white wine available. The food menu is eclectic and unique with such offerings as: spiced pickles, BBQ beef tacos, chips and guacamole and the pretzel dog, which I can highly recommend.

The Rusty Knot is a fine port of call to hitch your ship to.

The Rusty Knot
425 West St. (near 11th St.)
212-645-5668

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010—Bar 184

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