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    Accidental Bar

    4.6 (29 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)

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    ACCIDENTAL BAR ATMOSPHERE

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    Lovely window seat, sipping on sake
    Whitney L.

    Accidental Bar is a true gem. From their incredibly well-curated sake list, to their scrumptious food and intimate space, this is quickly becoming one of my favorite bars. I wanted to try everything on their menu. Everything we tried was magical. Austin, the owner, was such a generous host to me and my husband. He took his time to walk us through the details of the menu and history of the bar. What an experience. This bar has great energy and we'll definitely be back! Dont miss your chance to go here. HIGHLY recommend!

    Quesadilla
    Alex H.

    Accidental Bar in Alphabet City is a funky sake bar serving small plates alongside delicious glasses of sake. As someone who knows very little about sake, I appreciated the staff's ability to recommend glasses based on the wines I typically enjoy. The food was also surprising good based on the size do the kitchen. We ordered the "whole shebang" which included a sampling of their larger plates including the Otsumami Plate which consisted of various pickles, pecorino cheese nori bites, roasted carrots and olives meant to pair with your sake, scallop crudo, crab with miso cream over crispy potatoes, roasted red peppers with anchovies, Huitlacoche quesadilla, and crispy sweet potatoes. Accidental bar is a great place to learn more about sake and enjoy some delicious bites while you're at it

    a man standing at the bar
    Tessie V.

    I'm not a huge fan of this place. Maybe it's because I'm not a huge fan of sake, maybe it's because I find their need for barside reservations annoying -- BUT still I am fair and need to say it's a solid 4.4/5 I've been here about three times. But the second time was the best, it was the first time we met Austin Powers. Like so many other reviewers state -- hell yeah it's an awesome name, but he's also an awesome guy. We were sat at the bar, after being pushed along to a corner seat for "RESERVATIONS" but we at least got seats. The bartender, who I think in the manager is a bit snooty but helpful. I think you're allowed to have that air about you while working a sake bar in Avenue C tho. So we're sat at the bar picking our sake and discussing the quote on the wall by Austin Powers. There's a fella next to us that is smiling along at our comments and questions until he finally peeks up and admits he's Austin Powers. Which my friend responded, "No, you're not." Austin replies, "Yeah, that's actually my name. I'm Austin Powers the owner of this bar." Really funny. He tells us the story about falling in love with sake, growing up in the south, growing up with the name Austin Powers, and about some of his life in NYC. His energy is super warm and welcoming. He carried an air of serenity. The sake was delightful too. While I'm not a huge fan of sake, it's alright -- GIN is more my thing. One of my friends is a fanatic and he and the bartender got talking. The bartender and the owner play this wonderful BAD COP - GOOD COP which makes the whole experience hilarious. Both of them invited us to partake in the chambong experience which was also quite fun. It sort of felt like being at a field trip at the SAKE museum. They obviously care about what they do here and tho it could be a bit snooty at times, I think it's because the limitations of the space. The best experience is by yourself or on a date. Also, be passionate about sake. Also, be ready to spend a decent chunk of change. But you're at a sake bar on Avenue C. You know that already.

    Indoor bar area
    Marissa N.

    Rarely do I write reviews but UGH. First of all, Sake can feel intimidating or pretentious by this place could not be more opposite. It's like the vibe of your favorite West Village regular spot but in the East Village. The owner is the coolest most interesting person and you can tell he put so much passion and thought into every part of this "accidental" bar. Very reasonably priced and such a good date spot, spot to catch up with friends, spot to sit at the bar and flirt with a server. The kind of place you feel good sitting at for 3 hours on a Tuesday because the atmosphere is so great. If you're one of those "I don't like sake" people, dip your toe into Accidental Bar. You won't be dissappointed.

    Nigori Sake
    Mihir P.

    Came with some friends for the first stop while bar hopping. Friendly bartenders, and a cool vibe, would recommend for first dates. It was a bit hot on the day we went though so that's worth taking into consideration. We ordered some Nigori to share and it was incredible, exactly what I had hoped for. Would recommend if you're not usually a fan of Sake. We were only here for a short while but it was relatively uncrowded.

    Scallop
    Jin C.

    If you're expecting a proper sake education, this is not the place for that. But if you want a fun and laidback place with a bit of whimsy and zero pomp where there is a wide variety of different sakes with quirky descriptions, Accidental Bar is the place for you. For one, there were no options for half glasses or flights, despite being a supposedly educational institution. Hannah was kind enough to set up half pours for me and my friend, though. None of the sakes really stood out for me. Perhaps I don't have quite the palate, but none were particularly complex or sophisticated. I got the entire food menu, and my favorites were the scallop crudo, ponzu marinated mushrooms, crab over crispy potatoes, and anchovies with marinated red peppers and a bit of bread. The dishes are definitely on the pricey side for what they are, but I suppose you're paying for an atmosphere. The bbq jackfruit polenta cakes felt like bland and wet cotton wool, so do not get that.

    Otsumami plate
    Randy A.

    All I have to say is this bar is amazing. I recently visited with a group of friends and felt welcome upon walking in. Austin was very helpful when it came to choosing what kind of sake each of us would like by asking us what drinks we usually tend to lean towards, and he did not disappoint any of us with his choices. I definitely recommend ordering The Whole Shebang to try all the different snacks. The standouts for me were the scallop crudo and the roasted red peppers with anchovies. If I'm ever back in the city visiting, I would definitely come back.

    Bar with select bottles of sake
    Colt V.

    Very knowledgeable staff. Delicious small plates in a beautiful room. If you're at all interested in sake you should visit! Great!

    Ashley T.

    Go for the sake selection (or to try it if you *think* you don't like it), stay for the people. There IS a sake for everyone here, and while the staff is incredibly knowledgeable, it's also fun to play around and trust the quirky flavor profile descriptions ("as if someone spiked your Sprite at prom"). The ambiance is so fun, with a layer of casual sophistication that fits so well into Alphabet City/EV vibes. Great for date night or just meeting up with friends. Usually stay for a snack and drinks and grab dinner in the neighborhood. Shout out to Austin & Peter for being some of the most welcoming people I know in the neighborhood!

    Chambongs

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    5 years ago

    This is a sweet spot with great food and atmosphere. Austin is a convivial host with an in depth knowledge of sake.

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    Review Highlights - Accidental Bar

    If you find yourself lucky enough to sit in when the owner is here, he will teach you all about Sake.

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    Grove Street Social - Interior

    Grove Street Social

    4.0(30 reviews)
    1.4 miWest Village

    We met up for happy hour at Grove Street Social with friends--one who has lived in the West Village…read morefor over a decade and another visiting from Pennsylvania. It ended up being a nice spot for a casual catch-up, though with a few mixed impressions. The space itself is cute and very much feels like a neighborhood bar. One of the things we liked most was that they have games available--we ended up playing Scrabble while waiting for our friend to arrive, which made the time go by quickly and added to the relaxed vibe. Happy hour prices are solid, and the fried pickles we shared were decent. I also had a watermelon cocktail that was refreshing and perfectly fine, if not particularly memorable. Service was a bit inconsistent. The bartender wasn't very warm or welcoming to us initially, though that changed once our friend--who is a regular--arrived. Overall, it's a comfortable spot to meet friends and hang out for a few hours, especially on a weekday like Thursday. That said, I probably wouldn't go out of my way to return, but I can see why it works well as a local neighborhood hang.

    Adorable and tiny pub on pretty Grove Street. All of Greenwich Village so Christmas-y after a snow…read morestorm. Excellent specialty cocktails: one Old Fashioned with chocolate flavors and another with figs. Spepherd's Pie special simple and tasty on a cold night. We were smitten with this discovery for happy hour. Christmas lights everywhere, including across the ceiling! Charming.

    Photos
    Grove Street Social
    Grove Street Social - Cauliflower and broccoli pakora

    Cauliflower and broccoli pakora

    Grove Street Social

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    Cellar Dog - Live performance

    Cellar Dog

    3.9(76 reviews)
    1.4 miWest Village

    There are some pros and cons about this place, but it was pretty neat overall!…read more Came here with friends (group of 4) on a Saturday night, so we paid the $10 cover. Which is fine in my opinion because they have live jazz and I love that. I also love a bar with an activity outside of just drinking. Some pros: so many games and pool tables and live jazz and decent beer Some cons: not many seats, long waits for the pool/ping pong/foosball tables on a weekend, loud (not a place to get to know someone I'd say) Overall it's definitely ~cool~. The crowd looked to be a lot of NYU students/20somethjngs in tech or whatever living their best city life. Not the vibe for all, but definitely the vibe for some.

    Pretty cool and genuinely unique spot, different from most places in the city. The whole concept is…read morebuilt around keeping your hands busy: pool tables, ping pong, shuffleboard, foosball, chess, checkers, even some old-school arcade cabinets scattered through a sprawling underground space. It's actually a legacy spot in disguise. This basement used to house Fat Cat, a longtime West Village institution that shut down right before the pandemic, and before that the room itself was a bowling alley, tucked into a 1932 Art Deco building a few steps from Stonewall. Drink selection isn't the draw here, don't come expecting a deep cocktail list. Crowd skews heavily undergrad, and the place is loud, so it's not the spot for an intimate one-on-one or a real group conversation. It's built for a different kind of hang: elbow your way to a table, keep your hands busy, let the noise do the rest. There's also live jazz most nights, which adds a nice layer if you catch it at the right time. Neat place, just know what you're walking into.

    Photos
    Cellar Dog - Live jazz

    Live jazz

    Cellar Dog - Jazz

    Jazz

    Cellar Dog

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    Dear Strangers - Such a nice cute bar!

    Dear Strangers

    4.3(29 reviews)
    1.2 miGreenwich Village

    Met up with friends here for dinner before a show near Washington square. It wasn't super crowded…read morewhen we arrived around 6pm (maybe due to the extreme cold that day) but started filling up gradually. I loved the ambiance and decor, very cozy. As for food, there were some true hits but most of the food was good but basic. The highlights for me were the wild mushrooms & rice cakes as well as the Caesar salad - loved the use of nori in the salad and would definitely come back for the mushrooms. The chicken cutlet and chicken dumplings were fine but I probably wouldn't order them again. The wait staff weren't super attentive nor super warm, but they were efficient when we asked for water refills, etc. There was ample standing room at the bar while we waited for our friends, but the table/booth that we sat at was super narrow, I was knocking knees with my friend all night and generally felt squished.

    Dear Strangers? Yes, they certainly treat you like one! This place is not good. They seemed…read moreunprepared to handle restaurant week. There weren't enough servers to handle the crowd and that was reflective in our dinner service. Despite being checked in on 0 times and having to flag them down for water, to order, and to get our check, their attitude wasn't warm or accommodating at all. It even came off like we were bothering our server when asking for basic things. The food was subpar. Didn't try the drinks. Maybe that's the savior? -Tuna tartare acceptable; nothing to write home about -Chicken dumplings tasted like chicken but had no bite to it. Weird and served on paper that resembled a crumpled receipt or used tissue. -Chicken cutlet was warm and soggy. No truffle flavor as advertised on the menu. Some creativity points for the accompanying foam dip but it didn't work. -Beef short rib was tasty but the single potato that come with it felt insulting and cheap. Really? One potato? -Pecan pie dessert and sorbet were really good. Sad way to finish, only enjoying the final course. Ambiance was good. Floors were super slippery because they were tiled on a snowy day. They should warn their guests about that. Lots of work to be done here and I will not be around to see it through!

    Photos
    Dear Strangers
    Dear Strangers
    Dear Strangers - Smoked chicken croquettes

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    Smoked chicken croquettes

    Sip & Guzzle - Soft serve kumquat

    Sip & Guzzle

    4.1(298 reviews)
    1.3 miWest Village

    My husband and I went to this restaurant, and I can confidently say that the Tavern Burger we had…read morehere was by far the best burger we've ever had! The cheese, bun, meat, and all the flavors came together perfectly, and it was truly an exceptional experience. We also tried the fries as an appetizer, and the sauce was really good. The fries had a unique, puffy texture that was something new for us and made them even more enjoyable. We also ordered the Electric Chicken, which was absolutely delicious. It was perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. We had it with a side of potato salad, which complemented the fried chicken really well and completed the meal. Overall, we had an amazing experience here. Everything was flavorful, well-prepared, and delicious. Definitely a place we would come back to!

    If I could give 100 stars I would!…read more My 14yr old with my taste for dinning found this place online and fell in love. I couldn't say no to his request for this being his birthday dinner. I made the reservation for 4:15 PM, I didn't want to risk not getting one of those cheeseburgers. It's all he talked about. We left me with plenty of time to get there walk around the city go to dinner and then head to the next stop. TRAFFIC!! Awful, terrible, dream crushing traffic! It was bumper-to-bumper almost immediately getting out of Maine. I'm staring at the clock, watching the arrival time get later and later and my son's face go further and further from the glowing smile it had started with. I try to call the restaurant, knowing no one would be there to answer. They didn't open till 4 o'clock, and it was 10 AM. I have my husband sent an email saying that we might be late. Then traffic starts to clear up and it says we're gonna arrive in New York around 245. Awesome! No traffic picks up again and it goes back to 6 PM. We finally get a call from the restaurant, they moved things around and offered us a reservation at 5:25pm, but it was the best they could do. Their best was enough, we made it there by 5:15. Thanks to the amazing staff at sip and guzzle, my son was able to have his birthday dinner at the place he'd been dreaming about for months. Mackenzie and Kamila greeted us at the door, we had spoken to Kamila on the phone and she was just as wonderful in person. She led us to a nice corner booth where we weren't all crammed in and left us in the hands of our server, Angie. Unfortunately, they were sold out of cheeseburgers. They only make a minimal amount a day, but we made up for it other places. We ordered the highlight reel. MOCHI FRIES Creative, crispy and unique, the nacho powder dip is an interesting touch, I preferred it without. SPICY TUNA was disappointing, we were told to alternate side because one was meant to be sticky rice the other tuna. Enjoyed as instructed but unfortunately the ratio of rice to tuna was probably 70/30. Two small bites of rice and then all tuna. Mine being the second bite I didn't really get the experience. Very tasty otherwise PORK YAKI 30-layer skewer with koji floss Very good, perfect combination of sweet, savory and salty. Delicious! Anything wrapped in cotton candy has my inner child's full attention. We ordered four more to go. BIKINI world's thinnest sandwich, comté ganache, 5j jamon. This was ridiculous, salty, creamy, crispy. All ingredients were evenly distributed across the sandwich. Every bite was perfect. FOIE GRAS MONT BLANC Foie gras on top of soft pillowy toast, this is a plate you should be eating in private. It's absurd. SHRIMP TOAST fried shokupan stuffed with royal red shrimp and lobster This was strange, it wasn't bad, wasn't amazing. The first taste and smell was soapy, like fancy soap. The texture is amazing. It almost had an herb chicken salad flavor. Definitely interesting and worth the bite. ELECTRIC CHICKEN hot and crispy This was FUN!! The presentation, the flavor. It really hit upfront with scechuam pepper. Szechuan pepper is more a feeling than a taste and really elevates the experience. If you've never had Szechuan pepper this is a good place to start your adventure with it. This came out with their addictive cabbage, not by request, it just happened that way. So obviously I wanted to see if they were friends, they are, bites together suggested. ROYALE WITH CHEESE a5 wagyu Yes we ordered $150 sandwich, shamelessly. If this is the only thing you can get, get it! It comes with sour house made pickles. I suggest being careful with those, there's no need to overpower the flavor of what is already here.

    Photos
    Sip & Guzzle - Bar Area by the entrance

    Bar Area by the entrance

    Sip & Guzzle - Hand rolls $

    Hand rolls $

    Sip & Guzzle - Wagyu old fashioned

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    Wagyu old fashioned

    The Duplex - Interior

    The Duplex

    3.7(371 reviews)
    1.4 miWest Village
    $$

    4/5 - can get pricey, I've been double charged before but I've caught it and asked about it - each…read moretime the fix was easy The piano bar at Duplex is where it's at. Daily they have a pianist rotation along with bar staff who have voices of angels. Service at Duplex is always superb, table or at the bar. I assure you though, once you enter the doors of Duplex - you will want a table. You're immersed into the musical beauty of the city, you're reminded of Broadway dreams and Empire State miracles. Duplex gets better the more you open yourself to the social happenings around you. Share a drink, take some shots, sing a song in front of strangers. Keep in mind your tab will get pricey, but that is what you'll have to be willing to pay. Though you need not be inebriated to enjoy Duplex, I've done it multiple times and have had a great experience either way. At Duplex you see first hand what the city has to offer, all you have to do is embrace it.

    So, after my first few visits, my impression has improved!…read more Eclectic group of people, all having an amazing time, drinking, singing, laughing. The bartenders are the ones singing (amazing voices, I must add) and some of the customers sing too, making the crowd go wild. This downstairs part of the bar has low tabled, high tables and bar seating. They have an upstairs which is a different atmosphere but equally fun. Second floor is more dance/ DJ music with a dancefloor, and neon lights. So, pick which mood you are in and decide where to party. On a busy night service can be a bit slow, but they are working extra, pouring drinks and entertaining. Still they try their best and do it with a friendly attitude, and even ask the crowd for song requests Regardless of which floor you end up at, you will end up having a great time and coming back for more on your next time in NYC.

    Photos
    The Duplex - Bar

    Bar

    The Duplex - Montage of images from The Duplex

    Montage of images from The Duplex

    The Duplex - Terrace

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    Terrace

    Accidental Bar - bars - Updated August 2026

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