Porchlight

Came here for lunch on a Monday. It was mostly empty, maybe because it was the first day back to work for the year for a lot of people. Which was a good thing, no wait. I ordered a pulled pork po’ boy (juicy and delicious) and Arnold Palmer. The food was great and hugely filling, kind of pricey at all options over $ 10. Unfortunately normal for the area though.

I think the bartender allotted to us had issues and really shouldn’t be working directly with patrons. While I appreciate a heavy pour, the sloppy measuring of ingredients and egregious «tastings» of just about every spirit involved was uncomfortable. The quality of drinks was horrid, which was truly disappointing given the lineage of this establishment and what appeared to be a fun and exciting cocktail menu. Two out of three drinks in our first round were borderline undrinkable — something was really, really wrong.
Transitioning to the seated area did not at all improve the experience. The transactional treatment by our server only added to the sting, and we settled for a few small plates and one more round before closing out and finding friendlier confines elsewhere.
I couldn’t quite bring myself to give this one star given that I could see it perhaps being a good experience under certain conditions, but the lack of quality staff makes this a generous two stars and a business that I can’t see myself returning to.

The ambiance is wonderful, especially the back area that we had reserved for a team outing. And the servers were impressive — they kept mental track of the countless orders and were very attentive about refills. Also, props to the bartenders for making some very good (and strong) cocktails! The food was so-​so, except for the milk and cookies.
My only note? Update a few of the board game options in the backroom.

I was here about two weeks ago as a plus one for a friend’s holiday party. Menu is a little pricey, but they are providing with you quality service and drinks.
It’s a very big space with at least one private room where they hold events. That’s where I ended up with the holiday party. The service was great with the bartenders coming back and forth between the bar and our area serving the drinks and light bites.
It’s a great place to hold a private event and I will definitely return despite the the effort it takes to come all the way to 11^th ave.

I finally managed to venture over to 11^th Avenue to check out Danny Meyer’s fun cocktail lounge, Porchlight, and I was glad that I made the trip. The place was packed on that Friday evening, with no seats at either the bar or their many tables. However, we put our name in and only had to wait 15 minutes or so before being escorted to a spacious booth near the front windows. The wooden furniture, stone walls covered in funky artwork, and extremely dim lighting created an unique and sensual vibe, making it perfect for a date or quiet evening with friends. The service was great — very accommodating and attentive, refilling our waters and checking on our beverage statuses multiple times. My Salty Spaniel cocktail was tart and refreshing thanks to its blend of Tito’s Vodka, grapefruit and lime juices, and citrus marmalade. The inclusion of a spiced honey added a slight kick. Their Amaretto Sour was a step above most as it neglected the neon yellow sour mix to focus on more natural ingredients, like lemon and egg white, as well as Lazzaroni Amaretto and Medley Brother’s Bros Bourbon. Porchlight was definitely worth the trek, and I look forward to revisiting to try one of the other tantalizing cocktails.

Cocktails: $ 14
There is a ‘game room’ in the back with a dart board and other board games
All the way on the west side (if you are at the Jacob Javits center you can come here for an afternoon drink)
The space inside is free flowing and there is a nice ambiance.
Service is friendly and attentive.
Definitely a date spot.

Went to Porchlight last night for a work event and I truly was very disappointed. The group I was with was in the back in the room called the «Gameroom». I did look up Porchlight before I arrived and noticed that the Gameroom could hold up to 40 people. This room was so small and claustrophobic it probably could’ve held about 30 max… if that. The room was extremely echoey so it was SO loud I couldn’t even hear myself think. Also, I thought it was a bit strange that there wasn’t any music at all? I don’t think I’ve ever been to a bar/​venue that doesn’t even play some background music it was just awkward. The entire time I just heard people complaining about how it was so loud they couldn’t hear anything and how there wasn’t any music.
The food was so not great at all. I really do hate to write negative things, but I didn’t love anything we were served. We were brought a bunch of difference options such as the popcorn, bison burgers, spring rolls, biscuits with ham & cheese, hummus with veggies, avocado & crab toast, and potato chips. The potato chips were pretty decent and I was so hungry that I ended up eating all of the pickles in the dish that came with the burgers.
The drink was just OK as well. I ordered the Storms Brewin’ and it wasn’t bad, but wasn’t great either. All of the cocktails have a very distinct rum smell and honestly a bunch of them tasted similar is what I gathered from others with me.
I will more than likely not be returning back to Porchlight. It was extremely out of the way for me and I traveled quite a bit to get there. I wouldn’t recommend having an event in the Gameroom either, unless it’s for a smaller group of people. I’ve heard from others there that the happy hour was decent, so maybe it was just the event I had been at Porchlight for.

Wow such an awesome ambience and business on a wednesday night happy hour around 7 to 8pm. Great cocktails. Try their signature behind the mule. Will be back

Oh, boy.
I don’t know what this place thinks it’s on about, seriously. I went to visit my brother in New York over the summer, and his lovely girlfriend suggested we try this place while she was off at work. Of course, my brother and I had eaten some God-​awful late night burritos the night before from God-​knows-​where, so to work it off and catch up, we decided to walk all the way from Park Slope to Porchlight. His girlfriend always had good taste in this or that, and she works for a wine company, so she knows about the coolest places in the coolest city in the world. Sounded good to me.
We walked seven miles for this crap, drenched in July sweat. I just turned 21, so I got a drink to cool off. People in beer commercials do, and so could I. I ordered an elaborate sherry cocktail, and I love craft cocktails, because if you’re good enough, you can make anything work. I don’t remember the name of it, but I have no idea what the creator of this monstrosity was thinking. It tasted like pureed cocktail weenies. It was like I was at my dad’s Christmas party when I was twelve and there was nowhere for my to vomit my tripes discreetly. My brother had a sip, and he agreed with me. I tried his drink of choice, a bright blue, smoky-​tasting cocktail. I understood the appeal, but it tasted more like someone had added food coloring to a glass of water, and then dumped a shot of Laphroaig in it. Gah. I also had Tom’s Balls. That was the only dish I remember. Funny name, unfunny execution. To quote Shane Smith, they were morsels of fried matter. Flavorless, and just like everything else on the menu, completely overpriced.
Don’t get me wrong. Our waiter was very nice, courteous, and provided us good service. The cocktails were just so nasty and the food was so bland and overpriced. I wouldn’t recommend this place. It isn’t the absolute worst place in the world, but consider other options first.

I really can’t find anything wrong with the place– its worth the walk from thr subway! My friend and I came here as we were on our way to Sleep No More. The happy hour prices are SO cheap! 5 dollars for a cocktail? Yes please!
Moreover, we tried a couple of their snack items– the chips, nuts and popcorn. let me do you a favor, GET THE POPCORN. My friend and I were so obsessed with their twist on popcorn we got two orders and proceeded to try to recreate it at home.
Good environment, great service, very roommy (!!), and cozy. Clean bathrooms.
Really. Why can’t every bar be like this in the city?

Drinks: 5
Ambiance: 4
Service: 4 – 5
Variety of food: 2 (I didn’t try any because the few that exist don’t sound worth it.)
I had so-​so expectations of this place after reading lackluster reviews shortly after its opening — but you need to IGNORE all of those because this cocktail bar is AMAZING!!! It’s definitely a neighborhood gem.
Danny Meyer does not disappoint with this casual, roomy, upscale cocktail bar with a Southern accent. The décor is cool. It’s cozy and comfortable. There’s even a game room in the back. I’m not much of a drinker, buuuut I liked everyone’s drinks that night!
I really like how the menu is divided into categories: Classics, Guzzlers (light and easy drinks), and Sippers (strong drinks). The menu’s fun descriptions of each drink — available in print version only — are spot on. Most cocktails are only $ 14 each.
Our cute server Ben made great recommendations. The Amaretto Sour was perfect for me; it was like liquid candy. My friend’s Julep du Monde had a delicious coffee flavor. Their martini was one strong motherf*cker. There’s also non-​alcoholic options available. There really is something for everyone here.
They don’t offer much in the way of bar food — which I suspect is the reason for the so-​so reviews, so consider dining elsewhere beforehand.
FYI: There are several, spacious single-​stall BRs awkwardly located in a quiet hallway, right next door to some winery.

I liked the vibe of this place-​if you want fancy cocktails in a pretty quiet neighborhood, head on over to 11^th Ave! But nah, because it’s by Press Lounge and all, there is a good amount of people here (we came after walking the Village Parade on Halloween day).
There’s a separate «game» room that looked fun, though it was for a private party that night. Anyways, onto the drinks:
pimm’s #13 and storm’s brewin were both in the «light» cocktails section, and they really were more just like the typical sugary, light alcoholic drinks! The julep du monde was stronger, with tons of pretty lil’ ice cubes and coffee. Finally, the amaretto sour is just how they typically make it in the clubs, plus some egg whites-​and overall, it was a stronger drink!
Good times.

Bison burger + Victory Prima Pils = lunch once a week.
This place is a great add to the neighborhood. Never too crowded at lunch, super friendly staff and an increasingly fun place to grab a beer (or 4) after work.
Also that cold A/​C during the summer? Yes please.

My first time here was for lunch today with my coworkers. Two of us had chicken poboys which were good with chips and two people had chicken salads. Our only issue was the service. It took almost an hour to get our food and we were hungry and has to go back to work. Otherwise, this is a cool and unique looking place and I would definitely return after work hours. I just hope for Better and quicker service.
Someone also mentioned that the cocktails we’re great! I didn’t have any.

PROS:
— They have a fun game room in the back with darts and some super old board games.
— the sugar & spice popcorn (appetizer) — was pretty good but portions was very small.
— BOILED PEANUT HUMMUS AND VEGETABLES (appetizer) — we definitely need some food to go with our drinks and the hummus and veggies were pretty good!
— Rhubarb Rhubarb (cocktail) — [Fords Gin, Zucca, Lemon, Rhubarb and Egg White] This was brown colored and little frothy from the egg white. The drink was mild and sweet. I think this was my favorite cocktail of the night.
THE OKAY:
All Cocktails are $ 14
— Gun Metal Blue (cocktail) — [Mezcal Vida (tequila), Blue Curaçao, peach brandy, lime and cinnamon] It’s a cool looking drink but taste wise its EH. The drink is bitter and strong. I think it’s more of a guy’s drink.
— Julep De Monde (cocktail) — [Medley Brothers Bourbon, Chicory, Meletti, Vanilla and Mole Bitters.] Drink is half topped with small mini ice cubes. I asked the waiter for something refreshing like a mojito and this was not refreshing at all. I did not like the chicory flavor which was very prominent. It was definitely not my type of drink.
— Exit to Eden (cocktail) [Lime Aquavit, Yellow Chartreuse, Green Bell Pepper, Salt Pepper, Lime and Salt.] Tasted very herbaly with a small salt & pepper kick. Not my type of drink either.
— Storm’s Brewin’ (cocktail) — [Hamilton Jamaican Gold Rum, Appleton Rum, Lemon, Grenadine and Passion Fruit] The drink looked good but I thought it was too tart or sour for me.
— Mas Cal Demoura — Qu’es Aquo Rosé 2014 Bottle — Their Rosé was OK. Not particularly good. I had better. Château d’Esclans Les Clans Rose & Garrus Rose is better.
CONS:
— Jar of pickles (appetizer) — super sour and I didn’t like the pickled plums and okra. I do not recommend getting this.

After a quick visit to a nearby art gallery, we decided to step inside Porchlight. It was a little after 4pm on a Saturday so we were able to have a couple of drinks and some quick bites before moving on to other Saturday night adventures (…streaming television shows). Since we did go when it opened, we were able to secure seats by the bar.
You can sit at the bar or at any of the tables (quite a few tables were made for at least 8 people), and those seated away from the bar will get service directly to their table.
We really had a great experience here. Sure, the food may have taken a while, but it was really made with a lot of care.
Drinks:
The cocktails ($ 12-​$ 14) we tried were great. The Behind the Mule was a combination of two kinds of whiskey with ginger, lime, and raspberry vinegar; the last ingredient made the drink a lovely, soft pink color, and really added to its tart, refreshing, summer quality. The Julep du Monde was a coffee-​ish julep drink (it was all in the chicory and meletti) that was startlingly good. So good. I’ve never had a coffee drink that blended that well with alcohol.
The non-​alcoholic Sour Cherry Rickey was also tasty. Porchlight really knows how to make sour drinks work.
Food:
The smoky beef jerky was phenomenal. It was super smoky, a tad juicy, and very flavorful. The jar of pickles for $ 6 was pricey given the size of the jar, but it was interesting to have pickled grapes, okra, and plums for the first time. The Natchitoches meat pie had the flakiest crust and came with the best side of vinegar-​y chopped vegetables, but the inside meat was kind of dry.
Likelihood of another visit:
I didn’t find service to be bad at all, so I’m surprised by the other reviews. Then again, we did come right when it opened and were seated at the bar. I’d love to try some of their other cocktails the next time I’m in the area.

Went here for dinner on an incredibly hot day after a photoshoot, so A/​C: check. It was a Sunday, and I think they’re normally closed then, but this was what they called «Summer Sundays» (or something like that), where they’re open until sundown. In any case, it was a nice place to unwind a bit after lugging around a ton of camera gear (but I digress.).
I had a beer (the Newburgh Brown Ale is fairly cheap and good by NYC standards), but the star was that Chicken Po’ Boy. I asked for it crispy, and damn did it taste good. Maybe it’s because it wasn’t a full house so the cook could focus on it. In any case, it was done just right — not overcooked, and not still clucking. There’s a zing in the batter that rounded out the whole plate with my beer. It’s not hot like a Carolina Reaper, Bhut Jolokia, or Iranian nuclear test, but it’ll up your heart rate a few beats (actually, the latter will do the same, so scratch that).
My only complaint is that it is so far out of the way from public transit. The area surrounding it is a barren wasteland, but I guess that means plenty of parking nearby. So get a friend with a car (or Über if you dislike de Blasio) and check it out.

Danny Meyers is/​was my hospitality idol, and he should be SO embarrassed to have his name attached to this bar. The servers are inattentive, slow, and just plain awful. Also, the guys who bring out the food just bring out random plates and walk by multiple tables and ask if they ordered them. Extremely unprofessional and inefficient.
The food is pretty good and the ginger ale is the best ive ever had. So two stars for that

Busy place with lots of energy, but what is it? A bar or a restaurant? The bar area was packed and the seating was limited, so we didn’t sit for 45 minutes, but once we did, I wasn’t sure if that was a good idea.
The food menu is minimal, as well as the portions, so I wouldn’t consider it a good place to eat dinner. Drinks maybe, but not food. No way.

I feel bad to be the first Unilocaler to review Danny Meyer’s Porchlight and it is going to be negative. However, as a long time loyal customers to Gramercy Tavern, the Modern, Mialino and new fan to Marta, it is very difficult for me to swallow the disappointment with Porchlight, Danny Meyer’s first and only bar.
Here is the run down.
Came here on a freezing cold, snow/​rainy night. I worked 10 blocks away but my Über bill went all the way up to $ 50 because of 2.5x surge due to the weather. But me and my friend told ourselves, it will be all ok once we get there, sipping some good wine/​cocktail and eating delicious snacks.
Über dropped me off the no-man’s land in north west corner of Chelsea. Looking from outside of the window, the bar looked so rustic industrial, warm and welcoming. On entering, I was greeted by the friendly host. But everything afterwards, went way downwards.
The bar is very spacious for its category. Or should I say, it feels more a restaurant than bar. There are more individual tables than counter seats. And the place was completely packed on a stormy, wintry Tuesday night! Luckily, my friend arrived earlier than me and had got a table.
I wanted to start with a glass of pino on tap before I ventured into cocktail section. Then later been told, the taps were not set up. Ok, I am fine with a glass of pino from Loire Valley. We also got two apps to nimble on: avocado crab meat toast and smoke swordfish and fixin’s. The app menu was very limited and three, four items were not available tonight. That is fine, we did not come here for dinner. And neither should you because you would starve. Remember, this is NOT a restaurant.
Wine selection? What wine selection? You come for the cocktails. But it is Danny Meyer’s, wine list should be consistently good — Gramercy, Mialino, Marta, ditto!
In 5 mins our food arrived but my glass of wine was no where to be seen. Another 10 mins, it finally arrived but the waiter put it down in such a rush that it was almost spilled. Both the avocado crab toast and the smoked swordfish were just edible. The crab meat was a bit fishy and lack of flavor, though the toast was thin and nicely toasted. The smoked swordfish fixins were a dab of fish on top of a very pathetic looking sesame cracker which was not even crisp any more. Where is the savory southern taste?! I know I know it is just a bar, but it i still, Danny Meyer’s bar, the fine dinning mogul in New York :/​To add insult to the injury, the service was lacking. It took another 15 mins for my second glass of wine and it almost came the same time as our paycheck…
May be it is because it just opens and yet to work out the kinks. But I went the opening night at Marta too, the service and food certainly bench up to the Danny Meyer brand. I may come back for second try but def not any time soon. At the meantime, I stick with Gramercy Tavern and Mialino chic I can always count on for good food, services and not to mention, wine list.