Seamstress

Worst place ever!
I went in the bar and the sever sat me at a table. I was waiting for a friend and she told me it was okay. When my friend came, the host said «you have to leave because I cannot take one more customer tonight». I mean what?! the server was okay with it and the host just asked us to leave. It was so terrible! The bar was pretty empty. I don’t understand why they won’t take us! Is it racism or discrimination?! I don’t get it.

A big thumbs up! Great cocktail program and super service.

1000x better than the cocktail bar that was previously here, JBird. Ate here last night and thoroughly enjoyed the squid dish, yardbird, oysters, and kale/​mushrooms. Each dish was well seasoned and excellently prepared!
Cocktails were also on point. Had a few of the whiskey based cocktails which were great. Will definitely be back!

The only reason I cant give this place 5 stars is because I thought the staff was just very unwelcoming. I wont go back because they did a terrible job of making a good impression. We were sitting at the bar, and the bartender was in my opinion a little stuck up might have just been tired or having a bad day, but made no attempt to offer a smile or make polite conversation. It wasn’t busy and its a small bar anyway– just unfortunate because I loved the food, drinks, crowd and ambiance. Staff need to demonstrate hospitality not just service.
The food and drinks are absolutely on point. Phenomenal cocktail list, well put together drinks and perfectly cooked food– we ordered the yard bird which was their version of a fried chicken and it was done perfectly. Extremely crunchy on the outside and succulent & juicy inside.

Look for the golden scissors on the door!
The drinks are excellent! I think for the location and the vast variety of drinks the prices are extremely reasonable.
The food was also equally fantastic, that smoked fried chicken… it tastes like ham, fried, but is a chicken… crazy.
The wait staff is just awesome here! No one rushed us, pushed drinks on us, and were all super friendly, helping explain what different things where in the cocktails to the uneducated masses.
Def my new go to place in the area!

My wife and I have searched through all the top mixology lounges in manhattan and have literally been to each and every one of them. We someone managed to stumble across seamstress on a website that we never heard of before and boy did we get lucky. This place is absolutely phenomenal.
Every single cocktail that we ordered was perfectly executed. The food here is delicious and the atmosphere wasn’t as uptight as many of these places tend to get. The bartender looked pretty busy but she still took some time to say hello to us (we weren’t sitting at the bar). Ultimately we ended up spending about 30 dollars on food and about 130 on cocktails… go figure. The cocktail list here is great because all of the classic american cocktails are outlined there for you should you want to step out of your comfort zone but are not familiar with the different names.

I came here skeptical of the menu and the atmosphere; it looked a little too hipster for my tastes, but the location is convenient to a friend’s job. All I can say is, I LOVE when I am proven wrong!
The food and drinks are superb, the atmosphere is so cute and warm (perfect for dates or drinks and snacks with friends), and the service was the perfect amount of accommodating without being overbearing.
We shared the crispy potato wedges with sumac and garlic dipping sauce and they are to die for. Completely crave-​able, I would go back just for those. The fried cauliflower with cheese was also delicious, as was the pork belly.
For drinks, I had the very patriotic All the Way (comes layered as red white and blue with a tiny flag in it) that was the perfect amount of tart for me. My friend had something with gin that was pink and raved about it.
I am looking forward to going back soon for the potato wedges and more cocktails; this place is new NYC done right.

I came for the Happy Hour to try the $ 1 oysters. I’m so glad I did! I arrived at 5:30pm when they opened and was immediately seated at a nice high table along one wall. The space itself is dark but really nice and romantic — you know, with those dampened Edison bulbs. In any case, the drinks are really good here and they have an extensive menu.
The specials are written on a chalkboard on the wall. We got the fried cauliflower (awesome) as well as a dozen oysters. They had two different kinds of oysters that day and so we each had 3 of each type. However, they were so good we were not satisfied. We ordered another dozen just for the hell of it.
The oysters were large and very fresh. There were some shell pieces in the oyster, but overall not bad. The sauce they had in the center of the oysters was delicious. Just the right mix.
Service was friendly. Although it was pretty empty when we came at 5:30pm, my understanding is that it gets really packed during regular dinner hours until they close. Definitely worth trying!

One of the newer additions to the Upper East Side, Seamstress offers refreshing, good cocktails, though falls short of expectations in many other areas, at least based on all my visits there. After a few visits during their very first month of opening, I really wanted to like this place more, but I see room for definite improvement. I probably see no reason to return otherwise.
A number of issues came up. The cocktails are pretty good, but the consistency of their preparation is clearly off. The menu, oddly, feels also limited in variety when it comes to flavor palate. Most ingredients involved are on the lighter or sweeter side, though I tend to go for tarty, citrusy or something much more stiff/​boozy. I also find the menu more confusing than informative, with descriptions that are more artsy but not necessarily useful in describing what type of drink you are about to order.
The service was downright atrocious on one of my visits, where it was unexpectedly crowded, but there was a seat available for the both of us. We sat at a communal table, to eventually be moved to a more private table, which was nice. We ordered our cocktails. Our server was very friendly. Thirty minutes pass and still no sign of our drinks. Server comes by at least five or more times to see if we were okay, but eventually offers us wine on the house because of the long wait. Almost an hour later, our drinks arrive. Not only was the wait unacceptable, but the drink seemed to have been haphazardly thrown together, with a garnish that was entirely wilted on the side of my glass. The server noted my look of disappointment, and he had me choose another drink that would be more of my liking. This drink nearly tasted the same as the last. Either way, I found the wait bothersome to start, and the wilted garnish hard to ignore in terms of presentation. Some drinks came with obvious care given, while others looked haphadzardly thrown together, or rushed. Some drinks tried were the Wizz Fizz, Porch Talk and Cold in Shadows.
First impressions are everything, and Seamstress clearly shows that while thought was put into their menu, the variety still lacks. It might veer more experimental. Not too many stiff cocktail options. Their cocktails tend to be more on the sweeter side. But overall, the inconsistent level of care and attention on several visits makes me hesitant. The service has been pretty bad, especially on super busy nights. It is understandable, but even on a not so busy night, expect something to go wrong. All in all, not the biggest fan.

Finally got to try this crafty cocktail bar that’s been on my list! I popped in with my sister on a Sunday night and we were actually the only patrons in there for a little bit, which was equal parts surreal and cool. We sat at the bar and got the bartender’s full attention. He was super attentive and went over the whole menu with us and wanted to make sure we’d like what we were drinking. I tried the All The Way first, which is a refreshing and easy to drink sort of alcoholic cherry slush, in adorable patriotic packaging. I’d recommend this for less adventurous visitors. My second drink was the C. Vidal, and this was spectacular. I would come back just to drink several of these. It’s unique enough but definitely so delicious you’ll drink it quickly. The décor is also awesome and the vibe is great for a date. Will return!

Since I was last here at this spot it was JBird (
). For the same things I praised JBird for offering here, I have to say that Seamstress may be the worthy successor with it’s focus on amazing cocktails.
The awning which still has the JBird logo on it threw me off when I came here with some friends, but don’t be mistaken this place has its own distinguished vibe.
It’s difficult not to compare the two so I’m going to make one last comparison. It isn’t quite as low key and muted as JBird, but perhaps that was JBirds downfall.
It was sufficiently buzzing with groups of friends hanging out along with a few tables of what I imagine to be first dates on the Friday night I went. It’s a great spot for both.
My friends and I had our fair share of classic cocktails since unfortunately they were «out» or unable to make a majority of the more specialty cocktails. They did a great job with our groups orders of their American classics. From basic staples like a Manhattan and old fashioned to other classics like the gin gin mule and rob roy they were all spot on and delicious.
This kept us well occupied along with orders of the market pickles, potato wedges and the farmstead cheese plate while we waited for the hour to prepare special chicken dish of the night.
The service was impeccable the entire night and all the food and drink was delicious.
The only thing to watch out for is that with the drinks and food tasting as good as they do, it’s very easy to run up a balance here!

Interesting cocktail bar in the UES shelling out fancy drinks in an even fancier looking establishment. Saturday evening sitting with a big group and getting quality treatment from the servers.
Cocktail list can be a little daunting (not much of a beer selection), so had to get a suggestion from the waitress. Settled on the «Goodnight Stella» ($ 13) — a small glass of mostly gin with rosemary hints. Expensive yet also incredibly strong. While nibbling on some appetizers wanted to get some juice to wash it down, but they don’t serve any (odd) — had to settle for a soda instead.
Certainly more of an upscale bar than what I usually go to. Nice for conversations with friends or to impress a date.

I was not impressed. I was going to try the signature cocktail — No Say — but it was off menu last night — missing an ingredient or two. So I went with their featured tequila cocktail — By Any Other Name — which I thought bordered on undrinkable. So I asked for an Aviation — but they were out of violetta. I asked for a Jack Rose — which was just OK. Maybe a bit too much grenadine — and they used lime instead of lemon which I prefer.
Bartender was fine but in an upscale place I did not understand why she was wearing a bib overall. Staff all seemed personable and friendly. I don’t recall if they were playing background music. Décor is appealing but not special. Tables are tight — as are most NYC restaurants. Did not try the food.

You aint even gotta ask, cause its hard to say no.
Seamstress is a combination of a bar in the front then restaurant then bar in the back. This is an awesome place. Located in the UES, crowd is more mature.
Ordered the No Say, such a delicious drink! It was a sweet and lingering taste. It tasted like an adult lemonade and sophistication of UES.
Most of the crowd were on dates or paired up. I met this lovely couple and had a great conversation with them.
Love the drink and the experience had!

I think Seamstress is in the top 3 most creative and unique restaurants on the Upper East Side. They usually get buzz for being one of the trendier, «new and improved Upper East Side» resto’s, but I think they deserve more credit than just having a trendy atmosphere aimed at attracting younger patrons. Fellow neighborhood all-​stars like Bondurants, Writing Room, and Uva have user-​friendly menus that don’t really take a diner out of his comfort zone. This is where Seamstress stands apart.
Where else can you get perfectly broiled oysters rockefeller with a sleek line of emerald absinthe on top? How about fried cauliflower coated in sage and sheep’s milk cheese? And Seamstress consistently features a fried chicken on their menu, like many other spots, but where can you get it served with a duo of chili garlic honey and preserved citrus thyme oil? The food is not only creative, but consistently delicious.
Service is top notch as well. Our waitress last night was attentive, and a waiter re-​folded the napkin while my husband was in the restroom. Not bad for a busy restaurant. My last compliment is towards the décor. The «seamstress» theme works well, with the rusty scissors logo, and wrought iron elements. The rustic communal dining table towards the front is gorgeous as well. Overall, it’s a refreshing dining experience, especially considering it’s at 75^th and 1^st.

An update — I’ve brought 3 people here, and they all loved the atmosphere, food and drinks. My friend yesterday scoffed when I said the mutten burger is the best — saying nothing could measure up to J G Mellon’s burger– but was surprised and loved it. This place is such an amazing lounge for friends or a date.
******
Loved it here. Amazing food, service and very cool unique vibe and atmosphere.
The previous J bird location was cool but this is much improved and has a signature and vibe that is making it a hit upper east …
If you want a table on a weekend make a res. By 630 without a res we had a wait. There are a number of tables and 2 bars — we ended up getting a seat at one of the bars and staying there and the bartender was extremely friendly .
Hosts and managers were also very helpful, directed my friend when she came in … There were all wonderful .
The drink. Thee drink. «No Say.» Well I must say — My new favorite cocktail ever — a delicious heavenly Mezcel drink: LOVE. I would come back just for this drink alone but — fortunately that’s not the only reason to come back…
The food: I looked at the menu and wasn’t quite sure — but the bartender made some recommendations and I was in flavor heaven …
Oysters — great !
Mushroom salad — oh my flavor bursting wow
Squid — delic!
Mutten burger– thee thee best most delicious and most beautiful burger I’ve had ever ever. Order this even if you’re not much of a burger eater. Fantastic !
Definitely recommend as a great restaurant for drinks or dinner to go with friends or a date.

Popped into this classy and cozy little cocktail bar/​restaurant on the Upper East Side as we were waiting for our reservation at nearby Up Thai. The restaurant part seems predominant, but there is a little bar area in the back that serves up some GREAT cocktails. We ordered the C. Vidal and Cold in the Shadows. Both were excellent and deliciously fruity. It seems like a great place to catch up with friends in an unpretentious yet elegant setting. Would love to come back and try the food as well next time!

Seamstress took the place of J. Bird cocktails on the Upper East Side, but it certainly has lived up to its positive reputation.
This bar is easy to miss, as it’s located on a much quieter block. Beautiful speakeasy-​esque interior accented with velvet curtains and all. There are two small bars: one in front, one in back. We weren’t able to get a seat, but the host offered additional seating for us. The crowd here is late 20’s and over, most of which are on dates.
We did not try the food, considering we shoveled out enough $$$ for two cocktails, but they were impressive. The Wiz Fizz was one of the most unique, thoughtfully-​crafted drinks I have had in a long time. Topped with whipped, frothy egg whites, this gin-​based drink was creamy, sweet and comforting.
Overall, I found Seamstress to be such a treat to enjoy an upscale cocktail. I would frequent often if I didn’t mind paying $ 14 dollars a pop.

We had been hearing how great this restaurant was from our friends so I was excited to finally make it up to the Eastside to visit them and try this establishment out together.
We had reservations and were promptly seated and given a double-​sided menu with the front consisting of numerous small plates (and a few large) while the back was the top 50 cocktails in America and several more house-​devised libations to rival these. The décor is modern speakeasy with soft lighting, exposed brick and beams with curtains separating many of the tables and adoring the walls.
Since our friends knew the owners they sent over a complimentary glass of champagne which I insisted would go well with some of their oysters of which we ordered Holy Grails and Rocky Points. They came with a fantastic and smoky mignonette that complimented the brininess of the mollusks.
After finishing the champagne and oysters we went for some of their signature cocktails. I selected the Mortimer & Mauve which was Whistle Pig Rye, Chai Vermouth with Barrow’s Intense Ginger and is their take on an Old Fashioned. It was phenomenal as the chai and ginger complimented to spiciness of the Rye.
One friend opted for the Old Fashioned while the ladies had the Promised Land which was Pisco Porton, Pama Pomegranate Liqueur, port, lemon, fig and bitters. Everyone reported that their drinks were outstanding.
We ordered several of the small plates beginning with the seasonal pickles which came with house-​made items including cucumbers, parsnips and cranberries. The Peekytoe-​avocado salad which came with a light citrus vinaigrette. The Wild mushrooms, with kale, buckwheat, baked egg, citrus, vanilla & green olives which was outstanding. The calamari and potato salad which was tender and flavorful. The smoked pork belly was served with a mix of greens and a delicate dressing that complimented and cut the unctuousness of the pork. My favorite out of all of these was the smoked and fried ‘Yardbird’ which I thought was a very innovative take on fried chicken.
The breasts are first wood smoked and then battered and fried and served with thyme oil and chili-​infused honey so you get more of the savory sweet flavor that the chicken imparts in every bite. The skin and batter were super crispy and full of flavor while the meat was tender, smoky and delicious.
The service was outstanding and the prices, for what we ordered and how full we were, were very reasonable for four people.
I would certainly return and try additional dishes (plus many of the ones we had already) as this was one of the best establishments I have visited this year.
Highly recommended.

Speakeasy type entrance — check
Cool décor, lighting, and seating — check
Attractive mixed crowd enjoying — check
Great food and service — check
Exceptional cocktail list — check
Perfect spot to bring a date, mistress, or secret lover — check
Yup, we have another winner on the UES/​Yorkville! Coming from the owners of the Gilroy it’s another terrific addition to the burgeoning specialty bar scene up here. They be bringing sexy back!
The specialty cocktails were on-​point, the pork shank was delicious and pulled right off the bone, the fried yardbird was crispy goodness, and we were so full after this dinner and three drinks that we could not even get dessert. Next time for sure. Reservations on the weekends are a must.
May I say that the UES is becoming a bit sexy? Sexy, sexy, sex-​ay.
Another new local fav in my hood!