I've missed Experimental Cocktail Club, as well as Booker & Dax (and Existing Conditions) and after reading your post, I am even more excited about the latter, less so about the former. I recall the previous ECC as this raucous party place; I can't help but think of how great it was and how much older I am!
As for Clemente, I was intrigued. But I was assuming a quieter, refined place (I was thinking of The Office — remember that place in the Mandarin Oriental?). I already feel priced out by Eleven Madison, so my sense is that I won't be going here unless someone else invites me — and offers to expense it.
I think we have very similar sensibilities. I, too, miss The Office dearly, and keep hoping that something similar will open, but Clemente isn't quite it. (It is, however, a great place to go if someone else is expensing the visit!) I find the new ECC quite different from the old one, but it's worth a visit for the drinks even if the scene is no longer your (or my) thing. I think (and hope) you'll love Bar Contra!
Please check back in after you visit any and let me know what you think!
I've missed Experimental Cocktail Club, as well as Booker & Dax (and Existing Conditions) and after reading your post, I am even more excited about the latter, less so about the former. I recall the previous ECC as this raucous party place; I can't help but think of how great it was and how much older I am!
As for Clemente, I was intrigued. But I was assuming a quieter, refined place (I was thinking of The Office — remember that place in the Mandarin Oriental?). I already feel priced out by Eleven Madison, so my sense is that I won't be going here unless someone else invites me — and offers to expense it.
I think we have very similar sensibilities. I, too, miss The Office dearly, and keep hoping that something similar will open, but Clemente isn't quite it. (It is, however, a great place to go if someone else is expensing the visit!) I find the new ECC quite different from the old one, but it's worth a visit for the drinks even if the scene is no longer your (or my) thing. I think (and hope) you'll love Bar Contra!
Please check back in after you visit any and let me know what you think!