This week is the official opening of East Village cocktail bar Paper Daisy, by the team of friends behind Boulton & Watt, Drexler’s and the recently opened Mister Paradise.
Owner Darin Rubell along with his partners and creative director Jaime Felber, Ryan Gleason and Eric Kruvant have teamed up with Chef Ali Sahin (Daniel, Rouge Tomate) and Thomas Flynn (Mother’s Ruin, Drexler’s) for the cocktail menu that spans classics to the intriguing.
The casual elegance of the place is reflected in the calming blue and green tones, highlighted with rich, dark wood and art work that spans from trendy to island-inspired colorful. A nod to the former location, old Cafe Orlin menus are framed on the wall.
The 14-seat bar is the perfect place to grab a drink and watch the action of the open kitchen, and high-top tables or banquet nooks are the perfect place to gather with friends.
Drink options spans from beer, wine and cocktails, with a full premium bar to meet every need. One cocktail option includes Watch me Matcha, a combination of Four Pillars rare dry gin, mizu lemongrass shochu, matcha, italicus bergamot, cucumbers, lemon and egg white. You can almost convince yourself that the perfectly balanced cocktail is almost healthy. The Pretty Ricky Kiss of Death is a vacation in a glass- a mix of rum, ramazotti, coconut water, lemon, almond and cold brew.
On opening night, we sampled spicy meatballs with freshly baked bread, a deconstructed Tzatziki made of sour cucumbers, garlic, yogurt and dill with a side of puff pita and the most decadent, heavy burger covered in aged cheddar with a house baked brioche bun. The food is an upscale twist on comfort food, with a Mediterranean influence by Chef Ali Sahin. Other options include a duck hot dog, clams, oysters, chicken liver toast and spicy short ribs.
Next door is the second location of well-liked C & B at Paper Daisy, which will serve breakfast and lunch fare during the day, as well as items featured at the original location. Items like Curry and Eggs breakfast bowls, Lablabi (Tunisian spicy breakfast) and Cilbir ( Turkish breakfast) all showcase the Middle Eastern influence as well an extensive egg sandwich lineup.
Paper Daisy, 41 St. Mark’s Place, NY NY
