East Village cocktail haven w/ house-party vibes. Unique drinks like Larb Gai & olive oil martinis, plus tasty snacks. Reservations recommended.
Will Hartman reviews Schmuck, an East Village bar offering a relaxed, house-party vibe with expertly crafted cocktails like the Larb Gai and personalized service.
Step into Schmuck, an East Village gem that redefines the bar experience. Housed in a space that feels more like a comfortable living room than a typical establishment, this bar, from the acclaimed Barcelona duo behind Two Shmucks, offers expertly crafted cocktails and personalized service. It's a place where unique drink creations like the Larb Gai and martinis with olive oil are stars, complemented by delightful snacks, creating a vibe akin to a great little house party.
Schmuck is celebrated for its inventive and well-executed cocktails, with specific mentions of the Larb Gai and martinis with olive oil being standout choices. The bar also offers a selection of snacks like cacio e pepe beans and chocolate mousse. While most feedback is positive, a few reviews note that the cocktails can be mediocre or the atmosphere is not to everyone's taste.
"The Larb Gai cocktail, martinis with olive oil, and the frozen margarita with salted cream are highly recommended. Snacks like cacio e pepe beans and chocolate mousse also contribute to the positive dining experience."
Customers generally praise the unique and expertly crafted cocktails, friendly staff, and inviting atmosphere, though some find the experience can be noisy or overly hyped.
Important Note
Some reviews suggest that the bar can be noisy and overcrowded, and one user found the cocktails to be mediocre and the atmosphere unpleasant. It's also noted that while great for cocktails, it doesn't specialize in martinis. Reservations are recommended.
"This is listed as a recommendation."
Neutral"Shmucks is mentioned by the user as one of their top cocktail bars."
Positive"The user finds the frozen margarita with salted cream at Schmucks so enjoyable they could drink it daily."
Positive"Schmucks was suggested as a fun place with amazing cocktails, though it does not specialize in martinis."
Positive"Schmucks is recommended for its fun atmosphere and amazing cocktails, although it does not primarily serve martinis."
Positive"The user describes Schmuck as a new and pretty good place for a bar experience offering drinks and small bites."
Positive"A user noted that Schmuck 'seemed decent but nothing special,' implying a neutral impression where it did not particularly stand out."
Neutral"A user had a very negative experience at Schmuck, reporting that the place literally smelled like "shit" during their visit and stated that there are many better options available in the East Village."
Negative"An industry insider suggests that Schmuck's significant buzz and attention are primarily driven by the owners' strong connections in the bar world. They believe the establishment isn't doing anything notably different from other cocktail bars in NYC."
Neutral"A user disagrees with the positive assessment of Schmuck, criticizing both the mediocre quality of its cocktails, despite interesting descriptions, and the unpleasant atmosphere, which they found overcrowded, brightly lit, and noisy, making conversation difficult."
Negative"A user preferred the outside restaurant area of Schmuck over its cramped interior bar, noting that the savory-intended cocktails served outside were more interesting than the drinks offered in the backroom."
Neutral"Schmuck lives up to the hype, recommends the tomato water thing."
Positive"Recommends Schmuck as a good alternative if not feeling DCP. It recently opened in the East Village."
Positive"Schmuck is one of the newest and most hyped spots, with great drinks (maybe a bit lower ABV) and awesome staff. Open at 4 PM, walk-ins only, two rooms with different drink menus."
Positive"Schmuck is an amazing, fun bar with unique cocktails."
Positive"Schmuck is experimental and relatively new."
Neutral"The original poster listed Schmuck in the LES as a potential spot on their radar for cool cocktails during a planned bar crawl."
Neutral"Mentions Schmuck as one of the new cocktail bars that have opened recently, noting there might be a wait."
Positive
