PDT (it stands for Please Don’t Tell), this popular bar, is something of a strange one, a cocktail lounge attached to Crif Dogs, a hot dog joint in the East Village. You gain access through a vintage phone booth at Crif and enter a speakeasy-style space that’s too cool for school.
The stylishly low-key, laid-back feel of the place is complemented by surprising touches in the decor, the taxidermy-adorned walls may put off some animal lovers, but who can resist a bear in a hat?
You can relax in one of the leather booths or there’s plenty of room to prop up the bar and enjoy one of the excellent, high-quality cocktails courtesy of former Pegu Club mixologist Jim Meehan.
Beer lovers are also well catered for, and if you get hungry you can order food from Crif’s next door: hot dogs and burgers mostly, great for drinking and keeping your head.
The friendly, experienced staff makes up for the fact that getting a reservation can be tricky (recommended for groups, especially call at 3pm when the lines open to increase your chances, but don’t be surprised if you’re left on hold for a while).
During busy times, you’ll have to wait a bit to get in and, unsurprisingly given the high concept nature of the whole enterprise, it’s not the place to go for a cheap drink. But while the whole “secret spot” concept has proliferated to the point of tedium lately and may be a little too consciously gimmicky for some tastes, the dedication to top-notch cocktails and a unique setting means PDT manages to pull it off. off
What their peers say
“Behind a hot dog shop on Manhattan’s Lower East Side is truly one of the best bars in the world. Through a phone kiosk in the hot dog shop, you can enter an authentic speakeasy-style bar. The drinks are expertly handled by the genius of the mercury cocktail, Jim Meehan. Suffice it to say, I’ve never had anything less than a great drink at this place.” Nick Strangeways, Strange Hill
“Pay attention to the source, but PDT’s bartenders have created close to two hundred original cocktails over the past few years. The combination of seasonal, sophisticated, session cocktails, dramatic entrances, and hot dogs created by local chefs and served from the door next door has proven that bartenders don’t have to wear bow ties and cufflinks to be taken seriously.” Jim Meehan of PDT , New York
“One of the best entrances to any bar (through a phone booth in the hot dog restaurant next door), it serves a great drink menu designed by Jim Meehan. After a few of his great drinks, it’s worth ordering a hot dog or two – dogs have a separate entrance through the wall.” Anistatia Miller and Jared Brown from Mixellany Ltd.
