Okay, yes, yes, yes. I have not actually eaten there yet. I have to admit that it’s a bit strange to endorse a lunch spot without ever actually having eaten there. But you know what else is strange? String theory. Don’t understand it. Can’t explain it. But that doesn’t mean that it’s not a thing that people spend their lives studying. Right?
I popped into the new Chesterfield today after having eaten a fine turkey sandwich (with a side of mac and cheese) at City Tavern. Highly recommended. But what’s this at the Chesterfield? A menu of $1 cocktails? Hey, whoa: basil gimlet (vodka, fresh lime, basil); raspberry Collins (vodka, lemon, raspberry, soda); Buena Suerte (tequila, lime, ginger, mint); Ward 8 (whiskey, lemon, orange, old grenadine); vanilla old fashion (whiskey, vanilla, orange, angostura).
But there are two catches: 1) The $1 cocktails are available only from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and 2) you must order food. Hmm. The Bonnie Parker sandwich sounds good. For $9, you get beer-brined turkey with Muenster and garlic aioli, lettuce, tomato, and pickled onion on a soft roll. For a bit more, $13, you might opt for the L.E.S., which is house-made pastrami and sauerkraut with Gruyere cheese and Russian dressing on toasted rye. But run your eyes up the menu, and you’ll see the flat breads. The Standard (roasted tomato, house-made mozzarella, arugula pesto) will run you a very reasonable $6. BUT. HANG ON. The Simple (olive oil and rosemary with grated ricotta) is just $3. Three bucks!
You see where I’m headed here. If my math is correct, you can order a flat bread and a cocktail for $4. We all know that it won’t end there. One $1 cocktail is going to lead to five $1 cocktails. Obviously. Because there are five cocktails on the $1 menu. But that still means lunch is only going to cost you roughly $11 (figure an $8 tab, plus a $3 tip, if you’re watching the bottom line).
And that is why, only having drunk one Maker’s on the rocks (pictured, $8), I can heartily endorse the lunch at The Chesterfield.
You’re welcome.
