The team responsible for New York City Michelin starred restaurant Noda has opened a new intimate cocktail bar named Shinji’s. Located in the Flatiron District, the space brings a flicker of summer electricity to the approaching fall calm.
Named after legendary Tokyo food journalist Shinji Nohara, aka the “Tokyo Fixer”, the 18-seat bar takes influence from his expertise in crafting Japanese restaurants, while also managing to maintain uniquely American characteristics. The space is decorated with blue velvet drapes and smoked black glass, with whimsical octopus touches helping to recall memories of the ocean.
The cocktail menu, curated by beverage director Jonathan Adler and operations director Philip Dizard, consists of nostalgic drinks with playful spins on them. Included on the drinks list is the Tropicana, a creative take on the screwdriver featuring vodka and house-made orange liquor that is served inside a frozen orange that takes six hours to make, and comes with a red-and-white straw that evokes classic Tropicana orange juice ads. The Big Lebowski-inspired Jackie Treehorn, meanwhile, is a White Russian but without any dairy or dairy substitutes, and comes with a mini carpet coaster.
Elsewhere, The Dirtiest Martini is an extra-dirty Martini paired with a side of spiced powder, so customers can customize it to their tastes. Soba Cha Cha, meanwhile, takes an Old Fashioned and switches out the whiskey for soba-infused vodka; while the Foie Gras Sidecar is made with foie-gras-washed Hennessy XO and comes with a foie gras tartlet on the side.
Chef Shigeyuki Tsunoda has built a food menu to pair with the cocktails that features items such as uni chawanmushi with Ossetra caviar, seasonal Japanese crudo, hand rolls, and a Wagyu sando.
Shinji’s is open Tuesday through Saturday from 5 pm to 1 am.
For more information, check out Shinji’s official website.