Kinda Nice

Kinda Nice announces itself to the residents of Williamsburg with a red-and-white awning that reads, "A Pretty Good Bar." We tend to agree; this diner-like watering hole is a good time gal if you like Greek-tinged martinis and Cherry Cola frozens by day and disco hangs and highballs by night. Though we're not too surprised by the solid drinks and good vibes: two Grand Army Bar vets run the spot. 

The vibe: Kinda Nice feels instantly welcoming, leaning into diner nostalgia with mustard-colored booths and retro dinette tables. Sage-green swivel chairs at the counter are just as covetable, offering a front-row seat to cocktails in motion and the collection of tchotchkes behind the bar—especially the glowing neon clock that serves as the room's centerpiece.

The drinks: Patty Dennison and Ally Marrone clearly understand the art of the savory cocktail—they did bring the Dirty Dog Martini into existence after all. They bring that savory spin to Kinda Nice, riffing off the classic dirty martini with a Greek Salad Tini that drinks a little bit earthy and savory, briny and vegetal with dollops of oregano that float on top. For something sweeter, take to the frozen Cherry Cola. A callback to their shared time working at Blacktail, the frozen tastes like a freshly fizzed Coke with a touch of amaro and a maraschino cherry snap, almost like you just bit into the skin. Shout-out also goes to the patio pounder, the Kinda Peachy, whose clear visual is a deceptive one, as it sips like sweetened but balanced Peachy-O with just a touch of smoke.

The food: There's a deviled egg clock here, so you know what time it is. Start with the seriously excellent Caesar salad deviled eggs that have a light shower of lettuce and curls of Parmesan cheese, with a briny pop from an oily anchovy topper. The chicken sandwich is a standard sammy save for a swipe of pimento cheese. The dips are fine, but the housemade chips need a little work, arriving too thick for my liking. 

Time Out tip: The bar recently revealed the downstairs dance lounge, aptly named Shenanigans. Expect disco grooves and a playlist that millennials can scream-sing on the weekends while knocking back highball versions of the Greek martini and carbonated whiskey sours.