“Tonight is ’90s metal night—have any requests?” That’s what the inked-up, bearded bartender asked on a recent night at this pint-size Clinton Hill bar. He went on to lead bargoers in a deep-cuts discussion on the likes of Korn and Limp Bizkit, all before taking a single drink order. That’s pretty much how it rolls at Until Tomorrow, from chef Dave Ralston (Blue Hill, Luksus) and beverage director Rob Giles (Erv’s on Beekman). Even if you live a 25-minute Uber ride across the river, the bartender and fellow patrons treat you like you’re an old friend, divulging personal stories and inside jokes over creative cocktails.
ORDER THIS: With its white peppercorns and caramelized pineapple, the cocktail list almost reads like a dinner menu. The tropical-leaning Donkey Kong ($12) features currant-roll-infused rum and bananas that are brûléed right in front of you via a blowtorch, creating a textured, fruity quaff, with a sprinkle of espresso powder for an extra earthy, bitter-burnt flavor. The Icepick ($12) has all the warming spice of good pie: A trio of tequila, bourbon and rum is enriched with a carrot-cumin cream and egg whites, and it’s flavored with brown sugar, grapefruit and lemon. Even the lowly shot-and-chaser combo ($8) gets a chefly update at the bar: Match your choice of liquor (rye, tequila or shochu) with house-made chasers like tomatillo-cilantro-mint sangrita or a curry-carrot-raisin Manischewitz.
GOOD FOR: A solo night out on the town. The affable staff and bar-only seating—a wood-topped curve that stretches the length of the space with elixirs, mixers and house-made syrups on display—invite a pull-up-a-chair-and-tell-me-your-life-story kind of night. But the unfinished storefront next door bears the bar’s insignia, with plans for expansion, and the patio out back is set to open for the spring, so the writing on the wall is that this will soon turn into a group-friendly hang spot.
THE CLINCHER: Like the drinks, food is a cut above your average bar eats, which isn’t surprising given Ralston’s fine-dining experience. [Editor’s note: As of press time, Ralston will no longer be at Until Tomorrow.] The menu has been in rotation since opening, but with plates like a crispy, hot-honey fried chicken sandwich ($14) and sauce-drenched patatas bravas ($9), we’ll happily munch on this top-rate grub well into tomorrow.