Boulton & Watt

Address: 5 Avenue A, New York , 10009 , United States
Tel: +1 646-490-6004
Website: view Boulton & Watt’s website
Door: Open door
Style: Gastro pub
Food: Set menu

Review

The gastropub Boulton & Watt occupies a well-trafficked corner of the East Village, and its Industrial Revolution theme stretches from its name (honoring steam-engine pioneers Matthew and James, respectively) to the décor: all warm tones, Edison bulbs, framed engineering drawings, and slowly-turning ceiling fans powered by complicated-looking arrangements of belts and pulleys. Grab a seat at the massive bar (formerly an industrial workbench from Pennsylvania, refitted with iron-pipe fixtures) or one of the communal tables (one of which has its own private beer tap system) and order a vast array of housemade pickles and some solid drinks. And yes, you can get a pickleback, with Irish whiskey and your choice of four different brines.

Most of the menu consists of comfortable variations on the classics, and it's refreshing to see cocktails that aren't wildly ambitious but are tasty, balanced, solidly-executed spins on familiar themes. The spicy-drink trend continues apace, with one cocktail containing jalapeno and another using jalapeno-infused tequila. My "First Word", a variation on the Final Word using Benedictine, hit the spot. Above-average pub grub in a relaxed space, with TVs showing the game, and drinks that are at least three notches above the sports-bar norm, is a great formula.