We just so happened to stumble upon Bar Contra. It was later in the night and the other bars we had stopped by were getting ready to close for the night. Bar Contra had a seat for our larger group so that was already off to a great start for us. Our server was incredible and she was very attentive, so was the rest of staff. Everyone on the team seemed to work together and we had a wonderful experience. The drinks were phenomenal and the service was excellent. For the most part, everyone in our group ordered something different. Some with bubbles, some with different spirits. Everything I got to try was above my expectations, but my absolute favorite was the Saltair. I live in DC but would absolutely take a train to NYC just for the weekend for this drink. We had a great experience and I'm glad we just so happened to stumble upon Bar Contra, we will definitely be back again! read more

Bar Contra - Passion fruit low ball, Saltair - New American Near Me - New York, New York

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Yesterday, I was able to check off a bucket list item, enjoying my first experience at Bar Contra. This space was of interest due to its founder Dave Arnold, the author of the James Beard Award winning beverage book, "Liquid Intelligence." Liquid Intelligence is the high school chemistry class that I wish I had taken. The book provides a deep exploration into the scientific principles of craft cocktails. We made a reservation for 5:30 PM, and were seated at a table towards the back. The ambience is dimly lit, with funky international lounge music. Perusing the menu, I wish that I could have tried all of the cocktails with their myriad of novel ingredients and flavor combinations. The two-page cocktail menu was classified into the categories of Carbonated, Shaken, Nitro Muddled, On a Rock/Built, Stirred, and Frozen. The menu contained several mocktail options, including "The Green Bean." We opted for the Xipe Totec (smoked pasilla spirit, clairin, acid pineapple and orange syrup), Sagittarius B2, aka "The Taste of the Center of the Galaxy" (rum, raspberry orgeat, acid raspberry), and the Nitro Muddle "Viridian Sour" (aquavit, dill, citrus, granny smith apple). All three cocktails offered unique flavor profiles and were remarkably well-balanced. To anybody concerned that the cocktail program at Bar Contra is pretentious, don't be - these cocktails taste amazing! Our server Ella was outstanding, offering warm service and excellent knowledge about the cocktails. Bar Contra was kind in providing us a complimentary round of a bubbly elixir (containing a hint of Gentian) for my birthday. Thank you. The prices were more than fair for the quality of cocktails and the overall experience. read more

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The first truly great shrimp I had was up in Maine, around 2005. I was driving down US1 in January, and some guy had a roadside stand: "Fresh Caught Maine Shrimp $5/lb". I'm like "Sure, why not, I can stop at a supermarket, get some butter and garlic salt, and microwave them back at the hotel". But when I got in the car and sampled one raw... OMG... not sure if / how many made it back to the hotel. Unfort, that fishery has been pretty much closed down in recent years. Back in Florida, I then loved discovering Royal Reds in the 2010s. I'd get them practically off the boat near Cape Canaveral. Also way way way more flavorful than regular Gulf or (God Forbid) farmed raised. In distant third place would be the Argentinian Reds, available now at your local supermarket everywhere. But now, apparently there's a Montauk Royal Red moment happening in the New York area. And I was happy to check it out on my recent visit to Bar Conta. I'd not been in since the changeover to the new format. But it's clear Chefs Jeremiah and Fabian are still killing it. This small plate (photo 1), labelled Montauk Scarlet Prawn, was just ridiculous. I also enjoyed the Grilled Bangs Island Mussels with Nduja, Sofrito Glaze, and Lemon. Bar Contra also features libations from cocktail authority Dave Arnold. And my drinks were also on another level, including the "Xipe Totec": Smoked Pasilla Spirit, Clairin, Acid Pineapple, Orange Syrup It was good as ever to be back in the Wildair / Contra neighborhood! read more

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This acclaimed cocktail bar is located in a sliver of space with an easy to miss entrance on Orchard Street in the Lower East Side. The low lit vibe offers a chill area to enjoy unique strong cocktails and inventive bar snacks. The drinks almost taste medicinal but in a good way. The Sagittarius B2 with rum, raspberry acid, and almond syrup tastes like a light boozy milkshake. The Candarin Orange offers a floral citrusy take on a martini with tequila. The filling chicken wing is packed to the brim with Stilton cheese stuffed sausage. The Comté tart with a creamy mushroom and truffle custard topped with green asparagus is baked to perfection. read more

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The top bars of NYC are the top bars of NYC for a reason. Contra is no exception. Moody, yet lively. Inventive, yet true to classics. Hospitality driven, people focused. Super fun spot to kick back at the bar, meet a new friend, or just bend the bar tender's ear. Superb service, boozy drinks, and all the vibes! read more

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Run, don't walk to Bar Contra for their delicious cocktails and small bites! Drinks: As a person who likes fruitier/sweeter drinks, I really enjoyed the Marigold and the Passion Fruit lowball. The former radiated floral and citrus-y flavors, while the later had an interesting mix of passion fruit flavors and the bitterness of the gentian root in a very bubbly, carbonated setting. My partner, who likes more smokey drinks, enjoyed the xipe totec. The candarin orange featured a nice balance of citrus/orange-y flavors with the tequila. Lastly, we tried the hot bishop's wife, which initially reminded me of this sweet Chinese herbal tea but with a minty aroma. Combined with the tim tam cookie, it almost felt like mint chocolate but in a hot, liquid, and clarified form? It was exactly what I needed on a cold winter holiday night! Food: I loved every single dish but still thinking about the comte tart the most! The initial versions may have featured mushrooms on top but I don't think it does anymore. It was delicious with the truffle sauce and reminded me of a nicely done quiche. The flaky outer layer contrasted the cheesy custard in the middle. The beef tartare was fresh and tender, which complemented the crunchy brazil nuts and micro veggies. The mussels paired so nicely with the nduja with the right balance of umami and spice. The scallop was very tender and well-cooked, and enclosed with a juxtaposing fried outer layer. The refreshing walnut shiso sauce provided a tangy, nutty, and spicy flavor. The stuffed chicken wings were super smokey, cripsy on the inside, and well-seasoned. Enjoyed the herb-forward pork sausage on the inside. The space is very intimate and cute, especially with lots of fun cat art decorations. Staff were polite. Drinks and food came quick. Definitely want to come back to check out their other dishes and seasonal drinks! read more

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Cuisine: 7 Service: 6 Decor: 7 Value: 6 Overall: 7 Moody wine bar in LES with dim lit bar and dining area. Stopped by recently to try some of their food items I saw on Yelp and Google, but unfortunately some of them no longer exist. Here are the four items we did get to experience. Summer Tomato Tart (9/10) - This dish replaced the Mushroom Tart that I came here for. Fresh and sweet cherry tomatoes, with skin peeled off, and slightly roasted, over a creamy sauce piped into a small crunchy tart. Delicious! Dunno what I missed with the Mushroom Tart, but not too unhappy. American Wagyu Beef Tartare (6/10) - Why does American Wagyu not taste more flavorful? Well, it's severely under seasoned for one. Another issue is that the condiments and accompaniments, such as ramps and artichoke, add a slight bit of texture but not any real taste differences. I prefer a classic one with capers and more salt. Not worth the high price. Montauk Scarlet Prawn (8/10) - Simple and delicious. You can taste a slight brininess along with the natural sweetness of the prawns. The sauce adds a hint of savory umami to the dish. Maine Scallop (6/10) - The masa batter was okay, but I would have preferred something more crispy for what is essentially tempura. The shiso leaf is a nice touch, but I really didn't taste the walnut condiment. Service was decent but somewhat slow. Not sure if I would return regularly, but I will not hesitate to visit if they bring back that Mushroom Tart. read more

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Got off work at a reasonable hour and we got drink and snack in LES. The cocktails here are great, i loved the daquiri inspired one and the Umeboshi w the mini beer was AWESOME! I think u can skip the food, the tuna w potato cripsies was a lil nothingburger imho and a tad fishy. The snack vibe is they are doing a lot w the descriptors on the menu and fancy ingredients and adjectives and stuff but idk if its coming thru in the bites themselves. Tis not an anju place for me alas read more

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Came twice within a few months and can definitively say this is one of the best cocktail bars in NYC right now. Dave Arnold (Liquid Intelligence) did the bar and if you're into forced carbonation, acid stuff, etc, you'll love this place. The drinks also just TASTE GOOD. The first time, my friend booked ahead for Tuesday evening drinks. Bar is a tight squeeze, so would recommend making a reservation for a table if you can. I tried: + Frozen Green pisco-lada - had great flavor but a little too much air + viridian sour - incredible, 5 stars for this drink alone. Hope they bring it back! + Sagittarius 82 - like a raspberry gummy candy, yummy and sweet + Banana justino - amazing + Celeriac crumpet - delicious + Montauk scarlet prawn - great texture, though a bit too fishy for me The second time, I booked through Capital One dining and they comped us a crumpet, which was a nice touch! Other new things I tried this time: + Fantasy Island - perfect, definitely get this + Passionfruit low ball - great flavor but too carbonated for me (I was warned lol) + Frozen popcorn - insane. What is this sorcery?? Don't think, just order Will try the potato sundae next time! read more

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Dave Arnold is the OG master when it comes to scientific mixology, really was pushing the line 15 years ago making drinks with centrifuges and stuff. The Bananas Justino lives on at Bar Contra! Also a decent place to be wait if you're waiting for Double Chicken Please to text you for a seat to open as well since it's right across the street! read more

Came here a few weeks ago with my wife. Had great cocktails, food, and service. We also had both desserts which were great. We ended up having six cocktails, three of which were n/a. The n/a cocktails were very good which is a nice touch for someone not drinking alcohol. We will definitely be back. read more

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I came here with friends to celebrate my birthday. The staff were friendly --the small gesture of adding an extra chicken wing since there were three of us. Food-wise, my favorites were the oyster tartare, the celeriac crumpet, and the potato & strawberry sundae--each one unique and full of flavor. I also enjoyed the mushroom tartlet; it had a strong truffle aroma which I liked, though it came with just a few tiny pieces of mushroom--not quite like the photos that were posted here from a few months back. The cocktails were great across the board: well-mixed, not overly sweet, and nicely balanced so you could taste the alcohol without it overpowering the drink. read more

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My first thoughts really are about the service we had here, which was just stellar. They made my husband and I feel like VIPs. Really lovely people and service. We had a comfortable corner table towards the back. I appreciate that we weren't smushed into a smaller table. We tried a few of their cocktails including: Passion Fruit Lowball - delicious, not overly sweet or overly carbonated, with a very forward fruit flavor. Very refreshing, and light. Xipe Totec - this had a nice smokiness to it, a smoky pineapple daiquiri. Sagittarius B12 - creamy, delicious raspberry and rum. Hard to pick a fave but this was really good!! Brandy Savage - I didn't get to have much of this one, but my taste of it was yummy. I don't recall any cranberry? Food-wise, they were out of the crumpet, and while the prawns were tasty, they were soooo teeny tiny. Smoked Pacific Oysters - I'm not usually a fan of canned, but tried them anyway and found the smokiness nice. I wish they'd been fresh though. Tuna Mayo - pretty sure this was also canned fish. Heavy on the mayo and not the freshest tasting tuna. I would return for the delicious, unique drinks and impeccable service, but would skip the food next time. read more

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The return of (bar) Contra! Enjoyed the new concept and the bar bites menu. - Red Prawn: smelled fishy but tasty. Maybe it's frozen? - Maine Scallop: tempura concept, pretty good but would think there should be 2 shiso leaf so each bite of scallop gets the flavor? - Tuna Mayo: though it's like tuna tartare but the tuna is cooked. Nothing wrong with it just didn't expect it. Crunchies are good. - Chicken Wing: pork sausage flavor was a bit overpowering the chicken. Will come back and try their drink next time! read more

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TLDR: I was a huge fan of Contra so naturally, I loved all the bites I had at Bar Contra. Need to come back to try more of the drink menu, but I liked what I had. I see myself coming here regularly. Walked in on a Friday and was able to grab a couple seats at the bar. Space was cozy and dimly lit. Not sure what changed since it was Contra, the layout looked pretty similar from what I remember. I was excited to see familiar items on the menu like the mushroom tartlet, chicken wing, tofu with caviar, and potato dessert. Ordered a mix of new and old. My favorite bites were the celeriac crumpet, Maine scallop, and both the potato & strawberry sundae and the Bar Contra Bar desserts. For drink, I didn't get to try as much as I wanted, so I'll update later when I try the rest of the menu. For now, I enjoyed the Banana Justino which was a banana-y, caramel-y rum old fashioned type drink and the No Words, a mamey gin and grapefruit cocktail that was refreshing and fruity. Overall, loved the friendly service and casual vibe. Loved every bite I had, and can't wait to try more drinks. read more

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Suchhh a lucky find. We were trying to go somewhere else nearby, couldnt get in and stumbled here instead. And im so glad we did!! The interior, the ambience, the staff, the drinks, sososo good. One of my new faves for sure read more

Bar Contra is like stepping into a parallel universe where every flavor combination is a revelation. The star of my evening? The Concord grape and roasted potato sundae. Yes, you heard that right. This isn't your average dessert--it's an edible think piece. The sweetness of the grape balances the creamy, almost savory complexity of roasted potato, leaving you with a spoonful of surprise and satisfaction every time. It looked otherworldly and the potato crispies stayed nice and crunchy. The sabayon on top was picture perfect. Pair that with some of their stellar cocktails--crafted to perfection and as innovative as their food--and you're in for a treat. The intimate vibe, paired with the passionate staff and creative menu, makes Contra a standout for adventurous palates. You won't leave disappointed, just wondering what other flavors you've been missing all your life. read more

Bar Contra - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Still a nicely appointed bar in LES, but lacking in both service and capabilities at the bar. Excessively heavy use of simple syrup in both of our cocktails left them feeling thick in the mouth and far too sweet (both an old fashioned and the Sly Stallone house cocktail). Not a fantastic discovery after waiting nearly 30 minutes for drinks after ordering. The food is very small plates, but it does look and smell great. Like a lot of the bars that have launched or relaunched in the LES, Bar Contra is heavy on presentation and light on substance. read more

I LOVE when I can write a really positive review. I have missed Dave Arnold's Booker and Dax tremendously and when I heard he was opening Bar Contra with Jeremiah Stone and Fabian Von Hauske I was giddy. Of course, this COULD mean I was setting myself up for massive dissapointment...because this in NOT Booker and Dax part two...it's its own bar. Not too worry, everything I love obout Booker and Dax is here with brand new insanely innovative, delicious cocktails and excellent food. Terrific bartenders and support staff make certain you have a great evening. We sampled...most of the cocktail menu... and were thrilled with everything. In particular, we loved the Piscola, the Saltair, the spicey Xipe Totec, the Dropoff and the Sly Stone. All the food was spectacular as well. I can't wait to share this place with friends. Come with questions for your well educated bartenders and settle in for a few cocktails that will have you talking for days after. read more

solid cocktails, would come back to try more and the food. was able to walk in and grab the last seats at the bar before dinner nearby. friendly bartenders read more

Contra I've missed you! Glad to see it back albeit in new lounge form. Cocktails are excellent. Space is cosy so expect tight tables.

Had 3 drinks, all perfectly balanced and unique. Great service and recommendations, and elegant, calming atmosphere. Can't recommend enough and can't wait to go back read more

Cool spot in the Lower East Side. Happy hour is great. A bit noisy, you'll have to stand up or find a coveted high chair. But definitely great place for casual drinks. read more

Great food. Great wine. Great service. All around amazing experience. The ambience was also great. Definitely going back.

This place is so great. We didn't eat, but we tried a bunch of the cocktails without a single miss. Staff was really friendly and downright charming. The bar is small and tight, but not too bad for the area, and they actually built the bar to have an accessible section. read more

it's exactly what you want for drinks in the neighborhood: the cocktails and ambiance are divine (the acid granny is easily a top five cocktail for me), and the bartenders are very kind and knowledgeable about their menu. bar contra goes above and beyond to prove that one can experience immaculate drinks and quality service in the same place. other bars, take note~ read more