Jade and Clover is a fun cocktail lounge on the Lower East Side with both Irish and Asian (mostly Chinese, some Japanese) influences offering a vast and playful cocktail menu and a chic (if at times a bit on the nose) aesthetic. We had a nice time here but I found myself thinking Jade and Clover might be trying a bit too hard across the board, such that in its attempts to approximate a current yet lasting concept, it has yet to really develop its own identity. Putting aside my psychoanalysis, there's a lot to like about Jade and Clover and the amount of effort put into curating the vibe is evident in all aspects of the experience and certainly deserving of respect.
We came here at around 11pm on a Saturday night. There were a decent number of people here but the space was still only about half full. We got a table in the middle area, close to the bar, in a nice little nook that was cozy and almost had a semi-private feel. The decor is swanky, with a luxe green-and-gold color scheme that I imagine is a reference to the bar's Irish influence and a fun paper umbrella display drawing from Asian influence. So a little quirky, a little scene-y, a little whimsical.
Though Jade and Clover advertises itself as both Irish and Asian, the cocktail menu skews significantly more Asian (think lots of baijiu, Suntory liquors, and other ingredients commonly seen in Asian cuisines). The menu is fairly large which makes deliberation challenging. That said, there a significantly more shaken/lighter drinks than stirred/spirit-forward drinks on the menu, so if you like the latter like me, you'll have less to pick from. They were out of the first drink I wanted so I ended up starting with the Peachy River (ming river baijiu, mizu green tea sochu, lillet blanc, peach liqueur, japanese wakamomo peach), which is a fruity and floral martini-style drink. It was a bit sweeter than I expected it to be, likely because of the peach liqueur. I think reducing that just a touch could make a big difference but even as is, still a smooth, interesting, and enjoyable drink. I then got the
Antidote (redemption rye, remy martin vsop, carpano antica formula sweet vermouth, pei pa koa, pu'er tea, ginseng, hickory smoke), which is a complex, smoky and earthy Boulevardier variation. I looked up pei pa koa as I had never heard of it before and it's apparently a Chinese herb often used as a natural remedy for congestion and respiratory symptoms. In other words, if you happen to be recovering from a cold with a lingering cough, you can consider this drink doctor's orders! read more