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The mystique behind this hidden speakeasy has intrigued me ever since a friend and I patronized Crif Dogs over a decade ago and wondered what the phone booth was all about. I forgot about it until Jamie W and I recently visited NYC and thought this might be fun after a stroll in the East Village. It was pretty easy making a 5PM reservation on Resy, and we showed up five minutes early. I walked into the phone booth to announce our arrival but was curtly told to wait until 5PM. Click (Photo 3). When we were finally allowed to enter, we were seated rather tightly at the bar with the stools bereft of any human clearance between them. The space was unsurprisingly compact space overall and quite dark. It was nearly impossible to read the menu, and I was sniped at for using my smartphone flashlight. We used a combination of our jackets and the counter as a shield to order our first cocktails. I decided on the $18 Black Diamond because it was their customized version of an espresso martini. It incorporated exclusive ingredients like Diplomatica Reserva sipping rum and Tempus Fugit creme de cacao. Definitely not out of a pop-top can. Jamie went for a more tropical route with the $19 Shark which combined at least three different rums, blue curaçao, and various fruit juices (Photo 8). It looked like a frosty Blue Hawaii, but it was a little too low-key for what Jamie had in mind. We then decided to order food from their abbreviated menu of bar bites apparently developed by local celebrity chefs. Because of my past fondness for Momofuku, I went for the $13 Chang Dog which was rather simply a bacon-wrapped frank covered liberally by Momofuku-branded kimchi (Photo 5). It struck me as rather bland for a supposed David Chang creation. Jamie was even more disappointed by his choice, the $17 PDT Burger which was very generic despite the short rib-derived patty and housemade Crif sauce. The bonus was that it came with nicely crisped Tater Tots, indisputably the best part of the meal (Photo 10). Not realizing we were already getting taters, we also ordered the $11 Benton's Tots which added melted cheese, sauteed onions and scallions, bacon bits, and chipotle mayo (Photo 9). Honestly the plain ones were more satisfying. We ordered a last round, pricier elixirs with more of a puckery kick. Jamie had the $23 Suntory Time Machine with whiskey, sake, lemon juice, fig preserves, and pecan bitters. I had the $21 Taro Reader with vodka, amaro, plum, and taro (Photo 6). Neither overshadowed the first round. COCKTAILS - 3.5 stars...fancy components but results vary considerably FOOD - 2.5 stars...disappointing fast food with exclusive branding AMBIANCE - 4 stars...chill speakeasy vibe but also dark and quickly packed SERVICE - 2.5 stars...a bit chilly to these first-time patrons TOTAL - 3 stars...felt like an experience that'll take a while for us to repeat RELATED - Thirsty and hungry in NYC? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/Ig0fULabVp
Attached to crif dogs, and hidden behind the walls; very cute spot! Personally thought the drinks were okay, but loved the hot dogs which is also part of the menu. We came close to closing so it wasnt busy at all! Super cute spot, staff were so friendly and accommodating!
Such a fun speakeasy! Located inside of a hot dog shop (and behind a telephone booth), it can be a bit difficult to find. The interior is intimate and has very interesting taxidermied animals everywhere. We got their hot dogs, tater tots, and of course, their drinks. I tried their polka dot (NA) and it was really good! Hot dogs were a hit or miss depending on the toppings that you like (and trust me, they LOAD the toppings). Tater tots were so good. Service was so friendly and easy to talk to.
Love the vibe, love the drinks. It's such a popular speakeasy that isn't much of a secret anymore. Your best bet as a walk-in is on weekdays, but we waited about an hour on a Saturday night. Luckily, there's many bars in the area you can wait at or grabbing a bite at Crif Dogs beforehand. Once called, you go to the phone booth and dial for someone to meet you at the door. Then you're lead into a dark and intimate bar. We were seated at the bar, which was very tight. The drink menu has a variety to choose from, which all sounded unique. I had the Cha Nom Thai ($22) and Pedro Goes to Sicily ($23) while the husband had the Benton's Old Fashioned ($18) and Toki Torii ($21). All of his cocktails were pretty classic and mine had a nice twist, which I really liked. My favorite was definitely the Cha Nom Thai giving that Thai tea flavor with a fun frozen top. Honestly, none of the drinks disappointed and worth the wait and value.
Came here for my birthday and loved the intimate vibes. We made a reservation on Resy a week in advance. They have fun drinks and great mocktails as well. I got the Cha Nom Thai which was a sweeter cocktail with egg white. It was delicious! They also gave me a free drink for my birthday, with a candle. Our waitress was nice, and overall this is a great place to go with friends and chat. The dark-lit ambience of the place feels very cozy - it wasn't too loud and we got our own booth section.
Very cool vibe and interesting drinks. I like the entrance a lot too. However considering how difficult it is to get in here (unless you have a group) it was not worth the taste or cost of the drinks unfortunately. Would definitely recommend going across the street to Romeos while you wait. Which will be a long time if you are group of 2.
Excellent cocktail menu, incredibly creative. We arrived without a reservation on a Saturday and had to wait about an hour for our spot at the bar. Our bartender was lovely, just the right amount of chatty and friendly. We got two excellent drinks (the corn based cocktail was unreal). The atmosphere was perfect for a speakeasy, dark and intimate. Can't wait to come back.
It is popular these days for cocktail bars to cast themselves as speakeasies even if they are little more than typical hotel bars. PDT on the other hand is a real speakeasy hidden away behind a telephone booth in Crif Dogs on St. Marks Place. The cocktails, the ambiance and the service are all excellent.
Nope. Would not come back - very pretentious staff and patrons. Took the fun out of the speakeasy experience. Aesthetically, it is beautiful inside. Too bad.
Came across this place while in an Uber to the area and looking up places that Anthony Bourdain had visited. It's a little sneak easy inside an unassuming hot dog spot - and you have to enter through a phone booth which is even more fun. Although it's a speakeasy, apparently you typically need reservations. BUT we were lucky enough to snag a spot at the bar as walk ins! I guess my phone booth call worked ;) It is a small place and had a nice vibe, dark lights and interesting decor. Bartenders were great and we enjoyed everything. Since the hot dogs on the menu back here are special recipe from Dave Chang, we had to try one! I don't even remember which cocktails we got or what the hot dog was called, except it was all delicious, lol. I guess don't be like me and try to make a reservation if you really want to come here, otherwise - try your luck - I'm spreading mine to you!
Lowkey a little claustrophobic because of the space and everything but the drinks are bomb and the vibes are immaculate. Very much a people pleaser for folks visiting from out of town, the easiest way to impress a tourist TBH. So New York, you dig? Service is always very friendly and knowledgeable RE: the menu and everything they do. Thanks for making this bar so great!
Reservation. Enter the phone booth inside Cref Dog, pick up the phone and dial 1.A host will be with you shortly.Dimly lit, perfect if you are out with someone you should not be. Please Don't Tell! Observation, no one was eating Libations covered the dimly lit tables. We were seated at a lamp and we still needed to photograph the menu. We ordered the truffle tots, the Shark and the Hallow (pumpkin spice). The drinks were good and the tots were outstanding. We remarked that we could not locate the drink options prior to the visit. We were thoroughly impressed with the truffle tots; if only there was smell a vision.
We walked in on a Tuesday night and lucked out by getting bar seats with no wait. It's dark and cozy inside. The staff was super kind and attentive. It was a slower evening - definitely recommend trying on a weekday as it's a small space that would crowded easily. The cocktails are unique and feature a lot of different spirits. They're also pretty strong! My favorite was the mezcal mule. The tio tonica was also good and different, The highlight was surprisingly the truffle tots! Super fresh and a big portion - perfect to munch on when drinking. I would definitely come back and try more classic drinks.
Back again. Once again didn't disappoint. Secret phone booth entrance to vibes to service to cocktails were all spectacular. Im unsure why anyone would have anything negative to say. If you and friends looking for a good time, this is the spot. I highly suggest making a reservation ahead. read more
3 months ago
I feel soo mixed about this place! It's not because it's bad I just think it's not my vibe. 1) The hotdogs are creative and honestly delicious. They have some weird flavor combos that work. I feel like hotdogs are a NY staple so I love that they are doing their take on it. 2) The hotdogs restaurant is giving dingy hole in the wall and I think that's the ambiance they are going for. Personally not my preference. When we went they were playing loudly explicit heavy metal again that's not something I enjoy. However it was very popular especially among what looked like college kids. 3) If you want to go to the speak easy part 9/10 you need a reservation. We stopped in when there was a random torrential down so we were early for our reservation. We saw lots of people get turned away because they did not have a reservation. 4) The speak easy was super cool. You have to make a phone call in the telephone booth and then the door opens up. 5) I liked the vibe inside the cocktail lounge. The drinks were good. They aren't cheap around $25 per cocktail depending. All and all I could see this as a fun place to go when we have visitors but I don't think this will be one we will frequent often. read more
The mystique behind this hidden speakeasy has intrigued me ever since a friend and I patronized Crif Dogs over a decade ago and wondered what the phone booth was all about. I forgot about it until Jamie W and I recently visited NYC and thought this might be fun after a stroll in the East Village. It was pretty easy making a 5PM reservation on Resy, and we showed up five minutes early. I walked into the phone booth to announce our arrival but was curtly told to wait until 5PM. Click (Photo 3). When we were finally allowed to enter, we were seated rather tightly at the bar with the stools bereft of any human clearance between them. The space was unsurprisingly compact space overall and quite dark. It was nearly impossible to read the menu, and I was sniped at for using my smartphone flashlight. We used a combination of our jackets and the counter as a shield to order our first cocktails. I decided on the $18 Black Diamond because it was their customized version of an espresso martini. It incorporated exclusive ingredients like Diplomatica Reserva sipping rum and Tempus Fugit creme de cacao. Definitely not out of a pop-top can. Jamie went for a more tropical route with the $19 Shark which combined at least three different rums, blue curaçao, and various fruit juices (Photo 8). It looked like a frosty Blue Hawaii, but it was a little too low-key for what Jamie had in mind. We then decided to order food from their abbreviated menu of bar bites apparently developed by local celebrity chefs. Because of my past fondness for Momofuku, I went for the $13 Chang Dog which was rather simply a bacon-wrapped frank covered liberally by Momofuku-branded kimchi (Photo 5). It struck me as rather bland for a supposed David Chang creation. Jamie was even more disappointed by his choice, the $17 PDT Burger which was very generic despite the short rib-derived patty and housemade Crif sauce. The bonus was that it came with nicely crisped Tater Tots, indisputably the best part of the meal (Photo 10). Not realizing we were already getting taters, we also ordered the $11 Benton's Tots which added melted cheese, sauteed onions and scallions, bacon bits, and chipotle mayo (Photo 9). Honestly the plain ones were more satisfying. We ordered a last round, pricier elixirs with more of a puckery kick. Jamie had the $23 Suntory Time Machine with whiskey, sake, lemon juice, fig preserves, and pecan bitters. I had the $21 Taro Reader with vodka, amaro, plum, and taro (Photo 6). Neither overshadowed the first round. COCKTAILS - 3.5 stars...fancy components but results vary considerably FOOD - 2.5 stars...disappointing fast food with exclusive branding AMBIANCE - 4 stars...chill speakeasy vibe but also dark and quickly packed SERVICE - 2.5 stars...a bit chilly to these first-time patrons TOTAL - 3 stars...felt like an experience that'll take a while for us to repeat RELATED - Thirsty and hungry in NYC? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/Ig0fULabVp read more
Attached to crif dogs, and hidden behind the walls; very cute spot! Personally thought the drinks were okay, but loved the hot dogs which is also part of the menu. We came close to closing so it wasnt busy at all! Super cute spot, staff were so friendly and accommodating! read more
Such a fun speakeasy! Located inside of a hot dog shop (and behind a telephone booth), it can be a bit difficult to find. The interior is intimate and has very interesting taxidermied animals everywhere. We got their hot dogs, tater tots, and of course, their drinks. I tried their polka dot (NA) and it was really good! Hot dogs were a hit or miss depending on the toppings that you like (and trust me, they LOAD the toppings). Tater tots were so good. Service was so friendly and easy to talk to. read more
Love the vibe, love the drinks. It's such a popular speakeasy that isn't much of a secret anymore. Your best bet as a walk-in is on weekdays, but we waited about an hour on a Saturday night. Luckily, there's many bars in the area you can wait at or grabbing a bite at Crif Dogs beforehand. Once called, you go to the phone booth and dial for someone to meet you at the door. Then you're lead into a dark and intimate bar. We were seated at the bar, which was very tight. The drink menu has a variety to choose from, which all sounded unique. I had the Cha Nom Thai ($22) and Pedro Goes to Sicily ($23) while the husband had the Benton's Old Fashioned ($18) and Toki Torii ($21). All of his cocktails were pretty classic and mine had a nice twist, which I really liked. My favorite was definitely the Cha Nom Thai giving that Thai tea flavor with a fun frozen top. Honestly, none of the drinks disappointed and worth the wait and value. read more
7 months ago
Came here for my birthday and loved the intimate vibes. We made a reservation on Resy a week in advance. They have fun drinks and great mocktails as well. I got the Cha Nom Thai which was a sweeter cocktail with egg white. It was delicious! They also gave me a free drink for my birthday, with a candle. Our waitress was nice, and overall this is a great place to go with friends and chat. The dark-lit ambience of the place feels very cozy - it wasn't too loud and we got our own booth section. read more
Very cool vibe and interesting drinks. I like the entrance a lot too. However considering how difficult it is to get in here (unless you have a group) it was not worth the taste or cost of the drinks unfortunately. Would definitely recommend going across the street to Romeos while you wait. Which will be a long time if you are group of 2. read more
28 days ago
Excellent cocktail menu, incredibly creative. We arrived without a reservation on a Saturday and had to wait about an hour for our spot at the bar. Our bartender was lovely, just the right amount of chatty and friendly. We got two excellent drinks (the corn based cocktail was unreal). The atmosphere was perfect for a speakeasy, dark and intimate. Can't wait to come back. read more
It is popular these days for cocktail bars to cast themselves as speakeasies even if they are little more than typical hotel bars. PDT on the other hand is a real speakeasy hidden away behind a telephone booth in Crif Dogs on St. Marks Place. The cocktails, the ambiance and the service are all excellent. read more
Came across this place while in an Uber to the area and looking up places that Anthony Bourdain had visited. It's a little sneak easy inside an unassuming hot dog spot - and you have to enter through a phone booth which is even more fun. Although it's a speakeasy, apparently you typically need reservations. BUT we were lucky enough to snag a spot at the bar as walk ins! I guess my phone booth call worked ;) It is a small place and had a nice vibe, dark lights and interesting decor. Bartenders were great and we enjoyed everything. Since the hot dogs on the menu back here are special recipe from Dave Chang, we had to try one! I don't even remember which cocktails we got or what the hot dog was called, except it was all delicious, lol. I guess don't be like me and try to make a reservation if you really want to come here, otherwise - try your luck - I'm spreading mine to you! read more
9 months ago
Lowkey a little claustrophobic because of the space and everything but the drinks are bomb and the vibes are immaculate. Very much a people pleaser for folks visiting from out of town, the easiest way to impress a tourist TBH. So New York, you dig? Service is always very friendly and knowledgeable RE: the menu and everything they do. Thanks for making this bar so great! read more
Reservation. Enter the phone booth inside Cref Dog, pick up the phone and dial 1.A host will be with you shortly.Dimly lit, perfect if you are out with someone you should not be. Please Don't Tell! Observation, no one was eating Libations covered the dimly lit tables. We were seated at a lamp and we still needed to photograph the menu. We ordered the truffle tots, the Shark and the Hallow (pumpkin spice). The drinks were good and the tots were outstanding. We remarked that we could not locate the drink options prior to the visit. We were thoroughly impressed with the truffle tots; if only there was smell a vision. read more
We walked in on a Tuesday night and lucked out by getting bar seats with no wait. It's dark and cozy inside. The staff was super kind and attentive. It was a slower evening - definitely recommend trying on a weekday as it's a small space that would crowded easily. The cocktails are unique and feature a lot of different spirits. They're also pretty strong! My favorite was the mezcal mule. The tio tonica was also good and different, The highlight was surprisingly the truffle tots! Super fresh and a big portion - perfect to munch on when drinking. I would definitely come back and try more classic drinks. read more
This place was alright. We had a reservation for a Tuesday night for 4 people. My boyfriend likes speakeasies so we wanted to check a couple out when we were in town. We came here after drinks so we didn't dine in. The way to get in was amusing and felt really thought out, we liked that part! It's a super small space and we felt claustrophobic, but nothing crazy. I ordered a white wine and it was fine. The 2 cocktails we ordered were also nothing special. Service was ok, they never checked up on us but they kept refilling our water. 3 stars because 3 drinks came out to $85 with tip which is crazy expensive! read more
27 days ago
Señoras en Sonora (description in photo and pictured on the left) was the best cocktail I've ever had! So creative and fun! Jacob, a bartender there, was happy to make it extra spicy for me. Good ambiance + service. Have to go back! read more
Super fun speakeasy in Manhattan. Hidden behind a phone booth inside a hot dog shop (Crif Dogs). Crif's was a little hard to find (we're from out of state) the front entrance was down some stairs and wasn't marked to well, but once in this place it was a great time. Dial the phone and you'll be let in for your reservation. We went during the week and it was pretty busy, so I'd recommend reservations- it's a small spot. Please don't tell has a dark cozy vibe with taxidermy (wasn't expecting that lol) with great music. We were there for after dinner drinks, and the cocktails were great. Good variety and well made. I'd come back next time I'm in NYC. read more
2 months ago
4 months ago
6 months ago
Really enjoyed the three cocktails we tried. The Vietnamese hot dog we ordered was good, very lemongrass forward. Loved the truffle tater tots. So crispy on the outside and soft on the side with a strong truffle flavor. 3 cocktails, a hot dog and tater tots came out to be $72. Good music and good vibes. read more
7 months ago
8 months ago
Please Don't Tell is an award winning New York City cocktail bar hidden behind the phone booth in the East Village hot dog joint, Crif Dogs. This was an obligatory visit. PDT offers a sophisticated yet accessible cocktail experience. Their drink menu features a range of classic cocktails with perfect execution alongside creative inventions that showcase a deep understanding of spirits and flavor balance. Their cocktails are elegant, beautifully presented, and packed with nuanced flavors--ideal for cocktail enthusiasts looking for complexity and finesse. In terms of food, PDF complements their drinks with thoughtfully prepared small plates that are both satisfying and exquisite. The food presentation is not great nor elegant... but had good flavors. The culinary offerings focus on quality ingredients and clever combinations, making each bite a delightful companion to their cocktails. The intimate setting adds to the charm, making it a fantastic spot for a refined night out. The bar is very small. Reservations is mandatory if you want to get it. Music is loud. read more
3rd visit-1st review P.D.T. is quite possible my favorite & best speakeasy in Manhattan. Although it at times can be super difficult to get a resy, this is well worth the trouble. I've been here a total of 3 times & every visit I was met with excellent service & even better drinks. Super small, super cozy speakeasy that's tucked inside crif dogs "phone booth". Once you walk into crif dogs you'll see a "phone booth" to your left. Follow directions & a secret door opens. The hostess will take your name for your resy (or if you decided to pop in, they can take your name down which is usually a 3-4 hour wait) & let you in. There is very limited seating, only maybe 5-6 tables and a few booths & a bar that seats about 12. They do everything extremely well, the service, the drinks, the music. If you end up getting hungry they have a limit food menu that's served up & comes from right next door & will surprise you with how delicious it is. Their variations of tots is a MUST try. Need a bar tucked away that serves great drinks, good music & good food & isn't rowdy or super crowded? Then you must make your way to please don't tell A.S.A.P. read more
Drinks are good. Tater tots were surprisingly the highlight. I got the strawberry cocktail and it was very refreshing. This place is so cool, I'm glad to have been able to been in these type of bars. Dark, and surprisingly not too hot. Make a reservation! We came early to ours and they were very accommodating luckily. Overall a positive experience for a first timer! read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
thank goodness for bars with food - as someone who doesn't drink much anymore i am so appreciative when the food menu is extensive. had to try the chili dog - it was phenomenal. juicy, tender, delish! service was quick, it was a bit of a loud bar at some point i couldnt hear my friends, otherwise it was lovely and felt like an authentic speakeasy would return read more
11 months ago
9 months ago
Please don't tell us a cool speakeasy where you walk in to a hotdog shop & there's a phone booth that leads to the speakeasy itself. Overall, the concept is cool and it's a true speakeasy, as it's hidden unlike some of the other "speakeasies" that claim to be speakeasies but are just new bars/ lounges in plain sight. I distinctly remember when I was 19, so about ten years ago I came to get a criffdog (hotdog) with my friend and saw people go into the phone booth and think where the heck are they going? And now ten years later, I'm glad I got to also go through this magical phone booth that transports you to a very different environment. The bar itself is tiny, I believe there's probably seating for 35-50 max, as majority of it is booth seatings. It gave the vibe of the Maclarens pub in How I Met Your Mother mixed with some old timey southern bar. It was interesting to say the least, there was taxidermy on the wall and shelving. The drinks were very different, although they weren't necessarily to my liking they were very unique. Would definitely come again to show my friends but don't think I'd be back to just sit down and chill & have a drink. And the hotdog, was less than stellar but that's to be expected when you get a $4 hotdog I guess lol. read more
2 years ago
I went from being impressed and walking in and getting less impressed to tasting my drink which was wow ! Paddington and old fashioned were amazing. definitely worth the hype. read more
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Ask the Community - Please Don't Tell
Is this place opened during covid?
Nope. This place's entrance is through the restaurant "crif dogs" - Crif Dogs is temporarily closed and closed until further notice.
I've called multiple times to make a reservation and no one ever picks up? Am I missing something?
Just keep trying. Annoying yes but you'll eventually get someone to take your reso
Can I order the hot dog downstairs and bring it to the bar? Because the food menu seems very limited and I wanna customize my hot dog.
You can order Crif dogs in the bar
Is this place still open? I've tried calling a few times over the last couple days but the phone seems to be disconnected.
Yep I was just there this weekend
Is there a new phone number for reservations? The one on the website is disconnected.
No this is normal, they do it on purpose so your not able to get through
Can you make reservations a couple weeks in advance or is it same day only?
Same day. Phone line for reservations opens at 3pm.
Could someone enlighten me on their experience here and what exactly it is?
It's a speakeasy style "secret" bar hidden in a hotdog joint. You knock on the door via the telephone booth inside the hotdog place and inside is a small bar that serves cocktails. I believe you can also order food, too. If you are into craft…
Has anyone visited lately and took pictures of the drink menu? I was just there last Friday (5/4) and forgot to take pics!
Menu pics on some reviews... Here's one: https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/please-dont-tell-new-york-2?select=zx4VbGxoX2oEjiV9Ngj9-w&reviewid=iCJz6vatEAZijANnQLbidw
Is there a particular number to call to reserve I'm coming from Florida and I heard about this amazing spot?
212-614-0386 Call by 3pm for same day reservations, otherwise it's first come first serve. Enjoy!
Is there a dress code?
No actual dress code but you definitely want to look neat as it does have an upscale feel.
What's the password?
I was just there last week and I didn’t need a password. You have to call them at 3pm on the dot to make a same-day reservation (give them your name and number in party- no password needed) or come in and try your luck at the walk-in bar beginning…
What size group will they allow in?
I saw a group of 4-5 people at a booth. It isn't a huge bar so I wouldn't try to bring more than 5 people.
I planning to have dinner for my birthday with my son who is 19 years old, is he allowed to dine in as his under 21 years old?
You could go to crift dog the associated place but they absolutely check ids at PDT. They will not let your son in unfortunately but hopefully you can bring him back in two years.
My husband and I plan to come here around 6 pm on Saturday for a quick drink, will there be a long wait to get in even to stand at the bar and drink?
Unless you get there about 10-15 minutes before they open, you will be waiting for anywhere up to 3 hours for room at the bar. I would try to call in at 3:00 pm when the phone line opens asap to try and get a reservation. Especially for a Saturday.…
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