Porchlight

Porchlight Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant & décor: Danny Meyer’s plush cocktail bar is so far west in Chelsea it feels off the beaten path, yet open the doors and the place is most often packed. It’s a spacious spot, with a long bar and comfy leather booths that make it easy to spend an afternoon or an evening sipping cocktails and nibbling on snacks. A game room in the back makes it a great place for groups.

Likes: Cocktails; comfy space; Texas red chili; smoked cheddar biscuits.
Dislikes: Location is out of the way; can get very busy.

Food & Drinks: Porchlight is a project from Danny Meyer’s mighty Union Square Hospitality Group, with Mark Maynard-Parisi as managing partner and Nick Bennett as beverage director. The cocktails are the star of the show here, like a spot-on Sazerac and a signature Whiskey & Cola, a bottled mix of corn whiskey, homemade cola syrup and Fernet. Like the food, they have a bit of a Southern twist. You’ll need something hearty in your stomach, like a smoky beanless Texas red chili or a fried shrimp po’ boy served with a bag of Zapp’s Potato Chips. Or snack on fried oysters and smoked cheddar biscuits, which arrive fluffy, cheesy and warm. Ease the guilt of a plate of nixtamal nachos smothered in something called Arkansas cheese dip by sharing it with a few friends.