Wise Men

The discreet entrance to this sexy LES lounge/eatery is hidden behind a mural of five women standing in front of the 1970s-era Chinatown haunt for which it is named, an American-style steakhouse said to have been the neighborhood’s first; inside, dim red lighting and funky wallpaper set the mood for classic cocktails soaked up with meat-heavy New American small plates.

Groovy bar on the Bowery from three wise women. Red leather banquettes, glossy black marble bar, Deco floor tiles make the place pop. Classic cocktail menu spans liquors, with vermouth and bitters abounding. “The 355” pairs up tequila and Fernet; the “Perfect Rob Roy” simply adds Dewar’s. Food menu’s well worth sampling: crab toast, fried clam strips, apple rumaki, bavette with a house steak...

The name is in sharp contrast to the fact that Wise Men was established by an all-woman team. It's no gimmick though, as the name is inspired by a popular Chinatown steakhouse of the same name that opened up in the 1970s. A blown-up old photograph of five Asian women standing in front of the original is the only signage that marks the entrance to the bar. The sleek, marble-topped bar is the...