Location: 783 8TH AVENUE [BETWEEN 47TH & 48TH] NEW YORK, NY 10036
Cuisine: Gastropub
Items: 2 starters, 1 slider, 2 larger plates and 4 cocktails
Best Dish: The sweet potato fries were amazing. they were crispy and light and the dipping sauces were exceptional, but the star of the night was the Lobster Shrimp and crab dip
Overall: Great happy hour atmosphere, with a tasty menu of treats and a fun cocktail menu.
At our last outing we told you all about one of our favorite tourist traps this time we ventured just a few blocks north-west and found ourselves a premium happy hour space. I’ve gone to Latitude Bar & Grill once before for a private event so getting to see it in its natural state was an extra special treat. I met my partner in crime at the bar on a rainy Monday night. Despite the weather, we were in good spirits as we entered the warm space. We walked past the bar and up to an intimate booth for a quiet meal and some great conversation. We started with our customary round of cocktails. I ordered the Jolly Martini a sweet fragrant cocktail reminiscent of Jolly ranchers candy and my companion tried the Bubbly Red Pear a heady mix of Grey Goose, muddled strawberries and Champagne.
After cocktail hour we dove right into an order of Hand Cut Sweet Potato Fries. The crispy fries are served with three dipping sauces Chipotle Maple Aioli, Brown Sugar Chipotle Ketchup, and our favorite Cinnamon Maple Aioli.
To accompany our fries we ordered the Steakhouse Spring Rolls. Mashed Potatoes, Creamed Spinach, & Sliced Steak are rolled into a Crisp Spring Roll. The spring rolls are served with Homemade Steak Sauce, Black Peppercorn Reduction, & A-1 Steak Sauce, this was a happy accident but we recommend ordering these items together. The spring rolls are delicious with their own sauces but are absolutely amazing with the cinnamon maple aioli.
Next up were the Latin Sliders. These tasty little gems are made with Warm Grilled Chicken Avocado Salad, Basic Scallion Lemon Dressing all nestled in crispy corn cakes. The varying textures make this an interesting taste experience to say the very least.
While waiting for our next round of plates we ordered another round of premium cocktails. My companion had the fruity Caribbean punch and I had the velvety smooth caramel chocolate martini. While the punch was refreshing and light the martini was rich and decadent with a milk like texture.
Seafood lovers will adore the seafood dip. This creamy feast is filled with tender buttery morsels of lobster, crab and shrimp smothered in a blend of cream, mozzarella and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. The dip comes with Old bay dusted pita chips and rice crackers for dipping. While we enjoyed the dip immensely we found the pita chips to be a bit salty, but the rice crackers were crunchy and light, the perfect vehicle for the rich dip.
We could not resist the temptation of sautéed shrimp and ended our meal with the shrimp and avocado quesadilla. The crispy outer layer holds juicy succulent bits of shrimp and creamy avocado. The quesadilla is also filled with tomatoes and melted pepper jack cheese.
As happy hour go evenings at Latitude Bar & Grill are a laid back relaxed affair, just what you need after a long grueling day at the office. The small plates concept is a great way to share a few tasty items with good friends without the major expense of a large meal. The extensive menu offers enough choices to satisfy even the most picky eater. For good food made well and an affordable happy hour special Latitude Bar & Grill can’t be beat. For more information on Latitude Bar & Grill’s weekly specials please visit www.LatitudeBarnyc.com.