A classic Blood and Sand

​East Side Social Club, a newly opened faux-old-school Italian restaurant and lounge, looks like it was snatched straight from a Mad Men set--all red walls, low light, kitschy red-and-white-checked tablecloths, oil paintings of Italy, and a massive crystal chandelier. It's a meticulously created world. There's even a framed photo of JFK, in case you didn't realize what period you're meant to be in. Too bad the cocktails aren't offered at vintage prices--they're $14, which is at least $4 too much, but if you're in the area, it's worth a stop just to ogle the interior.

The Blood and Sand, a cocktail invented early in the last century, was named after a book about a bullfighter that was later made into a Rudolf Valentino movie. It calls for Scotch, cherry brandy, sweet vermouth, and orange juice. East Side Social Club's version uses all the right ingredients, but ends up too sweet.

Nerina

​ The Nerina is a mix of the herbal, bittersweet liquor Meletti Amaro, gin, and Punt e Mes, a variety of Italian vermouth. It has a dusky reddish brown color, and a sweet-herbal-bitter flavor that's hard to put your finger on, but which functions extremely well as an aperitif.

230 East 51st Street
212-355-9442