Cocktail menus are getting a fun twist, often looking like dinner menus with surprising drinks like Cold Pizza at Double Chicken Please or the Hot Dog Martini from LilliStar. It blurs the line between food and cocktails, but no one seems to mind. If it’s interesting, we’re probably ordering it!
Take Bar Snack, a lively spot in the East Village. Here, the menu features inventive, food-inspired drinks. You can try a Negroni flavored like a salad or a tequila sour named “Cannoli Pants” that captures the essence of a pistachio cannoli. Even their house Martini surprises guests with chicken bouillon and crispy chicken skin.
While many cocktails lean savory these days, Bar Snack also offers a sweet treat. The Phish Food Old Fashioned pays tribute to a favorite ice cream flavor, blending hints of chocolate, caramel, and marshmallow — but without any ice cream itself. For those who crave something frozen, they have a cocktail that mimics a root beer float, perfect for a nostalgic touch.
This Old Fashioned uses Old Forester Rye and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey for warmth and depth. The addition of Copalli Cocoa Rum, which is crafted from organic sugar cane and roasted cacao, gives it a deliciously chocolaty twist.
To achieve the marshmallow flavor reminiscent of Phish Food ice cream, the bartenders use a homemade marshmallow fluff syrup instead of traditional sugar. Creating this syrup took some effort, but it’s well worth it. The team has figured out how to make it smooth and fluffy without making the drink sticky or altering its color.
The drink wraps up with a dash of Angostura and orange bitters, topped with a star-shaped orange peel. The result? A cocktail that complements rich flavors of chocolate, caramel, and marshmallow, but doesn’t overwhelm your palate with sweetness. This drink can be enjoyed anytime, whether you want it as dessert or just to unwind. Plus, Bar Snack opens daily at 2 p.m., making it easy to indulge in this delightful creation anytime you like.
