Bar of the Week: Poco

Poco, across the street from Mama’s on Avenue B, features a lengthy Spanish wine list, lots of Cavas, and a drink list that means well, but needs some help. All cocktails are $10, and though there were some standouts, like a champagne hibiscus flower cocktail that the bartenders were giving out for free, and a coconut mojito, which sounded iffy but was light and slightly fizzy, the list stumbles with cosmos and apple martinis. It’s unwise to sell a drink containing apple Pucker, when Mama’s, steps away, sells a slew of vodkas infused with fresh fruits for almost half the price. Chef Abe Lopez, who won widely hated Food Network show Chopped (with a dessert made from beer, frozen pie crust, caramel candy and dates), has created a Spanish small plates menu, which, like the cocktails, needlessly includes has-beens like macaroni and cheese and sliders. Per the bartender’s suggestion, we tried the sautéed spinach, made with golden grapes, capers and pine nuts, which was very good. Both menus showed potential, and despite Poco’s diminutive name, their weeknight specials are pretty generous: They recently featured a tasting of 20 “tea infused” cocktails for $25, and the bartender assured us that a similar event was in the works.

Poco
33 Avenue B
(212) 228-4461

Photo from evgrieve.com