Bar of the Week: Superdive

With reports all over the blogosphere of patrons playing bartender, dancing on any horizontal surface, and basically, breaking all rules had there been any, the East Village's two-week-old Superdive has made short work of carving a place for itself in the annals of frat-boyery. If you're in the dark, here's the deal: kegs, at your table -- you pump, you serve, you save. The traditional keg, a half barrel, yields 15 gallons of the frothy stuff and will put you back anywhere from $350 to $500. Sure, you could go for the Coors Light or Busch of your underage days, but anyone who's dreamed of keg-standing Chimay has found their mecca (contact the kegmaster at least a week in advance for special requests). Drop-ins (advance reservations are recommended) and smaller parties can choose from a variety of 20 liter sixtel kegs (43 pints) like Brooklyn Lager and Blue Moon for around $175, while less seasoned drinkers can get pints ($5) or pitchers ($15-$20) of draft beers like Harpoon Summer Ale and Radeberger Pilsner. Those who aren't quite as eager to work on their beer bellies can order a mixed drink (starting at $6) but, despite rumors, aren't welcome to DIY behind the bar, which on a recent night was cordoned off. Claiming that people misunderstood the mix-your-own concept, manager Keith Okada (the owners wish to remain anonymous) clarified that bartenders will make the drink in a shaker which you can then Tom-Cruise-in-Ray-Bans-style strain into a plastic cup. Either we are witnessing some major butt-and-liquor-license-saving backpedaling or several sources on the interwebs developed instantaneous beer goggles upon entering Superdive. What you can do for certain is hook up your iPod and subject the entire bar to your collection of monster ballads, or jam out on the Steinway grand with whatever you can remember from those lessons mom said would come in handy some day. With a supply of ping pong balls, dice, cards, and poker chips behind the bar, and a mop and bucket standing at attention behind the scenes, it's understood that at Superdive things are going to get a little messy.

Superdive
200 Ave. A
(646) 448-4854

Photo from evgrieve.com