Friday, 7:25pm
Marea
240 Central Park South (B'Way / Columbus Circle), Manhattan
We heard the bar food was fantastic at Marea (it does come from the same kitchen) so we planned a happy hour, which started a little late. Or, actually, didn't start at all since the bar here, especially on weekends say the staff, is really just additional seating for diners sans reservations. Not including two men waiting for a table, the entire bar (12 seats? maybe 14) was twosomes with big plates and bowls in front of them.
We waited to see if anyone was getting up anytime soon. A mixed-gender couple stood with us, hesitating to order a drink because of the difficulty and akwardness of leaning over the diners. Friendly bartender helped them. Really, though, what makes the bar not a bar is the fact that the space is library quiet. "You just want a drink?" as hostess practically whispered to us. "You might want to try a weeknight."
All this said, Marea makes our 'Best' list because the crowd is undeniably AA. And the bar itself is attractive. But we don't recommend it unless food is your priority.
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