BARS • First Round
The Skinny: Opened in January on the corner of Nevins and Sackett in Gowanus, Liar Liar serves natural wine, cocktails, and a concise food menu. It’s the neighborhood’s next great hang.
The Vibe: Casually stylish — low-lit and sleek, with a long bar and intimate booths that make it good for date night or drinks with friends. Founded by a group of food and wine industry pros (and pals), the bar strikes a balance between playful and polished, offering well-crafted cocktails, a creative wine list, and a lively atmosphere set to vinyl. If you’re a fan of Bed-Stuy’s Bad Luck Bar, you’ll probably like Liar Liar, too — they share an owner.
The Drinks: An extensive by-the-glass natural wine program ranges from the Rhone to the Finger Lakes, with one recent menu boasting 15 different pours. The cocktail menu is fun and punchy, with an emphasis on fino sherry-spiked martinis including an espresso variation (made with Pedro Ximenez) and a mezcal punch mixed with Cappelletti, the Italian apertivo.
The Food: A brief, salty lineup of what you crave after a few drinks, like a juicy fried chicken sandwich with coleslaw, a burger slicked with herb aioli, or steak au poivre with fries (which you can bundle with a bottle of red for $69).
The Verdict: With a back area ready for expansion and potential to build out the food and drink menus, the bar has no shortage of momentum — and given the crowds it’s already drawing despite a quiet opening, Gowanus is clearly on board. –Phoebe Fry
→ Liar Liar (Gowanus) • 285 Nevins St • Daily 4p-12a.