Bongos

With dinner served past midnight, extra dirty martinis, and a cool dinner party vibe courtesy of owners Michael Beaumont Bray and Noble Harris (Kind Regards, Dingaling), Bongo’s is a quintessential LES spot. Inside you’ll find a horseshoe-shaped bar and a dining room buzzing with a pre-going out crowd, and the energy continues onto the patio for streetside dining out front and a covered atrium in the back of the restaurant.

The duo behind Kind Regards and Dingaling—two perpetually-bumping bars popular among the city’s 20-somethings—have expanded their repertoire to include their first full service restaurant that doubles as an intimate cocktail destination. Designed by co-owners Michael Beaumont Bray and Noble Harris, the energy of Bongos is intentionally on the “extra-chill” side and mimics sitting down for an aperitivo at a friend's apartment/patio. The menu features creative interpretations on classic American and NYC-inspired dishes including Mussels n’ Fries; Steak Tartare; and Fried Pickles. Drinks follow a similar route with specialty Negronis and Martinis like the Dirty with a pickled onion garnish, in addition to on-draft Spicy Palomas.