Spygold — Restaurant in New York

I stopped in after work on a weekday. I actually found the spot via a search for Speakeasies. The photos online looked pretty good so I decided to give it a try. When I arrived at the door, the outer doors had a sign that said to go through the neighboring restaurant's doors (Greywind?). I didn't mind that considering I was looking for speakeasy vibes. I'll take a nice passageway even if it isn't a "secret passageway."

So anyway, I go down and around through Greywind. I was pleasantly greeted by the waitstaff. I liked the vibe and decor of the space. I was even Shazaming the tunes that were playing. The music wasn't too loud and the beats per minute (BPM) weren't too fast, but they had good bass and beats. The mirrors and lighting were great ambient touches. I had a solo reservation and was given a small table by the wall. I'm always a little worried about being slightly forgotten when dining alone, but kudos to the staff in that they were super attentive and always at the ready. It's the reason I gave Spygold five (5) stars.

As far as food and drink go, I tried two (2) cocktails. The first the "Lemon Drop" (St. George Citrus Vodka, Meyer Lemon Infused Cocchi, Americano) was cool and refreshing. The second the "Bee's Knees" (Fennel Pollen Infused Barr Hill Tomcat Gin, Vermont Honey, Amaro Nonino, lemon) was very tasty and not too sweet. The "Bee's Knees" seemed to be a popular choice among staff and patrons alike.

The only food I ordered was their variation on the "Chicken Nuggets." I have to be honest, that was probably a tactical error on my part. They took a little while to come out and then inner meat wasn't as flavorful as I would've expected. Though the breading was crunchy and tasted great, it wasn't enough to makeup for the inner workings of the nuggets. So choose anything but the nuggets and you might feel a little better about things. While I tried to figure out what they did to the nuggets, I should note that my second drink arrived with just a small, negligible amount of drip on the side. The waiter took that to be less than perfect and actually wiped the base of the glass to clear that up. I don't think I've ever seen that table-side and it was enough to compensate for the nuggets.

Bottom line: If you need a place to have a clandestine meeting, somewhere with solid cocktails and dim lights (like in the movies), this is a good place to start. I'll probably be back for the attached restaurant. Will you be...

I congratulate the owner and everyone involved in this endeavor.

It is this humble New Yorker's opinion that Spygold is soon to be bustling to capacity, given its recent arrival in Manhattan. Having enjoyed nearly three hours, on a first date, in their lower level cocktail lounge (estimating an approximate capacity of 35), I'm confident they have done EVERYTHING right.

The drinks were unique, as well as well arranged in their menu with a special flair for categorizing their non-alcoholic offerings. Oysters with the "Dill" were perfectly refreshing together on an early summer night and I can foresee doing it again in blistering late July. The liver mousse was divine and surprisingly presented just as I create such fare at home. The coffee cocktail finished things off, wasn't too sweet, and I emerged with a spark in my step: a happy woman.

Surrounded by a good soundtrack that was solid enough to comment upon and ask Siri to identify in moments of silence, yet did not distract this musician from solid conversation. Decor is beautifully chosen from the bathroom sinks to the incredible centerpiece in front of the fire and a front door that rivals any in recent memory. With pens and matches available to remember them and pass along the word, I look forward to experiencing their street level room on my own someday. OH and the service?--wonderful. Cheers to their impeccable professionalism, non-invasive nature and quick approach to keeping our needs well supplied.

I would reserve a table here any night of the week for any number of occasions, including meetings with colleagues, which require space and lower volumes, to approach subjects of business and other...

I don't get why this place got such high reviews...

We visited this speakeasy as we were around the neighborhood. Luckily we were able to get a table without reservations.

Ordered the fizz, very very sour. We suspected that they accidentally doubled the lime juice. In addition, the lime juice doesn't taste fresh. Instead, it's like store bought lime juice which you can keep in your pantry closet for months....

Tiki: very very sweet. Tasted like yakult with a hint of cinnamon. Didn't finish it.

Freezer martini: for $30 you got 4oz of gin or vodka and several mixers where you get to make your own martini. Our server is right on that this drink makes good Instagram. Compared to the other two, it's definitely the safest drink for the night. But honestly I don't think it's worth the money.

"Chicken nuggets": before we ordered, we asked our server why this dish name has quotes. He told us that it's made of chicken thigh. However, he didn't tell us that this is actually chopped chicken thigh with bell peppers and other veggies in it. It tasted like fried meatballs!!! It's not worth your money at all and if the server gave us the truth from the beginning, we wouldn't have ordered it.

Neither my friend nor I liked the cocktails and food at this place, and we've both been to over a dozen cocktail bars in Manhattan. I really don't get why this place has such high reviews... Be aware before you visit and save your money for something better in the neighborhood!!

I rated one ⭐ for the service...