Lillie's imported Irish bar
Lillie’s, a self-proclaimed Irish-Victorian Bar and Restaurant, is succeeding in becoming the quintessential local bar in the Flatiron District. It’s Victorian interiors and relaxed atmosphere fool the newcomer into thinking this pub has been here forever. In reality, it opened in Spring 2009.
The ornately carved bar was imported from Ireland, and half the walls are exposed brick. That’s the extent of the bar’s authentic antiquity. The rest of the interiors are a mix of various faux finish techniques that are meant to add to it’s purported Victorian inspiration. Although, the smell of hot wings and the view of college basketball on the flat screen TVs seems to counteract the effect.
Lillie’s namesake is the British Lillie Langtry (born Emilie Charlotte Le Breton in 1853) who gained fame as an actress and notoriety for her numerous love affairs. She was not Irish, nor did she ever live in Ireland. Actually, she eventually moved to the United States. However, she was alive during the Victorian era, and actually met Queen Victoria through her lover, Albert Edward, Prince of Wales.
The menu is supposed to be “traditional Irish fare”. I don’t know how that can accurately describe such dishes as nachos, vegetable spring rolls, or mixed organic mesclun salad. They do offer a full Irish breakfast complete with black and white pudding. The only dish I tried was the spinach artichoke dip, which was very good, served hot with lightly toasted pita.
The Irish influence is evident in their beverage selection, which includes 44 varieties of whiskey and 46 brands of beer. As for cocktails, I sampled the tart Diamond Fizz (Absolut Citron, lemon juice, sparkling wine), the dangerously strong L’Uve (sauvignon blanc and vodka), and the overly-sweet Lillie’s Secret, which somehow tasted like rum and Coke even though it’s made with Agavero Tequila, black currant and ginger beer. Beers are $5-$6, Whiskey range in price from $12 for 12-year-old Glenfiddich to $123 for 21-year-old Glenmorangie. Cocktails are $12, and wine is $7-$19 per glass.
The consensus among the crowd gave the reason for Lillie’s appeal as a combination of convenient location, decent music (which ranged from En Vogue to Kings of Leon), and enough space to breath. A lack of historical authenticity doesn’t and shouldn’t prevent Lillie’s from becoming a popular edition to NYC pub scene.
13 East 17th Street (between Broadway & Fifth Avenue)