Droves of locals and tourists descend upon SoHo everyday no matter what time it is. Even a day after a blizzard dumped record amounts of snow, the trendy New York City neighborhood was still bustling. Filled with cobblestone streets, historic cast-iron buildings, luxury fashion boutiques, and stylish cafés and restaurants, SoHo offers so many things to do. But where is the best place to eat and drink in the chic district?
A standout place that is intimate, relaxing and pulls out all the stops with their delicious menu and exceptional cocktails, is Odd Sister. Located at 45 Mercer Street, Odd Sister is a sophisticated restaurant / bar that offers guests a cozy and rewarding dining experience. The eatery is named after trailblazing Irish business women Susan and Elizabeth Yeats, sisters that lived in the shadows of their brothers—poet William Butler Yeats and renowned painter Jack Yeats—who were deemed odd and abnormal for spreading the romanticism of Ireland across Europe and the US and for promoting other talented female craft workers, embroiderers and painters during the 1900s patriarchal society.
The restaurant is phenomenal and not odd at all. As soon as you walk into the dimly lit space, you are transported away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The interior of Odd Sister’s space is dominated with a brick façade, framed paintings and mirrors—adding charm and quintessentially New York vibes. Odd Sister also boasts a back room that is romantic due to the space’s massive skylight and numerous candles that give an enchanting ambiance for diners to enjoy.
With a no-fuss scene, Odd Sister is easily SoHo’s best place for drinks due to the sheer amount of options available. With two bars, guests have ample room to sip and take pleasure in cocktails crafted by world-class mixologists, who deliver a blend of unique beverages made from fresh, organic, and in-house ingredients. Among their signature cocktails include the following:
- Odd Sister: Vodka, brine and aromatized wine. The house dirty martini is made with olives and caper berries, which makes it boozy, briny and crisp.
- Lolly: Gin, Alpine herbs, bergamot and lemon. This creation is made with gin and has flavors likening to an herbaceous lemon sorbet. Served to please any Gimlet drinker.
- Rita: Pinot Noir, strawberry, sherry and thyme. This juicy and fruity cocktail is served on crushed ice. Pinot Noir and strawberry drive the majority of the flavor with accents of sherry and thyme.
- The Dunes: Tequila, Mezcal, pineapple, bell pepper and light spice. Bell pepper and pineapple make this tequila drink refreshing and easy to drink. A touch of spice and smoke keep things interesting. Served on the rocks.
Courtesy of Odd Sister
The food is just as mighty as their drinks selection. Odd Sister offers an extensive brunch menu featuring ricotta pancakes, avocado and shrimp salad, butternut squash risotto, and much more. The Knockturnal visited Odd Sister for a dinner tasting and their menu did not disappoint. We highly recommend ordering the short rib fried rice. The winning dish had generous portions of slow roasted short rib with Jasmine rice, egg, soy, sesame, scallions, chilies and cilantro. The meat was tender and there was enough of it in every bite with the rice. You probably won’t need any other dish to go with it since it’s a filling and complete meal on its own!
Another dinner menu worth eating is the crab linguine with charred creamy scallion sauce and calabrian chili. The dish was exceptionally good due to the contrast between the sweet, delicate crabmeat and the rich, velvety cream sauce. Every bite also had a slight spicy kick due to the chili—adding a welcoming flavor to the dish. Other dishes we suggest ordering are the flawless 8oz flat iron steak with peppercorn sauce and fries as well as the Odd Sister Burger, which consists of a beef patty, a sesame bun, sweet tomato relish, lettuce, sharp Cheddar, and fries. The burger was top-tier and the portion size was just right—not over filling but just enough to want more. We look forward to sinking our teeth into this burger one more time!
Topping off any meal is dessert. At Odd Sister, the basque burnt cheesecake is a must-order. Served with raspberry reduction and fresh berries, the cheesecake was dense, creamy and wonderfully paired with the sweet fruit reduction. This dessert was perfect.
Courtesy of Odd Sister
Word of mouth about Odd Sister is quickly spreading, and even attracting high profile diners. Celebrities such as Mark Ballas, Pasha Pashkov and Daniella Karagach from Dancing with the Stars; Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan; and Joan Vassos from The Bachelorette are just a few names who have stopped by for some food and drinks.
Overall, Odd Sister has must-try foods that feature fusion dishes and traditional eats. Their drinks are also inventive and splendid. It’s a place where you can drop in for a cocktail, stay for dinner, and end up closing down the place because you lost track of time. Unforgettable memories will be created here.