B Flat

This very dark, underground jazz lounge featuring Japanese whiskey reminds of Murakami's imagined bar in South of the Border, West of the Sun: "People are willing to spend a lot of money to come all this way to have some drinks--and do you know why? Because everyone's seeking the same thing: an imaginary place, their own castle in the air, and their very own special corner of it."

Lovely place to meet someone, never crowded, very intimate. The neighborhood (Financial District) isn't my favorite, which is the only reason I deducted a star- it's not the most convenient place for me.

B-Flat is situated at the site of what used to be Tribeca Cafe (i loved that place) so when i came here, I was thinking about how awesome that restaurant was and how it failed in so many ways to have to shut down and be replaced.  This is the 2nd restaurant (at least) since it was Tribeca Cafe - and it still is a great place to go.  

Apparently there's supposed to be Jazz music on Monday through Wednesday but I guess we were there and left earlier than the music could start (7-8:15 or so).  So me and my date showed up and sat down - she loves sake and this place was more than appropriate.  It's more bar than restaurant, but it has a sizeable menu of Japanese tapas.  The menu looked interesting, but shying away from adventurous we went for the Japanese style fried chicken plate along with a caraft of Sake.

The Sake was served and the food came out moments later.  We drank, ate and talked for a while and enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere there.  I really enjoyed my time there, although I believe if we stayed for the Jazz music, I would have had a more enjoyable time.  

Oh right - what people read in reviews - The Food!

The chicken was battered and fried perfectly and came out piping hot and juicy.  It was slightly salty, so the sake cut that flavor perfectly.  It was a small plate so it had about 5 or 6 pieces on it - and the caraft of Sake ran about $25.  I'll be coming back sooner or later to hear the jazz music!

Great cocktails. Loved the rigatoni bolognese dish