April 25, 2008

Beth Becomes Her

Elizabeth Opens

Gentlemen, there’s a new girl in town. For your purposes, her name’s her location: Elizabeth. She likes to hang with the boys.

She loves a good martini, cheats in poker, and will have you doing a double take in the old Rialto space, where Sam Martinez (same owner) and Jeff Mancini (architect, designer) have created an English gents’ club that’s just a little naughty.

Proper cocktails, organic wines, and seasonal small plates by John Iconomou (Country) fuel classy pub fare like fish and chips with lemon mayo, spring lamb with hummus and tzatziki, and old fashioned crispy cheeseburgers.

Start in the salon, noting the marble bar, leather banquettes, skull lamps, and back-lit mosaics. Recline on ottomans near the fireplace in the card room or linger in the garden, where flickering candles bring out the spring fever in all of us.

Speculate: Will she get lucky?

More importantly, will you?

Elizabeth, 265 Elizabeth Street, between Houston and Prince Streets (212-334-2426).