You’ll need to know the location of Bar Centrale next door to Joe Allen’s, a neighborhood theatre-area hangout to find it…but once you do reservations are a must.(HINT: it’s right next door to Joe Allen’s, up the stairs of a Victorian brownstone and through unmarked wooden doors.)IMG_7114

It’s a perfect après-theatre place for a star-sightings or a nibble — the menu includes  appetizers, salads, sandwiches and mini pizzas. Both the watercress beet and smoked trout salad and the goat cheese pizza were divine.  Black and white movies play on the TV above the bar (an old Ronald Reagan movie played when I visited) while there’s jazz in the background

And of course cocktails. Ron — whose been there since the place opened about five years ago — suggested his Rasmo – a smooth and refreshing red raspberry cosmo made using 3 parts citron vodka, 1 part Cointreau, 1 part fresh raspberry puree, a tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice, a teaspoon simple syrup ($14).

Bar Centrale opens daily at 5 pm, so you could also go pre-theatre, but don’t expect thespians at that time.

Bar Centrale‎
324 W 46th St (second floor)
New York, 10036
212-581-3130‎

www.barcentralenyc.com