By Chef Eli Sussman
7pm | My Favorite Time of Day
My favorite time of day in Brooklyn is at 7pm during the weekday. It is just when it is starting to get a little bit darker, when day is transitioning into night at dusk in Brooklyn. I like to get a drink with a friend or roommate and I think it is a really great time. The bars are still pretty empty, so you can have a conversation at a normal level. You almost get the bar to yourself before everyone overflows inside.
At 7pm, I like to go to Duck Duck in Williamsburg; it is sort of my home bar. I also like to go to The Drink and The Levee.
I really like The Drink. It's a dump, but I'm always attracted to bars that have indoor and outdoor seating. The Drink isn't pretentious; you can get cocktails, but you can also get a bunch of beers or shots. I don’t want to ever go to a high-end cocktail bar where it is dark and in a basement. I want to go to a place where they welcome you with open arms and it is fun and inviting.
I love The Levee because it is a perfect dicey-type bar with cheap, strong drinks. They have games to play with your friends. They have big booths. You can get very lost in the Levee. You can spend the whole day hanging out and it feels like a club house. They are never going to change it for anyone. They do their own thing and if you don’t like it, you can go somewhere else.
DUCK DUCK BAR
161 Montrose Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11206
T: 347.799.1449 | www.duckduckbar.com
THE DRINK
228 Manhattan Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11206
T: 718.782.8463 | thedrinkbrooklyn.com
THE LEVEE
212 Berry Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211
T: 718.218.8787 | theleveenyc.com
Chef Eli Sussman
Eli and his brother Max have joined forces as co-chefs at Ruschmeyer's in Montauk. They also opened up a shawarma spot, Samesa, at the Berg'n beer hall in Brookyln. He previously worked at Mile End Deli.
RUSCHMEYER'S
161 2nd House Road, Montauk, NY 11954
T: 631.668.2877 | www.chelseahotels.com
SAMESA
899 Bergen Street, Brooklyn, NY 11238
www.bergn.com
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