Tucked-away lounge draws a crowd in New York
Owned by a stand-up comedian and his wife, the Gadfly Bar, located on a side street in Chelsea, is making a name for itself for … (+)
Most New York bars are located on busy thoroughfares and feature sparkling neon lights that emblazon their names and draw attention to themselves. And then there is the Gadfly Bar, located in a small street in Chelsea, at 15th Rue du 8th Avenue, located below the entrance to an apartment building and hidden although at street level (although, to the outsider, it looks like a step).
You probably won’t find it in the Michelin travel guide to the best bars to visit in New York, but that hasn’t stopped it from drawing crowds.
And co-owner Joe Pally, 48, is one of those quintessential New York City characters, a Brooklyn native who spent a year in law school before deciding it wasn’t for him, and who was previously a busy stand-up. comic.
In the past he has performed at Comic Strip Live, the Bitter End, the Stand and opened for Norm MacDonald, who died in 2021. Now busy with Gadfly, his performance has slowed down.
Several of his comedy friends have performed at Gadfly Bar, including Janeane Garofalo, Rich Vos and Sheba Mason.
Pally and his wife Kara took over the lease of an existing tapas-style restaurant and wine bar in 2021 and opened Gadfly Bar in March 2022. When asked how they financed it, he responded that they “scrapped it as best we could”, suggesting that they combined savings, loans and investments from friends and family to finance it.
Joe is the hands-on manager and is at the bar five days a week, greeting guests, representing Gadfly, managing inventory and fixing anything that breaks. Kara is the accountant of record, overseeing payroll, finance, communications and social media platforms.
Gadfly Bar, a hidden neighborhood spot, proves that a small-town atmosphere can make a name for itself, even in New York.
Their goal, Pally explains, was to create “a special neighborhood feel, even in Manhattan.” They didn’t hire a designer, but adorned it with a neon light fixture from the movie The Big Lebowski and a full mural painted by New York artist Beau Stanton. It’s jazzy and very New York.
And they hired a team of 9 particularly sociable and affable employees. Pally points to a Google review he can’t forget that says the Gadfly Bar had “the friendliest staff I’ve ever met in New York; it’s a good place to go.” attention to detail, camaraderie and amazing atmosphere all around. He says anyone could wander into Gadfly alone in the early evening, feel totally welcome and meet new friends at the bar.
He opens at 3 p.m. and while he plans to do lunch and brunch, he’s still gauging demand. It closes Sunday/Monday at 10 p.m., Tuesday/Wednesday at 11 p.m., Thursday at midnight and Friday/Saturday at 2 a.m.
But how can people find him, hidden in this little street, as the English novelist Thomas Hardy wrote, “far from the madding crowds?” » Pally explains that it was popular, old-fashioned marketing that let the neighborhood know about Gadfly’s arrival: namely posters on its windows and notices on social networks, because it is very present on Instagram, Facebook and X//twitter.
Today, the neighborhood is picking up speed since the opening of La Sandwicherie, as is the omnipresent 787 Coffee.
Pally describes his quintessential clientele as primarily “local people who live in the neighborhood,” but supplemented by many Google staffers, whose headquarters are a block away. And its clientele is made up of people of a wide range of ages, including many in their thirties, but also older people, married and single, and many long-term Chelseaites.
And Gadfly Bar keeps them involved. Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. will be a trivia night, with a $5 entry fee, hosted by “Reverend Sal” Mondrone, a stand-up comedian, where people win prizes. And it offers live music several nights a month (check out its website), including the Coney Island Whitefish on St. Patrick’s Day, and who could resist a band with a name like that?
Its menu, supervised by chef Gabe Cincu, includes: Gadfries, Belgian fries with a choice of more than 10 sauces, its smashburger, a crispy chicken sandwich, grilled cheese, BLT, just the essentials. And its large salted pretzel is a classic.
It is also known for its signature drinks, including Fawlty Sour, a nod, he says, to the John Cleese Show, made with gin, lemon, strawberry basil, syrup and egg white, as well as a variety American whiskeys.
For Pally, “Gadfly is a place to relax after work, celebrate a special occasion or simply a night out with friends or family. » He likes the fact that some people call it a “raised dive bar,” which an English professor would call an oxymoron.
Gadfly Bar’s Yelp reviews mostly echo Pally’s sentiments. Julia from Franklin, Massachusetts, called it “one of the few places in New York I’ve been where the vibe and the people make it feel like a small-town, super-friendly atmosphere.” . Great place to have a drink after work alone or with friends. »
And Rob from Brooklyn added: “A lovely little bar that just feels cozy and welcoming. If I lived in this area I could easily see it becoming my local pub. And the smashburger was exceptional, more upscale than a pub burger.
Is there a chance they’ll open a second Gadfly? Pally responds, “I’d love to be in a place to open another one and… another one,” but he adds, “I wouldn’t turn down that late-night talk show gig, either.”
