Election Day in New York: Collective Anxiety, All-Day Happy Hours, and Pepperoni Pizza
“How could you possibly be an undecided voter at this point?” A man in a gray hat shouted across the table to his two friends during an outdoor dinner at Miriam in Park Slope on Friday night.
Many New Yorkers intend to do the same: Across boroughs, the city is preparing for the politics-filled week, and restaurants are leaning in. On election night in Brooklyn Heights, for example, Montague Diner will serve half-price martinis from 5 p.m. until close at 10 p.m. A couple of blocks away, Vineapple, a coffee shop-turned-restaurant, is still hosting its weekly Trivia Tuesday, hoping it will be a welcome distraction for locals who want to take their minds off the election night results. “They can escape for two hours and catch up later — or never, if they wish,” Vineapple owner Zac Rubin said, adding that the spot will offer election-themed cocktails on Tuesday. The Wake Up Call, a drink dedicated to the Democrats, will feature bourbon, cold-brew syrup, and Xocolatl mole bitters. The Red-Wave Martini, a drink that nods to Republicans, includes vodka, raspberry liqueur, and a splash of Prosecco.
Some offerings are less divisive: The Upper West Side and the East Village locations of Mimi Cheng’s are offering 15 percent off of Thanksgiving dumplings — packed with turkey, cranberry and herb stuffing, gravy and thyme — for those who show a voting sticker. Creamline in Chelsea Market, which partners with local farmers and suppliers based exclusively in New York State, is giving away free milkshakes, also for those with an “I Voted” sticker. The milkshakes are made with Ronnybrook Farm dairy and come in a variety of flavors including vanilla, chocolate fudge, strawberry, honey, cookies and cream, and coffee, among others.
Many restaurants are prepping for more robust happy hour crowds, such as the one at Bar Six, the French Moroccan bistro in Greenwich Village, which starts at 3:30 p.m. and runs until 5:30 p.m. for fries and less expensive drinks before the election returns get started. Over in Chelsea, Motel Morris is doing an all-day happy hour from noon until 10:30 p.m. on Election Day — which includes $10 wine, $8 beer, $12 Tom Collins, and $12 gin and tonic cocktails. (Eater NY has additional options for happy hour around the city.)
Pop-ups have Election Day angles, too. The Bench, a new Chinatown event space opening to the public on the 6th floor of 49 Elizabeth Street (at Canal Street) on Tuesday, is teaming up with food app 8it to host an Election Night watch party. The menu will feature food from Desi-American, hot dog pop-up Chaat Dog and chocolate brownies, inspired by First Lady Nancy Reagan’s classic recipe, from Brooklyn-based bakery Settepani. And while the event — which features live DJs, drinks, and rooftop access — is open to the public, those who want to attend have to RSVP by sending an Instagram DM to the Bench.
Even for lunch, some restaurants are anticipating a crowd. On the Upper East Side, San Matteo Pizzeria e Cucina has changed its schedule. It usually opens for lunch on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, but will be open for lunch on Election Day after the owner received an overwhelming amount of requests from customers. Owner Fabio Casella said the election is a hot topic of conversation at the restaurant’s bar. The Upper East Side spot is leaning in with the Americana, a pizza that includes tomato sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, and Mike’s Hot Honey. Casella said this is the first time he is serving pepperoni at the restaurant since he usually tries to keep the cuisine as Italian as possible.
