New Cider Bar "Wassail" Opens in NYC

On the Lower East Side, located on adorable Orchard Street, New Yorkers may now visit a new bar and restaurant focused on hard cider. It's called Wassail; a risky name perhaps, because of the association with the winter holidays, but a perfect name also, as it connotes the blessing and celebration of apple trees. A friend who used to live on Orchard Street has been closely watching the progress of this business and after many months' delay this exciting new establishment opened yesterday!

The Village Voice has a review already.

Two Astoria business-owners have teamed up with the Hudson Valley Cider Week organizer, and the result looks like it will be a cider lover's dream, with a dozen ciders on tap, five by the glass, and many, many more available in bottles, hailing from near and far (New York state of course, but also France, Spain, Ireland and Chile, among other places). The food also has an international focus, and is prepared using various ciders from the appropriate regions.

This could not be any more exciting than it already is. Could it? I'll report back when I've had a chance to visit.

The restaurant also has a lovely and informative website.

Could more cider-focused bars and restaurants follow? This is a no-brainer for New York State. Speed the day!!!