Great Jones Cafe: It’s nice to know New Yorkers can get a taste of old N’awlins at this Creole hole-in-the-wall. Like the best Southern dives, there’s kick in the drinks and pickin’ on the jukebox. The made-from-scratch Bloody Marys are notoriously piquant; the Shaggy, made with ginger ale imported from South Carolina, burns like fire; and the strength of the concoctions is confirmed by the beads hanging from light fixtures: Those aren’t earned by being sober. Barflies sit elbow to elbow with diners waiting for one of the coveted tables to open up. The staff is so friendly and laid-back, it’s easy to understand where the term “Big Easy” came from and it’s hard not to let loose. |
