More Schilling

August 21, 2003 Okay, kiddles, we're just about out of here (more on that in a sec), but we can't leave you in the lurch just as Keith is about to throw open his doors. So here's the final Schiller's update for the great month of August Two-Thousand Three. First, the full name of the place is Schiller's Liquor Bar. Pretentious? Not to our ears. This is post-pretention—a clever play on the finickey Lower East Side. This week's New York has the scoop on the eats, which—though not straight-up German Jewish cusine as rumored, does tilt in that direction ("I’m sick of French bistros,” McNally obliquely tells the mag). The article continues: "Instead of a croque monsieur, there’s Welsh rarebit, plus rotisserie chicken, fried-oyster po’ boys, and, as a tribute to the neighborhood’s immigrant past, German specials like wiener schnitzel with spaetzle." Everything except the steak costs less than $15. No reservations. "Which means, of course," GL emails, "that McNally's crew can cater to celebs as liberally as they want." Figuring in the blackout delay, the place is said to be opening to the public on Tuesday the 26th. "Wear your 'keith, my boyfriend is out of town' t," counsels SLNY [props, DR, props]. Check out Keith's weird-ass website, then post your early reviews here for everyone's pleasure.

Instead of a croque monsieur, there’s Welsh rarebit... WTF? Can any of you gourmands out there help me out? What is the difference between a croque monsieur and a Welsh rarebit?

Posted by: Felix at August 21, 2003 11:44 AM

The place looks awsome and they invited us in off the street for a look around and seemed very friendly, so I'm sorta impressed. Sure they will have to go through the 15 minutes-of-fame-you-are-not-somebody-important-faze, but I welcome a decent joint to eat around here. I am a bit confused by the German-Jewish thing I must say, but I'm not the sharpes pencil in the box.

Posted by: Hiemlick Manover at August 21, 2003 12:40 PM

felix, everything is different

Posted by: bert at August 22, 2003 11:51 AM

for the obsessed, the menus are now viewable. I'm not obsessed so I don't remember any details except for the alcoholic egg creams at $8 a pop. The rest of the menu seemed pretty straight forward and quite reasonably priced. Opens Tues as mentioned, with Breakfast opening on Sept 3 I think.

Posted by: Abe at August 25, 2003 08:46 AM

I sawr Jim Jarmuech (sp) standing in front last nite sucking on an egg cream.

Posted by: Sal Minella at August 25, 2003 10:12 AM

A croque monsieur is a ham and cheese (usu. gruyere) sandwich, dipped in egg batter and fried like french toast. Add an egg on top and you have a croque madame.

Welsh rarebit is oven-baked English cheddar and tomatoes atop fluffy big slices of bread. Sometimes eaten with one of those British pickle-relish sauces. They have it at Tea and Sympathy on Greenwich.

Posted by: Colleen at August 29, 2003 12:59 PM

The dinner menu is available, as one would expect, at MenuPages.com - Just type "schiller's" in the search band. It's already #2 in the EV/LES "Hot Menus" list, evidence that the Mcnally buzz is well underway.

Posted by: Mike at September 2, 2003 01:45 PM

What is a bread salad? Sounds bad for the waistline . Has anyone actually eaten there yet? What no Rabbit in the Welsh rarebit?
How skimmpy! : )

Posted by: Sal Minella at September 3, 2003 11:08 AM

We stopped in last night for a glass of wine. The place is gorgeous! And the staff is really nice, too. Didn't feel intimidated at all even though it was a super fashion-y crowd. It's worth a visit for the lighting alone.

Posted by: Jami at September 9, 2003 01:30 PM

What is the wait like? Is it a "wait at the bar"
type of thing ? I would like to go, but I don't want to be abused.

Posted by: sy klopps at September 9, 2003 01:40 PM

Felix Salmon has a great, long review of Schiller's posted on his website. This is heartening: "I'm pretty sure that Schiller's is going to be a bar first and restaurant second, rather like Salt Bar or Essex ."

Posted by: Lock at September 9, 2003 03:31 PM

People are just smart enough to not be happily ignorant.

Posted by: Mitra Kanchan at December 10, 2003 07:42 PM