Bar of the Week: MOTHER OF PEARL in the East Village

Because tiki bars are cool again.

Restaurateur Ravi DeRossi of Death & Co. and Cienfuegos has joined forces with bar babe Jane Danger and plant-based chef Daphne Cheng to open the East Village's most vibrant (and tropical) watering hole. Ice is crushed, tide is high, and garnishes are bountiful, perched atop inventive takes on classic tiki drinks with no shortage of rum, pineapple, and coconut. Here's a peek at our favorites from the bar menu:

SUGAR CANE MAGIK
Coconut cream, pineapple, lime, almond, Ron Zacapa Solera 23

COUNTRY GENTLEMAN
Corn, lemon, peppers, amontillado sherry, whiskey

SHARK EYE
Passion fruit, lemon, maraschino, curaçao, bourbon, tiki bitters

PINK DOLPHIN
Grapefruit, seaweed, cinnamon, lemon, blue curaçao, pisco

With a kitchen program much more extensive (and health-conscious) than the typical bar offering, it's both impressive and refreshing to see a food menu mirror the integrity and passion demonstrated in its potable counterpart. Chef Cheng turns out fruit-forward small plates from her dedicated vegan kitchen, categorizing in simple terms by temperature with vibrant dishes from the cold selection like mushroom musubi with wasabi cream and chili pepper gastrique, green mango poké, and king trumpet mushroom crudo while the hot side features an incredible fried coconut tofu with adobo aioli, chimichurri, and pineapple relish, skewers of apple and oyster mushroom, and more. The succinct dessert selection highlights a chocolate haupia pie with whipped cream and macadamia alongside fried steamed buns with coconut miso butter and black lava salt, adding to the playfully tropical feel of the bar's surroundings.

Mother of Pearl accepts reservations for both drinks and dinner via OpenTable and is open from 5pm to 2am daily.

95 Avenue A, New York NY 10009