The Southwest Porch Prepares for Winter

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The Southwest Porch in Bryant Park is getting ready for winter with a new cocktail menu, a hearth and the promise of heat lamps to come. Your peek at the winter menu after the jump.

The Southwest Porch is located near the southern end of Bryant Park. Originally opened over a year ago, the porch is supposed to give the vibe of “al fresco lounge” to celebrate the airline’s service LaGuardia Airport. (Anyone who has hauled out to Islip from the 5 boroughs to take Southwest will understand why the LaGuardia service is worth celebration).

They serve a complete and standard ‘wichcraft menu (soups, sandwiches, drinks) like the ‘wichcraft kiosks in the park. And they also have drink specialties. Here’s some of what’s on tap for winter.

Warm Drinks:
Hot Chocolate: $3.50
Spiced Apple Cider: $2
La Colombe Coffee: $1.75
Might Leaf Tea: $1.95

“Cocktails to Warm Up To”: $9

Irish Coffee: La Colombe Coffe, Irish Whiskey and whipped cream

Spiked Cider: Greenmarket apple cider, Amaretto, and spices

Hot Orange Chocolate: Hot Chocolate, Orange liqueur and whipped cream

Midtown Manhattan: Rye, vermouth, orange bitters, macerated cherry

They also have beers on tap for $7 and wines for $8.

What I was most excited to see was the make your own s’mores option for $10 (serves 2-4). When I first read the menu I thought that you got to roast the marshmallows over the giant hearth/fire pit. Alas, on further study they do say “tabletop fire pit” so I’m guessing they bring a little flame thingy over. Slightly less exciting, but the homemade graham crackers are a plus.

Apparently Wednesdays from 6:30pm-8:30pm is game night and “Giant Jenga, Jenga, Scattegories, Taboo, and other games are free to the public. No purchase necessary.”

The waiter told me they are supposed to be getting heat lamps “soon” and when that happens it looks like this could be a fun place to stop for a drink after work. It’s not going to be your cheapest happy hour ever, but with the ice skating rink in Bryant Park already open and the holiday shops opening today, it makes for one more fun wintry thing to do in the park. The Southwest Porch is open Monday – Saturday 12:00pm–9:00pm, Sunday 12:00pm–6:00pm.

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