March 29, 2016 By Michael Florio
A new Irish whiskey bar opened earlier this month on 30th Avenue.
Passage, an Irish bar and kitchen, opened at 40-11 30th Ave. on March 18, according to co-owner Michael Mansfield.
The bar currently features 74 different kinds of whiskey, including a variety of Jamesons and Irishman whiskeys. Many of the whiskeys are imported from Ireland.
“That number will continue to grow,” Mansfield said. “People are very excited about trying all the different kinds we offer.”
The bar has a number of different cocktails, made both with whiskey and without.
The popular cocktails have been the Violete Femme, which is Jameson Black Barrel and earl grey tea, freshly torn mint, Chambord and muddled blackberries. Others include The Blacksmith, which is Redbreast 12 Year Old, Guinness, fresh lemon juice and freshly juiced apples, and the Jackie Wilson Said (I’m in Heaven When You Smile), which is Uisce Beatha Irish Whiskey with ginger beer, fresh lemon juice and muddled strawberries.
The bar also has 28 beers on tap and a variety of red and white wines.
The kitchen will feature a number of Irish dishes such as curried shepherd’s pie, which has minced lamb, carrots, peas and onions, in a curry sauce topped with mashed potatoes, and the black pudding burger, both of which are unique to this bar. Other popular items include an Irish style chicken burger and Irish breakfast flatbread.
“Nowhere in Astoria is getting quality, unique, Irish food like what we offer,” Mansfield said. “I don’t think anyone in New York offers what we do.”
Currently, the bar is open from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m., but those hours will be expanding this weekend. Beginning on Saturday, the bar will open at 8 a.m. for breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays. It will begin serving brunch at 11 a.m. Saturday through Monday.
“People in this neighborhood start their day early going to church or the gym,” he said. “Now they can come here and watch early morning English soccer while [they] eat.”
The menu will include corn beef hash, Irish breakfast, southern fried chicken biscuits, oatmeal and omelets.
“We want to bring different Irish meals to the neighborhood,” Mansfield said. “We will be different and unique from what is currently offered.”
Mansfield also plans to bring live music to the bar. He is considering doing so on Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
In the short time he has been open he said the neighborhood has been very receptive.
“People like the food, the drinks and say we have a nice ambiance,” he said. “They have been very cool and we’ve had a great time.”
Mansfield and his partner also co-own The Cuckoo’s Nest in Woodside and Banter in Forest Hills.
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3 Comments
You lost me at curried Sheppard’s pie. Really?
The food drink and atmosphere are Fantastic, They know how to do things right
Their Bar in Forest Hills is wonderful, as is the one in woodside. They truly give a 5 Star service!!!! Well done Jerene
Keep up the great work ;););)