I'll keep this simple.. I've been to Pekarna NYC several times, plus met the owner Dean. Dean is an exceptional owner that works very hard to provide not only the best atmosphere, but delicious food for his customers. He also has special nights he has the restaurant decorated for those occasions. And the downstairs tables, rooms are also decorated very cool, ingenious ideas IMO. Besides Dean, also have to give a special shout out to the hostess who greets & seats the customers from the moment you walk in the entrance.. her name is Lana. A very hard working lady that does her best to greet every customer with a big welcome smile to help your experience start off with a bang. If you've never been to Pekarna NYC, you're missing out, and should stop by there to enjoy it, I assure you of that.

My friend and I came here after work for the Love Me (Bar) Tender Memphis Pop Up experience, which I kept calling the Love Me Tender Bar lol. We had a great time for what it was. They mainly focused on Elvis's music and played different renditions of his songs. We were told quite a few times that we were too young to be there by other patrons but we had a fun time! They had a cute set up and I was interested in seeing the spot because I know they host some of the Disney Experiences here. I'm still not sure if they have an upstairs or downstairs because the area we were in was a bit small but we found a good spot and it worked for us. Our bartender was Ian and he made our drinks Great! I had the Beale Street Blues and she Had the Heartbreak Hotel. Both were delicious! Then the host? Manager? By the name of Dean (with the soothing Aussie accent) came by and he was pretty great! He was welcoming and friendly. He offered us some Elvis shots and just made sure my friend and I really enjoyed ourselves. He also checked in on us from time to time. When we were leaving we bid our goodbyes and Dean was trying to get us to stay longer which we probably would have if we didn't have other plans. But then there was an Andrew? (cute Mr Hat Guy) who was seemingly tapped in to entice us back in to stay . It wasn't in a pressuring overly aggressive way either, just like hey continue to have a great time, the night is young kind of way. Dean also told us about Karaoke nights and other events that take place It was just a nice vibe and a cool environment. The bathrooms were clean. At one point we were able to try the chicken fingers and fries which were good, maybe a tad bit heavy on the salt but good. The prices aren't crazy either. They're city prices but I hear that the happy hour prices are pretty good. We definitely would go back and I'd love to check out one of the Disney experiences in the future!

Unforgettable & Magical Night... Nothing beats drinking outside on the streets of NYC, but it's what's inside that counts at Pekarna. If you are an Alice in Wonderland theme freak then you have hit the jackpot. If you are a great handcrafted cocktail freak then you just doubled down. AND, if you come with great company then it becomes a memorable night that will never be forgotten. That's what Pekarna offers and I'm sure you'll be back again and again. Pekarna has a lot going on and nothing disappointed. From the food to the drinks to the atmosphere... Dean (owner and restauranteur) alongside with Lana (manager) will give you that experience to remember. They are not only a restaurant and bar, but they hold massive events and parties for all your needs. With a two-tier setup the downstairs has a themed venue for your private event, alongside a private outdoor setup as well... just make sure to bring a great photographer to capture all the fun. Overall, the drinks and food stole the show, but what made it an "unforgettable & magical night" to me was......... FYI: They make a great gin martini (I was told) which is hard to come by these days. TIP: Reservations are easy if you have Resy.

I came to this restaurant twice for Hidden's immersive events of Beauty and the Beast and Tinseltown. I came for the family sessions both times and enjoyed it so much that I now plan to come here every time they have an event with my daughter. The Beauty and the Beast event had characters from the movie interact with us and played music from the Bridgerton soundtrack so that we could truly feel transported into this world. It was a mocktail experience since I had chosen the family session but we had to create potions that would help break the spell that cursed the Beast and his friends. My daughter and I had such a blast and the potions were so tasty :). They went above and beyond in creating an ambiance similar to the Beast's castle. There was a giant chandelier with several lights garnishing the rooms and the tables all had roses in glass cases in them. It was a great afternoon of imaginary play and photo ops. It was at the Tinseltown event that I had a chance to try to the restaurant's food. When we arrived, we were told that a live Christmas ornament would come and take us down to Tinseltown so we sat at the bar and were attended by the owner. He was very nice and patient in taking our order and answering my 10-year-olds questions about the menu. He recommended us the Happy Hour menu so that we could save money and what the best food and drinks were. I ordered the Wagyu beef sliders and fries and loved it. The fries were so crispy and the sliders were scrumptious. I ordered an Uptown Girl, which tasted like a Lychee martini to me so I was very happy with the drink. I had to finish drinking it before heading down to the event since alcoholic drinks aren't allowed during the family session, which is one of the reasons why I make such an effort to come out all the way here from Brooklyn (1 hour and 15 minute train ride). Even though the event started late, the staff made it up with their personalities and talent on creating another world that transports you out to the theme of the day. The "Christmas ornament" was the host of the party and started us out with a Grinch mocktail and Christmas emoji movie games. We had to guess the Christmas movies on a sheet of paper based on a set of emojis, which unsurprisingly my daughter was better at than I was. Then we played a Christmas trivia game and threw marshmallows at each other to see how many we could catch with our mouths. They also had Christmas karaoke, which only my daughter and I volunteered to do but the host sang along with us and we ended up dancing and singling like we were in a Mariah Carey Christmas music video. My daughter and I had such a blast that we didn't want to leave by the time it was over. The session is usually 1.5 hours but we wish it would last a whole day :). I can't wait to go to their next event and I highly recommend that you go if you like to have a good time!

A friend and I recently attended Explore Hidden's Tinseltown in NYC. I haven't found a place to put a review, so I'm posting here. The ticket cost $22 and was from 9:30-11. With all the new holiday bars popping up, we assumed that we'd be walking into one of those. We arrived 3 minutes late, but waited an additional 15 minutes for the "event to begin." We arrived at a low key bar on the UES called, Pekarna. I've posted some photos to their Yelp page. We were offered drinks to buy and told to wait for the elf to appear on the stairs. When the elf arrived we were ushered downstairs to a beautifully laid out holiday bar, complete with the on screen Yule Log. Spacing was tight with room for 20 people max. We received a welcome cocktail and chose our seats. Shortly after sitting a group of 5 showed up, so we moved to a two top to accommodate the larger group. The operation included 3 people, the elf, the bartender, and our host. Drink menus were provided and we were handed two activity two activity sheets. After a quick emoji movie guessing game, we were given a dry erase board and played some trivia. The gaming host was a bit overwhelmed and missed our winning answers, but gave us a prize for tying with the table to our side. The atmosphere was social and interactive. Most couples came on dates and a one of two friend groups added to the mix which made for very entertaining Dear Santa letters that were anonymously read aloud at the end of the night. We had purchased a $15 drink add on per ticket before we arrived. Our host was unaware of this, but ended up offering us 3 different types of liquors with simple mixers. I managed to get a brandy eggnog cream, but the only other table who bought the same ticket add on passed on drinks when the options were not readily available. Despite the delay and slight disorganization, the night ended up being fantastic! Everyone left jovial and the team members agreed to take photos with us and answer any of our questions. We exited just after 11pm which was nice as our start time was delayed. As we were leaving, I managed to check out the adjacent room where the Alice in Wonderland brunch is hosted. The space also appears to accommodate 20 people and is cutely set up with cool and creepy Cheshire Cat eyes. I don't know that it would be worth the cost. However, if the food is as good as Alice's Tea Cup, it would be worth the stay. The hosts kept us laughing and it put us in the holiday spirit.

We came here for the Alice in Wonderland experience but stopped in a little early for a quick bite and drink. I felt compelled to review this place just because of the amazing service and the drinks that left nothing but the warm satisfaction it should! I got a Tito's dirty martini, a friend of mine got a gimlet and my husband got one of the specialty drinks. All of them were balanced and oh what a show the bartender gave us! Think speakeasy without being hidden--almost steampunk with a European influence. Glad the experience we chose was hosted by this place!

I came here for an Alice in Wonderland event which was held underneath the restaurant. Afterwards my friends and I decided to have quick drink before heading home. We ordered a few glasses of wine and had a great time. The owner Dean was very friendly and hospitable. The restaurant offered a wide range of Slovenian wines so we enquired about that and Dean was able to tell us the background which we appreciated. We also ordered the fries and chicken wings. Both were really fresh and tasty. Will be coming here again to try other things on the menu including Slovenian wine!

We had a wonderful weekend brunch experience at Pekarna, a charming new American restaurant with a few Slovenian influences that I think opened up just a few months ago. We chose to sit outside on a chilly day and the kids were a little shivery -- but the warm service, good food and strong drinks fortified us. If you choose to sit indoors, the space is surprisingly huge and lovely, with eclectic, interesting decorations. It manages to be homey, comfortable and classy all at the same time -- probably equally good for date night or a large celebration with friends and family. The menu is extensive. At brunch, you can order off either the brunch menu or the regular one. Often restaurants with such far-ranging menus have trouble executing everything well, but based on what we tried, Pekarna did not appear to have this problem. Our kids went with the waffles, fried chicken and eggs (two house blend waffles, house fried chicken with spices and buttermilk, egg, chopped Jalapeno and maple syrup ($13), with a side of extra eggs and bacon. The fried chicken (we chose thigh meat rather than breast meat) could've been a wee bit better blotted, but grease levels weren't egregious enough to keep us from swooning over the thick, crispy, deep-gold, well-seasoned crust and perfectly moist innards. I grew up in the south and Pekarna's version rivals anything you could find south of the Mason Dixon. Portion sizes were generous to say the least. Think Alabama diner sized. This dish could probably feed a whole family of skinny Manhattanites. Waffles were on the heavier, denser end of the spectrum, with a touch of vanilla. We thought their heft was a good counterpoint for the fried chicken, though others may prefer a fluffier, lighter texture. Scrambled eggs were made very soft and slightly wet, a style I personally love and wish were the de facto preparation in more US restaurants. If you prefer firmer scrambled eggs, you may need to ask. Bacon was perfectly fried, half soft, half crispy, just as we like it. My partner's Pekarna burger (Wagyu beef patty, swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, fried onion rings, house pickled cucumber, pickled onion, house bbq sauce, toasted Kaiser bun, side of fries; $24) came with a thick, moist patty and was devoured with extreme enthusiasm. I was even more enamoured with the beautifully fried, perfectly crisp, well-blotted French fries, made out of identifiable potatoes (cut with a wee bit of skin still on). These were some of the best fries I can remember having. You can evidently order a full plate of them as an "appetizer" off the regular menu. Throw in a few cocktails from the nice-sounding list and you may have yourself one of the finest dinners in town. :) My heirloom beet salad (baby red and candy cane beets, pecan brittle, candied orange, house made herb labneh, baby arugula, red leaf sorrel, goat cheese; $18) was nicely composed and perfectly (not overly) dressed. A few ingredients seem to've been subbed / omitted: gold beets for candy-cane beets, candied pecans rather than brittle, and there was no candied orange or sorrel in my version. (I am passionately fond of sorrel, so I was sad about the omission!) But the teeny smudge of herb labneh was delicious, the arugula pleasantly peppery. The cocktail menu seems legit. My bloody Mary was a classic version, pleasantly spicy, not wimpy, and made with a decent-quality vodka. My partner's run for cover (Glenlivet Founder's Reserve Whiskey, Giffard Banane liquer, Fernet Branca; $15) was delicious, served with a giant, slow-melting ice cube, which I always love -- not that the ice was in danger of melting too quickly in our circumstances. We very much enjoyed our meal and can't wait to return to try the Slovenian dishes on the menu, in particular. The Žepki (described as Slovenian hot pockets) sound like a must! And the crispy boar with rice... and the herb crusted rack of lamb... and...