Given Beckett's Table, Cave & Ives, Kitchen 56, the coming soon new home of Crudo, and a possible second location of Essence Bakery, the stretch of Indian School Road between 36th and 56th streets sure is heating up as hot property these days. And The Little Woody, the cool new bar at 4228 East Indian School Road, is the latest addition to the thriving scene.
Formerly the man cave and booze hole known as The Great Escape (RIP, "Evil Berries"), The Little Woody, which opened last week courtesy of Tucker Woodbury and chef Lenard Rubin of The Vig, doesn't look like much from the outside. In fact, there's currently no signage to speak of. Which makes walking in through the back entrance a little like a speakeasy, a very stylish speakeasy with some unique bar bites.
You'll smell the wood as soon as you open the door -- it's very nice -- and comes from walls lined with cut juniper pieces. Along with an exposed ceiling of wood beams, rich red upholstery, and intimate lighting (including under the bar), the scene feels like a cozy, upscale lodge.
Along with The Little Woody's selection of beer, wine, cocktails, and free baskets of warm, salty-and-sweet mixed snacks, Woodbury and Rubin have created some interesting bar bites, too -- like daily gumbo, shishito peppers, and banana pancakes.
And although the finishing touches are still being done to the kitchen, and general manager and mixologist Tyler Christensen tells me the food will be ready to go in the next week or so, you can check out the food on the menu below.
