On the cusp of Murray Hill and Kips Bay, you’ll find the restaurant, appropriately named, Hill and Bay. From brunch to dinner, you can go in for a casual and chic vibe with an equally attractive menu. 

I went in on an off-hour, but soon noticed that this new neighborhood restaurant fills up pretty quickly. I ordered their namesake cocktail, the Hill and Bay Spicy Martini (chipotle vodka, pickle brine, blue cheese stuffed olives). I’m not usually one for a dirty martini, but, the chipotle vodka and blue cheese stuffed olives are what sold me. I really enjoyed it, a very mild spice of the vodka, and the bit of saltiness from the brine really compliment each other nicely. And, when a drink comes with its own snack? Fan. 

I also ordered Smoked Salmon Bruschetta with pickled summer cucumbers. It was so delicious. The toasted bread had the perfect crispness and softness, topped with creamy and mild cheese. The salmon was savory and generously folded on top. And, I really liked the pickled cucumbers, which, had a sweet relish quality to them. 

The Shorts:
Name: Hill and Bay
Location: 581 2nd Avenue, NYC
The Long and Short: Would I go back? For sure, the menu offers such great options, I’ll have to go back to try more.
Would I recommend it? Yes. And, down the block is a movie theater, so, catch a flick and grab a bite before or after.