Aiming to bring the old convivial atmosphere of 19th-century Irish-American and New York watering holes, the Dead Rabbit—fully, the Dead Rabbit Grocery And Grog—features 72 "historically accurate" cocktails from recipes of the era, including bottled punches that come in what else but flagons. The food menu is a dazzlement of riches, from appetizers like steak on toast, Scott eggs, and shrimp risotto to soups and salads to entrees like a tremendous shepherds pie, your traditional beef stew, bangers and mash, and, of course, fish and chips. This is all without mentioning the grocery menu, which runs the gamut from baked beans to oatmeal to tea and all of the sort of things you'd never in a million years find at Whole Foods.
But as impressive as the menus are for both food and drink, it's the bar itself that sells patrons on the place, with a taproom on the ground floor that's every bit an everyman pub, with some of the best Hibernian decor in the five boroughs, sawdust on the floor, and just that general feeling of clutter that makes a bar feel truly like home. Upstairs is the Parlor, where you'll find the aforementioned punches and specialty cocktails, as well as a more genteel atmosphere, with puffy leather stools and the more reserved decor of a true gentleman's club.
The Dead Rabbit is located in the Financial District neighborhood of Manhattan. The financial hub of the United States, the seat of New York City government, and home to some of New York's oldest buildings, the Financial District has an illustrious history. 17th century settlers began building here, and given the many seafarers of the time, boats could be conveniently docked at one of the slips right near the settlements of wooden homes. Right nearby, in the heart of the district is Federal Hall, where George Washington was inaugurated as the first President of the United States in 1789, also the meeting site for the First Congress. New York City was both the capital of the United States and New York State at the time. The street names reflect the district's fascinating history: Fulton Street, named after Robert Fulton, the inventor of the steamboat; Maiden Lane, originally called Magde Platje in Dutch; Beaver Street, recalling the once-significant beaver pelt trade, etc. The area today houses some great economic powerhouses, including the headquarters of major banks, the New York Stock Exchange, in addition to the World Financial Center. Contrasts are extraordinary, from old two- and three-story old brick buildings near South Street Seaport to the nearby modern mega-skyscrapers. Some of the numerous other attractions include Fraunces Tavern, where George Washington bid farewell to his troops (also, they have a museum!); the newly-landscaped City Hall Park; the Museum of the American Indian and the US Custom House at Bowling Green; Trinity Church, the first parish church in New York City and the resting place of Alexander Hamilton and Robert Fulton, among others; War Of 1812 strong hold Castle Clinton; the Staten Island-bound South Ferry; Battery Park; and the Federal Reserve Bank. Sadly, the biggest attraction since 9/11 has been the former World Trade Center site, although, thankfully, construction has finally filled the long-standing gouge in Lower Manhattan's face, and the stunning 9/11 Memorial and its attendant museum are welcome signs of a healing city. And, of course, soaring a symbolic 1,776 feet over the memorial is the new 1 World Trade Center!
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