Jersey Exploration: The Cassidy

There was a ton of buzz surrounding the opening of The Cassidy in Maplewood.  Since a lot of places are BYOB in the 'burbs, folks are understandably pumped when a place boasts a huge bar area with unique cocktails and an innovative menu.   Mel had a chance to visit on a girls' night with her cousins, but just had wine.  So she made it her mission to go back with DJ to try some of what the mixologists have to offer.

(This is only a small portion of the restaurant; the bar area is huge and the space wraps around to a separate seating area with a view of the kitchen.  With high ceilings, tons of natural light from the massive windows, and a modern rustic decor, the whole place is very inviting and relaxing.  Great vibe.)

We went on a quiet afternoon and just sat at the bar for drinks and a few bites.  As luck would have it, the two drinks that caught our eye were created by the bartender serving us: Caribbean Old Fashioned for DJ and Up in Smoke for Mel.

In a word: amazing.  Definitely two of the best drinks we've had here in Jersey.  In fact, Mel complimented the bartender that Up in Smoke is truly the best mezcal cocktail she's had since our favorite Mexican spot in Manhattan, Toloache (of grasshopper taco fame).  A wonderful balance of sweet and tart mixed with the smokiness of the mezcal.  And the fresh orange rind on top creates a wonderful, refreshing whiff of citrus each time you lift the glass to take a sip.  Really a beautifully crafted drink.

We ordered a charcuterie plate and the Buffalo Cauliflower to go along with our libations.  Both super tasty.  The cauliflower was surprisingly good and a nice alternative to getting wings, which is particularly helpful now that Mel has grown increasingly suspicious of how there can be wings on nearly every restaurant menu (and in supermarkets) yet real chickens only have 2 wings each.  (How are there enough wings to go around?  They can't all be real.  What are they really?  Don't want to think about it too much because we like wings.  But ew... there seriously can't be that many wings to go around...  PASS THE CAULIFLOWER.)

The pretzel roll was so delicious, we decided to get a separate plate of them to help finish off the charcuterie.  Super fresh with just the right amount of salt and doughy texture.  Perfect bar food, for sure.

We can't wait to go back to The Cassidy, not only to try more of the food menu but also the cocktails.  As always, our mission will be to try every single one.  We'll keep you posted as we go!