Get Away at this French Inspired Garden Themed Bar-Restaurant in Murray Hill
Aunt Bernie’s describes itself on its website as an “eclectic dining and projection tv experience (serving) small plates in an indoor garden setting”. The indoor garden setting is much needed for those in the heart of Murray Hill who may not have the opportunity to escape outside of the city…and those are exactly the people who keep coming back. Aunt Bernie’s replaced the former Joshua Tree “sports bar” and NYU hotspot at 513 3rd Avenue between 34th and 35th, bringing in a different kind of clientele. Shifting from serving pretentious 20-somethings to more established adults, the menu has changed, as has the ambience and energy. Aunt Bernie’s offers a European (predominantly French) inspired menu with options for everyone…including the pretentious 20-somethings…
With 4.7 stars and 71 reviews on Google, Aunt Bernie’s Bar and Jardin is a local favorite. Whether it be the daily happy hour menu or atmosphere, once Aunt Bernie’s draws you in… you do not want to leave. Many of the Google reviews rate the prices and happy hour as a positive, suggesting that the reasonable prices on the menu and even better deals at happy hour makes Aunt Bernie’s affordable for all. Other highly rated categories include the oysters, baked brie, calamari, escargot, and french onion soup in addition to the wine flights and bartenders.
Aunt Bernie’s Bar and Jardin is open 7 days a week, opening daily at 4pm. Sunday through Thursday it closes at 12am. Friday and Saturday it closes at 1am. Happy hour is served from 4pm-6:30pm. The happy hour menu features some favorites off of the main menu. The happy hour food menu features the following: truffle fries ($6), ½ dozen oysters ($7.50), beet salad ($10), endive salad ($11), pork belly ($12), baked brie ($12), croquettes ($13), escargot ($13), a dozen oysters ($15), charcuterie tasting board ($15), and calamari ($17). The happy hour drink menu includes $6 select beers, $11 rotating cocktail, and $13 wine flights. For the wine flights, you can choose from dry white, full bodied white, light red, or full bodied red. You will receive 3 glasses in your flight.
The main menu offers a variety of American favorites with a European twist. To view the complete menu, visit the website here. Menu items that follow are based on the menu available on their website June 2023. The dinner menu is broken down into 6 sections: soups and salads, seafood, land, vegetarian, tapitas, and desserts. There is a wide selection of choices on this menu, making it good for those looking to try different things and/or share with the table. The menu is also good for those looking for fresh, healthy ingredients as the meals are made with real foods and lots of natural flavor from herbs and spices.
The soups and salads menu offers watermelon salad, endive salad, beet salad, and french onion soup. The seafood menu offers crab cakes, salmon cakes, mussels, oysters, calamari grilled octopus, and shrimp. The land menu offers pork belly, sweet bread, thin sliced prime steak, meatballs (made from beef, veal, sheep’s milk), tarte flatbread (with creme fraiche), wagyu burger, pasta (queso style), bone marrow, chorizo empanadas, croquettes, and a charcuterie tasting plate (jamon, chorizo, soppressata). The vegetarian menu offers grilled portobello mushroom, mushroom croquettes, roasted eggplant, baked brie, truffle mushroom crostini, eggplant dip, and a queso with a combination of cheeses from Spain (Sheep’s Milk Manchego), Fance (Comte-aged 18 months), and Italy (a spicy Truffle Pecorino). The tapitas menu offers aceitunas marindates (mixed olives with toasted bread), dates (bacon wrapped dates stuffed with blue cheese and pecans), coliflor frita (beer battered cauliflower with a spicy honey dip), patatas bravas (fingerling potatoes with a house made Brava sauce), and truffle fries. Finally, the dessert menu offers chocolate mousse, creme brulee, petit fours, and crepes (topped with honey and seasonal berries).