QUESTIONS:

What does Sons of Essex mean?

We named the restaurant after the "Sons of Liberty" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sons_of_Liberty)  - who were a group of shopkeepers and artisans, the workers, the tradesmen, a movement... who held down the Lower East Side when the British tried to take it over.  The Sons of Liberty were the voice of the people, the voice of the streets (taking down the Boston Tea Party, the Stamp Act) and us being on Essex Street, we wanted to pay homage to those that looked out for our rights, the people's rights, Sons of Liberty + Essex Street = Sons of Essex (#swag).

What kind of food do you serve?

The Sons of Essex menu is a reflection of the diverse melting pot of cultures that has gentrified the Lower East Side.  The old school 'Bowery Boys' atmosphere and 'Gangs of New York' vibe pays homage to the history of the Lower East Side, fusing a traditional american comfort food menu with the spices of Lower East Side immigrants past with the use of local ingredients and Essex Street Market fruits & vegetables.  Yupp, that's how we roll.  

Last night's meal was the bomb, can I get the recipe? 

Oh, hell no (kidding), of course, we got you! We are happy to share recipes, and you can even check out our "How To Make A..." section on our website.  If there is something else, drop us a line, and we will do our best to send you the recipe.  Many times a dish we make in the restaurant might be too complicated for home prep, so in that case, we recommend you just come back and grub with us!

Last night's dinner was the best meal I've ever had, where can I compliment the food and the service?

Yelp is kinda of blowing up, you can start there... http://www.yelp.com/biz/sons-of-essex-manhattan-2

Do you guys do take-out?

Yes, you can take-out any dish on our menu, it's our version of community service ;).

What kind of music do you play?

Old school hip-hop, no top 40.  We want you nodding your head not only in appreciation of our grub, but because of the beats. Nothing like an Asian Calamari Salad and a lil Notorious B.I.G...

Who operates and owns the restaurant?

Matt Levine of Brandsway Hospitality (http://brandswayhospitality.com/) is the owner/operator of the restaurant, along with his business partner, Michael Shah of Delshah Capital.

Who designed the restaurant?

Chien Dao of Chien Dao Studio (MoMA Curator Loft, The Lion) & Matt Levine. A lot of flea market shopping, from Brooklyn Lumber Yards, to upstate New York, we tried to be as authentic to old-school Lower East Side as we can – even the pictures are of old Lower East Side residents (provided by the Tenement museum).

Is there a dress code?

We want you to be comfortable, dress your personality, #swag.

Is there corkage fee?

We have bottles of wine ranging from $30 to $225, as well as a small reserved list. We take pride in our wine selection, we have paired each wine with certain dishes on the menu. We believe we have a wine for everyone…we ask that you choose from one of our wines but if you wanted to bring something in, we don't hate, we would just charge you a corkage fee.

Are reservations accepted?

Yes, you can email feedme@sonsofessexles.com, we also leave tables open for the neighborhood, for our locals, and walk-ins. Please stop by or give us a call to see if we can accommodate you. 

Do you have space for private parties?

Yes, we have a very comfortable lounge, in which we call it "The Pit" that can accommodate up to 50 people. The Pit is perfect for after dinner cocktails, birthdays, performances, and over all – just chill. No joke, The Pit is really perfect for any and every occasion.

I wanted to rent out your entire restaurant, can I?

Ummm, good luck...kidding kidding, we do private parties, hit up feedme@sonsofessexles.com. We try to limit private parties to once a month (so make sure you book way in advance), we are a restaurant for the hood'-the Lower East Side, our job is to feed people.

Do you have a TV projector and a sound system?

Yes, we have a cable television projector, a DVD player and a huge (10 foot) projection screen you can use for special events, screenings, etc. This combined with our state of the art sound system makes for the perfect compliment for your next event!

I'm involved with a charity that is having a fundraiser.  Will you donate a gift certificate?

Giving back to the community where we live and work is important to us.  Email feedme@sonsofessexles.com.

Do you guys own any other spots?

Cocktail Bodega, check it out! http://cocktailbodega.com/. For more information on Brandsway Hospitality, check out our website: http://brandswayhospitality.com/

You guys should really consider opening a restaurant in my neighborhood.  What do you think?

Our brand is super important to us, the location has to make sense, go with our atmosphere and vibe...with that being said, talk to us...email goodtimes@brandswayhospitality.com 

I fell in love with the hostess, can I get her number?

Nope, but you can come grub again, and try to kick a little better game next time.

What if I want to work at Sons of Essex?

We are always looking for creative and talented individuals in the front of house and back of house. You can email Maya Dougherty feedme@sonsofessexles.com

I love your website, who made it?

Hit him up at oj@brandswaycreative.com!