Exactly What to Order When Treating Yourself to Liberty Bistro

Whether you actually have a massive deal to land or just want to cosplay “Mad Men” for a few hours, downtown is home to one of the finest venues for reviving the three-martini-lunch tradition. Of course, it’s no secret that the workday ritual of a cocktail-fueled meal has faded in favor of less glamorous traditions (standing in line at Sweetgreen, eating a sad wrap while chained to your desk). But even as the inflation gods scowl upon us, sometimes you just gotta treat yourself to an afternoon of Eisenhower-era hedonism. 

In Lower Manhattan, there’s no better place for such a throwback than the waterfront brasserie Liberty Bistro (225 Liberty St.). Located at Brookfield’s Le District food hall and blessed with jaw-dropping views of the Hudson, the French eatery is ideal for an old-fashioned, leisurely midweek outing: the sort that Don Draper and friends would indulge with abandon on Sterling Cooper’s dime. And, if you’re lucky, a few splashes of that liquid courage might help you sweet-talk your way onto one of the yachts docked in the river. (But, in all seriousness, if Liberty Bistro is too steep yet you’d still like a budget-friendly taste of the high-roller lifestyle, you can easily secure a table and an Aperol spritz from the neighboring Tartinery a few paces north.)

Here’s what you should get when you are seated and one of Liberty’s servers is ready with pad and pen.

​​Yellowfin tuna tartare

Served with a slice of avocado and drizzled with ponzu and soy sauce. Taro chips on top.

Market oysters

Comes with both mignonette and cocktail sauce, plus a wedge of lemon.

French fries 

Add some truffle oil for $2.

Summer Daisy cocktail 

Don Julio Blanco tequila mixed with pressed watermelon, Aperol, sour mix and basil.

photo: Sara Kerens/AP