The Wayland
700 E. 9th St., at Ave. C; 212-777-7022
When Banjo Jim’s shut down last year, some worried that its replacement—an “artisanal” bar with experimental cocktails—was a final harbinger for Avenue C: An uppity drinkery could only mean the B&T-ers weren’t far behind. The Wayland’s owners, however, had other plans. Jason Mendenhall (Madam Geneva, Cocktails in Motion) and Robert Ceraso (Maremma) transformed the space into a whitewashed Poconos-meets-Hamptons hangout, complete with a party-friendly communal table. They kept Jim’s old upright Yamaha and booked live acts on the off-nights. The drink menu is artisanal, yes, but in the best way possible, using freshly squeezed juices and housemade sodas: The Garden Variety Margarita ($11), for example, is made with kale juice and smoked sea salt.