White Oak Tavern

White Oak Tavern in Greenwich Village Serves To Go Cocktails

"At White Oak Tavern in Greenwich Village, Chris Page, the operating partner, began serving drinks to go as soon as the state allowed, offering both individual servings in plastic sippy cups and large 32-ounce growlers. He flung open two of the Waverly Place façade’s large front windows and set up an ordering station, which attracted dog walkers and locals out for a stroll to nearby Washington Square Park; business spiked on Friday, May 15. To-go sales were so good he had to double the supply of plastic cups he previously used for children's milk and juice, now used for jalapeño-infused Blood and Spice margaritas and three-whiskey New-Fashioneds on tap. With overall sales down, he hopes the state will extend the to-go liquor policy—he says he's providing an outlet for neighbors to relieve stress and find some normalcy—and describes the regulars as controlling the outside area, dispersing when the sidewalk gets too crowded and watching out for the place. The fact that patrons are content to stand around and drink out of plastic kids' cups suggests they're less thirsty for bottled Negronis and double IPAs than they are for old-fashioned in-person human interaction." - Grub Street