Empire Building

Earl’s Beer & Cheese Branching Out All Over the UES

Earl's diminutive digs.
Earl’s diminutive digs. Photo: Danny Kim

Fans of Earl’s, the fantastic cheesecentric beer bar on the cusp of Carnegie Hill and East Harlem, love everything about the place except that it’s so tiny and crowded they can never get in. When the equally small adjacent space became available, hopes were understandably raised for a moderate expansion. Alas, it’s not to be, but the good news is that the storefront has been acquired by Earl’s co-owner Adam Clark, who is in the midst of converting it into the Guthrie Inn, a cocktail bar with a limited bar-snack menu. But that’s not all.

Clark’s partner, Michael Cesari, who also co-owns the recently relocated Vinyl Wine shop, is working on a wine bar around the corner named ABV, for the alcohol-by-volume percentage you find on every bottle. When the 55-seat spot opens at 1504 Lexington Avenue near 97th Street, hopefully by the end of the year, its kitchen will be run by Earl’s talented chef Corey Cova. And here’s a tip for Earl’s patrons looking to avoid the evening crush: The place is now open for lunch Thursday through Sunday with a slightly abbreviated, but no less cheesy menu.

Earl’s Beer & Cheese Branching Out All Over the UES