By the time we walked into Larchmont’s Vintage 1891 Kitchen, we were a few drinks deep and feeling less surly than usual. Lucky for us, Amy Negri behind the bar was one of the most sociable barkeeps we’ve met in the course of researching this guide (and, just maybe, ever). Buzzing from one end of the bar to the other, she was a one-woman show, cracking jokes rapid-fire while shaking up cocktails like the Buddha Lemonade, made with Hangar 1 Buddha’s Hand Citron Vodka, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, garden-fresh basil, simple syrup, and water. It was the end of the night, and the sleek space—decorated in slate-gray and white tones, and featuring a large glass wine vault illuminated by blue lights—was empty, so we had most of Negri’s attention. That meant conversation ranging from elderly drivers to bad dates—which had us laughing the good part of the hour we spent there. The drinks were tasty, really, but it was Negri, who also functions as the bar’s special events manager, who’d keep us coming back for more.
