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Culture Fix
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Art Galleries Shopping Art Galleries Restaurants Tapas/Small Plates Art Galleries, Tapas/Small Plates [Edit]
9 Clinton St(between Avenue B & Houston St)
Manhattan, NY 10002
Neighbourhood: Lower East Side
(646) 863-7171
- Nearest Transit:
-
Essex St (J, M, Z)
Delancey St (F)
2 Av (F)
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- By Appointment Only:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Hipster
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
Long Island's Premier: Art Gallery, Frame Shop, Art Restoration, Art Hanging Services and Custom Mirror Emporium ! 'if it hangs on a wall (or you'd… read more »
32 reviews for Culture Fix
Review Highlights
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"...Brooklyn-ites, the peeps behind the bar are where it's at." In 4 reviews -
"I highly recommend the pound cake." In 3 reviews -
"Great wine and beer selection, unique tapas that hit the..." In 4 reviews
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32 reviews in English
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Review from Saara H.
I've had a lot of birthdays and some really awesome parties to celebrate including everything from unlimited arcade game tokens at the small town equivalent of Chuck E. Cheese to upscale dinners at The Modern. But my birthday dinner at Culture Fix last week topped them all as favorite birthday celebration in the past 24 years.
Cole, Ari, and Curt created a wonderful evening. Ensuring that everyone is happy in a party of 12 people with a range of dietary restrictions, preferences, and allergies is not easy but the management at culturefix made it happen. The food was delicious (who knew that cauliflower and Chinese long beans could be so delicious?) and the ambiance was perfect - really attentive service (no glass was ever empty), live music downstairs, flexible with time (no one felt rushed even though we arrived late), accommodating (charged our phones), etc.
Definitely wouldn't hesitate to recommend this place to anyone interested in checking out a gallery in LES, throwing an event, or hosting a dinner party. -
Review from Elizabeth R.
Manhattan, NY
I knew I was going to like this place when the menacing bouncer didn't card me when I walked up to the gallery door, but he promptly carded my friend who came in after me - ha!
I went there last Friday for a friend's birthday dinner, and I have to say I had a really pleasant gallery/restaurant experience. I was certainly skeptical when I saw the cozy 12-person-max dining room table. The food was fresh, locally grown (there were several dishes many of us had to inquire about - like Japanese string beans that looked like green worms) fare, the setting was comfortable and lacking the pretentiousness often inherent in LES galleries, and the service was TOP NOTCH. I kid you not, I half expected the waiters to carry my friend out of the dining room on a cleopatra-eqsue litter - they were that attentive and personable. My friend also mentioned that she was texting the chef to decide the menu options. Now, that, my friends, is five-star service. I even left my a few belongings there that night and was able to retrieve them (unopened and untouched) several days later.
Needless to say, I'm a huge fan of Culture fix, and I will return soon. The only reason I'm not giving this place a solid five-star rating is because the food was pricey ( we ended up paying $60/head at my friend's dinner). I'm sure they priced the food as reasonably as they could while staying local, but that was more than I wanted to pay after leaving the dinner slightly hungry. -
Review from Derek K.
Manhattan, NY
Cool spot to throw back a few drinks on a Tuesday night HH specials, priced extremely well i want to say 50% off. Great wine!
Enough art & gadgets to keep you well entertained while walking around.
They also have some nibblies but i wouldn't go on an empty stomach...not early enough food.
note it's a small seating space -
Review from Richard S.
Manhattan, NY
Loved it
Friends invited me to go for drinks. We had a blast
Prices were not too bad
Atmosphere interesting
Looking forward to going back -
Review from Kunal G.
I hosted a charity art auction here in 2010, and the owners (Cole and Ari) were really great about everything. They did everything from putting up the art, creating signage, publicizing the event, arranging for a sound system, and catering the event. And everything was done flawlessly, graciously, and with love.
The guys have since become friends, and I go back often now. It's generally not-too-crowded, and there's always an interesting selection of beers/wines, and bar food. Also, it's a great place to hang with the locals and get into all sorts of conversations with all sorts of people. Never boring.
They also have interesting ever changing art on the walls, events all the time, and the best part is that you can go there for the art, end up listening to the artists discussing their work, and then spend the rest of the night at the bar, all without stepping out! Love this place! -
Review from Wendee M.
My first visit here mainly was because a friend was DJing in the back room. I actually arrived early and walked into a live performance and it was ravishing! Yes, I said ravishing.
After that fateful evening, I went back several times to find myself surrounded by local artists' artworks on the walls. They also have a good selection of foreign beers and the barkeep/chef is amazing! He always makes me devour my food.
I also made friends with the guys at the door, which is typical of me. I just adore this place. -
Review from Justin L.
Brooklyn, NY
Cute
Showroom/
Gallery/
Bar perfect for
A low key night out away from the hordes. -
Review from Campbell K.
Manhattan, NY
Night begins early; Dr. Tortellini revives himself for glorious conquest.
Who's that?
Une réunion de copains a la Universitas Viridis Montis! Alas, I am left pondering.
No matter! Unique beers all around! Sip them with pleasure while perched upon chairs harkening back to days of elementary school art class, and revel in it, hark.
The bouncer may grab you for a quasi-racist street performer outside. Heed his words but take caution.
The art, from Haiti, is macabre in a most beautiful way. Placed around tables crafted of hand split timber.
This review, perchance, may be a flop.
**Next Morning Update** - I was somewhat tipsy while writing the above review. I'm going to leave it up anyways. -
Review from John C.
Manhattan, NY
My favorite spot on the Lower East Side! The people running this place are genuine and nice people and they definitely bring some of the best & most diverse cultural activities to the neighborhood.
I gotta give my props to CULTUREfix. You never know what you are gonna find there but rest assure it will be interesting and good. If the program isn't your style one night, don't get all fussy, and just try back again soon.
I just moved from the Lower East Side to Harlem and I will be back to CULTUREfix. It's a destination spot not-to-be substituted, unlike the Clinton St. Bakery across the street... -
Review from Mark S.
Hoboken, NJ
After a conversation with the two men that run this joint, I get the impression that they don't put too much stock in what the Yelp community has to say. However I hope that you, the readers, buy into this review and other reviews like it.
My girlfriend and I decided on CULTUREfix as a change of pace from your average Lower East Side eatery. We heard great things about the food and the interesting exhibitions. We had the privilege of hearing an amazing string sextet from Classical Revolution while tasting a variety of delicious tapas.
We really enjoyed the food. We tried 5 of the dishes and were pleased with each one. The dishes are simple, delicious, and made behind the bar directly in front of you. Try the grilled cheese, even if you're not hungry. It lives up to its title. The salad with beets and goat cheese was incredible. If you like to drink (good) beer, the managers switch out their beer selection every week. Being an aspiring beer connoisseur, I was excited to sample a number of German and Belgian brews. If you don't like what you taste, you don't pay for it. Everything on the menu was reasonably priced with the added bonus that we only paid for food and took in a free classical concert.
As other Yelpers have already observed, the atmosphere is comfortable, inviting, and the service makes you feel great. It feels like you're hanging out with your artsy best friends. I don't think you'll find anything like it anywhere else. -
Review from Donald K.
Astoria, NY
Ever visit a gallery and feel like you're trying so hard to be quiet that you are even afraid of your feet making noise? It's not a comfortable experience. And for someone like myself, who is more like your average joe, galleries at times can feel a little off putting.
Fortunately I cannot say the same things about CULTUREfix. This bar/gallery/retail venue takes away all the feelings of pretentiousness and replaces it with comfortableness. The decor of the bar is that of a cozy hole in the wall with it's vintagey furniture. The gallery space, though no extensive, get's the job done for small exhibitions.
Their menu was small, but everything does sound good on it. I ordered the grilled cheese. I wasn't floored, but it did it's job. The drink selection is only beers and wines. Looking at the place you would think that they wouldn't have a good wine selection, but surprisingly it's pretty decent. Their beer selection, no taps, seem to be comprised of all these beers that I have never even heard of. I tried the Moo Thunder Stout, and I do like it.
The staff were very cool and friendly. I had already made friends with one of the owners and his girlfriend from the first time I went there. The clientele will mostly likely be pretty mixed depending on what they have on exhibit at the time, but the regulars seems like you're every day hipster.
It's a little too east from where I normally hang out, but I wouldn't mind checking this place out again. -
Review from Tara L.
Came here with a beer passport for $3 beer and thought it was a great space with lots of really cool things going on.
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Review from Mike B.
New York, NY
Great mix of art, food, drinks, music. There are few places in the city that provide a comfortable non ostentatious feeling, unless of course you are in Subway or a dumpy diner.
Culturefix delightfully brands itself almost seemlessly with food, music and whatever strikes their interest. THey even do a monthly Dinnerfix 7 course tasting. Incredible! -
Review from Jonathan G.
Verona, NJ
I was so conflicted before coming to CULTUREfix for the first time. Before CULTUREfix was in this space it was vacant for a year. Before that, I had my business in the space for a year and built the whole thing out so I had some abject bitterness left toward the space for a variety of reasons. Within seconds it all disappeared
If you are looking for a cool place to hang out, have a couple drinks, have some very, very good appetizers with the potential of seeing some art and relaxing at some indoor picnic tables, you have found your place. CULTUREfix is run by two cool guys who are busy doing what you should be doing to grow your business: working hard and testing out new things each day.
The bar is along the left as you enter and can probably seat about ten, with a small two-top in the window as well. It is a cozy, narrow entry which leads back to my favorite part of the space. As you go up the ramp, you will find 14 foot ceilings with four skylights and a couple indoor picnic tables to hang out at, as well as some couches. Art will line the walls as this is the gallery part of the space or the relaxation zone.
Don't sleep on the food here, it is a highlight. The goat cheese pound cake with pork is outstanding and they are constantly trying new menu items to see what works. Do not expect Raines Law Room, expect a relaxing, cool space where you could pop in anytime, wearing anything and get some good drinks and food and friendliness and leave with some money left in your wallet.*
____________________________
* Unless you are a total drunk, then you never leave a bar with money in your pocket.Listed in: The LES, Drinking alcoholic beverages
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Review from Sivan B.
New York, NY
An eclectic little bar & restaurant in the Lower East Side. Art gallery with tables for eating, drinking, and enjoying the live music in the back; long narrow bar area up front.
We viewed, but didn't sit in, the gallery space. We could hear live music while we ate, and it was damn good. Classical, in this instance; not sure what other kinds of live music they have.
We sat at the bar and had food and drinks. Everything we ate was yummy, including the grilled cheese (my personal favorite), vegetable pot pie, brussel sprout salad, and beef/pork empanada (I don't eat meat, but my bf seemed to enjoy it). They cook all this deliciousness in the tiniest little kitchen area you've ever seen, and what they can do from within that space is pretty impressive in my book.
As delicious as the food was (and reasonably priced), and as decent a selection of wine and beer as they had (also reasonably priced), what really sold me on this place was the staff. Family-owned and operated by young Brooklyn-ites, the peeps behind the bar are where it's at. Funny, nice, quirky, and down to chat, I really enjoyed picking their brains and learning about the food, the bar, whatever. It was fun.
I found this place by buying a Living Social coupon (similar to a Groupon). When it came time to pay the bill there was an issue between what the owner thought the coupon was good for (food only) and what I thought it was good for (food & drinks), but the owner let me have it my way, which, as you can imagine, I like. He wanted me to come back, and based on the all-around-awesomeness of this place, I most certainly will. -
Review from John P.
This was a cool spot to check out. When you first walk in theres a bar with some chairs on the first room. As you walk in theres a bigger room in the back where they have performances. We sat at the bar upfront and ordered some food. I was really disappointed when they were out of the first thing we ordered, the grilled cheese. So we went with the three wraps and the enchiladas. Considering their kitchen is actually right behind the bar, and consists of a hot plate and microwave i wasn't expecting much from the food, but man was i wrong. The shrimp, chicken, and pork belly were all outstanding, especially that pork belly. It was so good and basically melted in your mouth. The enchiladas had great white meat chicken in it. The only downside with the enchiladas was that they covered them in a green sauce, it literally covered everything. I love condiments and put a lot on, but this was over doing it. It was still delicious though. I wish they had different beers, i wasn't a fan of the selection. Also, my girlfriends wine tasted like it had been opened for months. But the scene and food are worth the trip.
On a side note, there was a guy laying under the bar where people usually stand. I didn't notice him next to me for a good 20 minutes. He was just laying there with a black blanket over him, asking people to stand on him. Kinda creepy, but also goes with the scene. -
Review from Renee C.
New York, NY
I can't help but love this place and they deserve the highest rating in my book. Don't miss their monthly Dinner Fixes on Tuesdays...sign up for their newsletter and you won't be sorry that you've missed out.
Listed in: Say CHEESE!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/21/2011
There is a clique-y sense to this place at first glance...BUT really what it takes is the first step… Read more »
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3/21/2011
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Review from Nikki R.
Chicago, IL
When New York legalized same sex marriage my partner Kathie and I decided we would go to New York and get married. We have been together 12 years so it was about time and kinda a big deal. Not being from NYC we turned to Yelp and CULTUREfix came up as a possibility and after weighing several options we decided to go for it. Cole was completely helpful throughout the entire process. Once we arrived in NYC we went to visit the space and met Ari who helped us finalize the details of set up etc.....On the big day we showed up and everything was set up perfectly! I have to say the entire staff was awesome and they truly made or day special. The space itself is super-funky and gave our wedding a unique feel. We had about 20-25 guests and the space was more than ample we could have easily doubled that. All the food was made in house and was fantastic. I would highly recommend CULTUREfix for your wedding or any other special event!
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Review from Christopher D.
Manhattan, NY
Must-try bar of the evening!
Went to the bar? not really knowing what to expect. Was suggested by some friends for an art show that also served drinks. Excellent suggestion!
The actual bar area is very small and fronts the actual exhibit/showroom. The constant movement of people can be a little distracting but still tolerable. All the beers (I believe) are bottled or canned - and they offer an EXCELLENT variety!
What really impressed me about this place is their menu - all small appetizer/small plate options that were simple yet unique. Perpared in the corner behind the bar its amazing how great the food is from such a limited space. We tried the grilled cheese - fantastic! Prices were cheaper than the beer and at $5-$6 a great deal.
Regardless of the "art" option - this was honestly one of the best beer/food places I've been to. The only warning is the 20 person max comfort limit on the bar - but a must try if you're in the area. -
Review from Phil T.
New York, NY
cute space, great art, gorgeous food, super owners that know their customers... and pretty damn charming too!
What more could i ask for?
Im glad i got to find this place first before everyone else does and it becomes mobbed!
The bathroom even is made of out chalkboard and you can leave a little note to the next user! -
Review from Bryan A.
Dude. Poetry/spoken word + music. Randomized. Musical roulette. Very very good. Their riesling is very smooth as well!
Tiny little place, slightly underground. But the artwork is in the back room. They seem to be holding artsy events weekly with the people to match. It's a great vibe if you're looking for a solid alternative to laying face down on the curb with vomit next to your face. -
Review from Megan G.
New York, NY
Since I live only a few doors down, Im glad that I finally checked this place out. It was just as awesome as I had hoped, and the people who I met here were all great. The beer and wine selection is very good, and the owner is a fantastic cook! Cant wait to go back!
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Review from Pia D.
Brooklyn, NY
Love this place and everyone who works here! Delicious tapas and a good selection of interesting beers. Awesome parties, I've seen some great art shows here ad I've heard they do dinner parties which I plan to attend in the future!
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Review from Jane P.
Dunno the hype. Tiny tiny bar. Some music thing was going on in the back. But just because I don't understand it doesn't mean it's terrible. The bar was poppin with people.
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Review from robert s.
New York, NY
Went here to see a friend play with one of his strings groups. Great spot for a first date. Friendly bar keeps, unique beer selection, really good (and responsibly priced tapas) food, and the exhibits are constantly changing.
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Review from K G.
Pasadena, CA
Great intimate venue for listening to your favorite artist and great food for those with a lighter palette. ie you don't want a meal that could choke a horse
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Review from David A.
Brooklyn, NY
Can't go wrong with this place. The food is so good and there's something for everyone on their often-varying menu of lesser-seen but well-known beers and wines.
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Review from Liz S.
KNICKERBOCKER, NY
Fantastic neighborhood bar with a spacious, well-curated art gallery in the back. Be sure to chat it up with Ari, one of the co-owners. He is a delight and he will take care of you. They always have two very nice artisinal beers on tap, and you can order either 8 oz. or 20 oz. glasses. These guys put their hearts into their business and it shows. Great place to hang out and have a beer with good company.
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Review from Julia S.
Brooklyn, NY
I love culturefix! Went to one of their gallery openings with a friend and it was so fun! Unique art featuring prints from the coolest iPhone app Hipstamatic proves their on the cutting edge of media. Also had a couple awesome pinxtos, these little delicious sandwiches. And probably the best red velvet cupcake ever. Take THAT, sugar sweet sunshine.
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Review from Martha R.
Philadelphia, PA
Just went there on Sunday. It is relaxed and not full of annoying people. For such a small kitchen the food is pretty perfect for sipping wine with. (I have such good grammar.) Grilled cheese was yummy and the pound cake is also addicting. I wish there was a place like this in my neighborhood in philly. I'd be there all the time to just chill.
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Review from Sue S.
New York, NY
Absolutely love this place. Charming, teeny front bar area with a little window seat, and it opens up to a larger, comfortable space with picnic tables and artwork.
The owners are super nice and very well informed about the wine (and generous on the pours). And the food- wow. I tried the beet salad, which doesn't sound that exciting, but it was delicious!
Prices are very fair especially for the area. Overall, a solid neighborhood spot to chill out. Oh and they have live music sometimes too :) -
Review from Anup P.
Chicago, IL
Stopped by CULTUREfix with friends while I was visiting NYC. Great wine and beer selection, unique tapas that hit the spot. I highly recommend the pound cake! Ari and Cole were very welcoming and great to talk to while we ate and drank.
