Introduction to BarChef
When it comes to BarChef — the word “bar” may be in the name, but it’s so much more than that. Frankie Solarik, the visionary behind the immersive modernist cocktail paradise — and also a judge on the hit Netflix show Drink Masters — opened a second location for the downtown Toronto-based culinary space in Midtown Manhattan earlier this year. In just a few months, Frankie and his team have successfully created an elegant Empire State rooftop oasis using a sweet blend of science and storytelling.
Bringing BarChef to NYC
The experience of bringing Bar Chef from Toronto to New York City has been absolutely incredible. It was a fairly quick renovation process, it was basically ready to go. As soon as Frankie saw the space, he knew that it would be the perfect fit for their concept and they have this beautiful kind of elongated space here, which is very similar to the space that they have in the Vibe in Toronto. This new addition of this beautiful rooftop here, which opens up at the Empire State Building, they have their modernist counter here, which really showcases all the chefs and the work that they put towards the program. From a guest perspective, you can sit at the counter and see and be immersed into the world of modernists and the modernist cocktail.
Inspiration Behind Choosing NYC
The main inspiration of their expansion into New York City is just the challenge of opening in this amazing city and such an established cocktail community here. That’s an honor. It’s an honor to bring their approach and showcase what they do and what really differentiates their approach to the craft of the cocktail experience. To open in this amazing location, it’s truly a gift and it’s something that they don’t take for granted. Frankie is truly honored to be here.
Menu and Inspiration
They’re all so special. They all have their own contribution to what’s brought Bar Chef to where they are today. The Spring Thaw, for example, is one that they have on their current program. Frankie has actually had guests come up to him following their experience with the Spring Thaw and tell him that the aroma from the presentation made them cry because it brought them directly back to when they were a child and they were able to just smell instantly those same aromatics of being in their grandma’s backyard and playing as a child. As an artist, that’s truly the goal is just to create that emotion in your guests that you’re able to convey such a story through their art. That’s what inspires them every day, to be honest.
Finding Inspiration and Pushing Boundaries
One thing Frankie has noticed with his particular creative expression now is that it’s kind of evolved from being behind the bar and creating cocktails to overall experiences. One of his main inspirations is to see the growth in their team. For him, that’s the top of the top for inspiration creatively.
The Immersive Experience
The goal and the reason they do what they do convey emotion in their guests. Frankie wants guests to come here to BarChef and leave with an entirely new perspective on what’s possible with the cocktail experience, like various textures and flavors and aromatics and visual presentations. There’s always intent with what they do, like the dry ice for example, it’s not just there for this beautiful smoke, it’s there because you know it’s a vehicle of aroma. It’s the idea of utilizing the guests as part of the overall composition to tap into nostalgia, and all these various things to create a visceral experience, something very emotional and special.
Future Plans
Frankie has just finished his second cocktail book. He has a cocktail book coming out in 2026, which is amazing. That’s going to focus on the modernism and the modernist cocktails of what they do. As well, they’re looking at expanding the brand into major international cities so they have a few parties that are interested in bringing the brand to all over the world.
Evolution of Modernist Techniques
It’s very different now versus when Frankie opened a bar chef in 2008. Now, you have more access to information online and videos and tutorials and equipment. The idea of evolution in any medium is kind of expanding on the possibilities so you have access to more tools and more ingredients. For them, it’s always just been a matter of evolving technically, always doing something new, always working with new flavors and flavor pairings. It’s been amazing bringing people on to the team that are very creative, like the beverage director and culinary director and executive chefs, that contributes so much to the program. That’s the key to evolution: it is not a one-man show. There’s around 100 people. They all deserve to be recognized for their efforts so that’s a big part of the evolution of the program for BarChef for sure.
Community Element
Community is a huge element of what they do. Everyone that’s on their team is authentically excited to share their passion and share the love of what they do as a company and philosophy and ethos. For Frankie, that love and that passion translates through to the guest experience. You can taste the love in the cocktails. He’s just so honored and blessed and so proud of the team. He wouldn’t be sitting here. If it wasn’t for every single person, from the dishwashers to the director of operations, every single person is so integral in this company. For him, as a philosophy and main inspiration is that he wants to bring everyone with him as they grow, they’re all going to do well and have a great time doing it.
Conclusion
BarChef is more than just a bar, it’s an immersive modernist cocktail paradise that offers a unique and emotional experience for its guests. With its elegant Empire State rooftop oasis and modernist counter, it’s a must-visit destination for anyone looking to experience the art of cocktail-making. Frankie Solarik and his team are constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with the cocktail experience, and their passion and love for what they do is evident in every aspect of the bar.
FAQs
Q: What is BarChef?
A: BarChef is an immersive modernist cocktail paradise that offers a unique and emotional experience for its guests.
Q: Where is BarChef located?
A: BarChef has two locations, one in downtown Toronto and the other in Midtown Manhattan.
Q: What is the inspiration behind BarChef?
A: The inspiration behind BarChef is to create an emotional experience for its guests through the art of cocktail-making.
Q: What is the role of modernist techniques in BarChef?
A: Modernist techniques play a huge role in BarChef, with the team constantly evolving and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with the cocktail experience.
Q: What is the community element of BarChef?
A: Community is a huge element of what BarChef does, with everyone on the team being authentically excited to share their passion and love for what they do.