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Nolita bar Tom and Jerry keeps it low-key

By David Freedlander | Special to amNewYork

3:40 PM EST, March 8, 2007

Isabel Robayo prepares a drink at Tom and Jerry in Nolita. (Photo by Cat Cutillo)

Tom and Jerry¹s is a neighborhood bar tucked into a side street in Nolita, and an ideal spot to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon or meet up before a night on the town. We spoke with tarot-reading bartender Isabel Robayo.

Why is the bar called Tom & Jerry¹s?
Well, it was originally called 288 Bar, after the street address. But soon after we opened in 1994 some friends of the owner donated all these cups and mugs and saucers that say "Tom and Jerry" on them. Everyone started calling it "Tom and Jerry¹s," so they just changed the name.

Who comes in here?

We get a little bit of everything happy hour after-work crowd, some neighborhood grime, the weekend warriors of course, a lot of computer geeks, sculptors, painters and musicians. We don¹t get the fabulous fashion scene, but we get the escapees who want to get away from that and go to a regular bar. I mean, you are not going to get a lychee martini in here.

Any house drinks?
Well, for Christmas we serve the "Tom & Jerry." It has egg in it, and it¹s a really delicate drink so we only do it once a year. Otherwise, we sell $5 drafts and bottles, $6 well drinks. Weekend afternoons there are 2-for-1 Bloody Marys, and we have $1 off during our regular noon to 7 happy hour. We have a good selection of wine, too. The cool thing about this place is that it¹s open every day of the year. It¹s a true public house. You feel lonely on Christmas, you can come down. Believe me, I¹ve done it.

Who should come here?
Anybody that wants a regular old New York bar experience and not feel like you get all dressed up. It¹s also good to come here with groups [because] we¹ve got a lot of room. Girls can come in here alone and they won¹t be tortured -- unless they want to be tortured, of course.

Anybody famous ever come by?
Celebrities who want to keep it low-key come by. Wednesday used to be Strokes and Drew Barrymore night, but it¹s not anymore. They wanted someplace super chill and fun.

Do you serve food?
No, but we have a huge book of menus. You can bring in your own food if you want.

Who shouldn¹t come?
Anybody looking for a fabulous night on the town. It¹s one of the only bars in the neighborhood that¹s not dazzling and shiny. Everyone come down here now from uptown and they want to fabulous nowadays.

Tom & Jerry¹s
288 Elizabeth St.
212-260-5045