Engine No.9 Bar and Grill (56 Dr. M.L.K Jr. St.) has expanded with a speakeasy-style bar hidden behind the building, although speakeasy may be the wrong word here. It is more like a classic neighborhood social club. Owner Jason Esposito, gregarious, hospitable, Italian, calls it Engine No. 9 Reserve. He explains that “Reserve” evokes dual meanings: reserve, as in high-end, and reserve, as in reserve a room.

Indeed, Engine No.9 Reserve keeps the wine selection top-shelf, and the entire space can be rented out for private gatherings. “After my dad died,” says Jason, “I wondered what kind of place he would want to go for Christmas. I wanted something elegant for myself and my family, but open to everyone.”

Complete with cozy mood lighting, intimate seating, and enough red wine to warm the most cold-blooded, Engine No. 9 Reserve is stylistically and functionally distinct from the main bar up front. Where the busy front bar functions as a “sports bar where you can bring a date”, the Reserve is more intimate, and serving small plates inspired by Tuscany and Florence with your drinks, much like an aperitivo bar where you unwind in a relaxed moment.

Sample the Reserve room before the official opening

Engine No. 9 Reserve held its soft opening on Aug 9, allowing its first 20 guests to sample the space. “I’m getting the best feedback from regulars,” says Jason. Once the menu, design, and ambiance are set, the space will officially open. That date will most likely fall at the end of September, says Esposito.

The additional square footage from Engine No.9 makes the entire establishment eligible for a liquor license. Both the main and rear bars currently serve beer and wine. Jason reports that he’s in the process of acquiring a liquor license, which will allow them to experiment with a unique cocktail menu for Engine No. 9 Reserve.

In the meantime, curious bar-goers keen to sample Engine No.9 Reverse’s concept before the official opening, may walk in between 6pm–close on Fridays and Saturdays.