Flushing is turning over a new leaf and joining the craft cocktail craze.
The northeast Queens neighborhood has welcomed its first craft cocktail bar on the rooftop of One Fulton Square, a new development located at 133-42 39th Ave.
Leaf Bar and Lounge, owned by Todd Leong and Helen Lee, is an Izakaya-style bar that looks to pair crafted cocktails with Taiwanese and American small plates — also described as xiao-chi or small eats.
The name of the bar represents the growth and change in the Flushing community and as second generation Asian Americans, Leong and Lee aim to showcase the flavors and philosophy of their culture and create a new drinking experience for the Flushing crowd.
The cocktails and food are created by Taiwanese Chef Henry Lin and a team of Chinese American mixologists.
Leaf’s drink menu is comprised of seasonal and botanically inspired cocktails such as The Hellcat made with jalapeno-infused Jose Cuervo Tequila, agave nectar, fresh lime, coriander and smoked red alder sea salt; the Les Fleurs du Mal made with chamomile tea-infused Bird Dog Bourbon, chamomile tincture, fig, basil, chamomile honey and lemon; and the 6-8 Weeks Barrel-Aged Manhattan made with George Dickle Rye and Carpano Antica Vermouth.
The small plates menu is inspired by Taiwanese night-market items and Chinese-American classics. Some dishes made to pair with cocktails include gua bao Taiwanese pork belly buns, hamachi kama yellowtail collar, northern tiger pork and chive dumplings and Taiwanese popcorn chicken.
The décor of Leaf also draws inspiration from the name of the bar as a large tree sits in the center made from reclaimed wood, and roots and branches twisting up toward the ceiling. Leather-upholstered banquets, low- and high-top tables, and a reclaimed-wood bar seating 12 surround the tree.
Leaf also features a glass-walled patio with a view of the Manhattan skyline and a terrace.
For more information, visit leafbarandlounge.com or call 718-865-8158.
