About
The Modern Duck is a basement bar below the florist on Vesper Lane. We offer a rotating selection of craft beverages as well as some crowd pleasing staples. Our kitchen is small but mighty and our chef pumps out the most amazing finger foods perfect for sharing.
Cocktails
The House Vesper
17
gin, vodka, and blanc vermouth with a lemon coin
Blue Hour
16
gin and crème de violette topped with dry sparkling wine
Steelworks
16
rye and amaro with walnut, stirred long and cold
Navy Strength & Tonic
14
overproof gin, house tonic, and grapefruit peel
The Florist
15
tequila blanco with elderflower and lime
Last Candle
18
cognac and pedro ximénez with bitters
Wine
Champagne, House Pour
18
a grower bottling that changes monthly
Chablis
15
crisp and clean, great with the oysters
Trousseau, Chilled
14
a light red served just below room temp
Riesling, Kabinett
13
off-dry and bright, the kitchen's favorite
Madeira, 10 yr
16
a rich pour for after dinner
Beer
Czech Pilsner
9
a slow side-pour with dense foam
Japanese Rice Lager
8
crisp, light, and easy to drink
English Mild
8
walnut brown and easy going
Local Kölsch
8
brewed six blocks east, served in a small glass
Zero proof
Vesper, Unleaded
10
zero-proof botanical spirit with blanc verjus and a lemon coin
Blue Hour, Dimmed
10
violette cordial with tonic and lemon
Cup of Embers
9
lapsang cordial with soda and orange peel
Small plates
Oysters, Half Dozen
21
served with mignonette, lemon, and brown bread
Gilda Skewers
9
anchovy, olive, and pickled pepper, three to a plate
Devils on Horseback
11
broiled dates stuffed with blue cheese and wrapped in bacon
Steak Tartare
18
hand-cut with cured yolk and potato crisps
Boards
The Cheese Course
24
three cheeses with honeycomb and seeded crackers
Cured & Pickled
22
coppa and saucisson with house pickles and mustard
Tinned Fish Service
19
good tins served with butter and a warm baguette
After eleven
Midnight Patty Melt
16
smashed patty with gruyère and onion jam on rye
Frites & Aioli
9
twice-fried with smoked paprika salt
Chocolate Pot de Crème
10
topped with sea salt and cold cream
Nightly specials
TUESDAY
Vesper Hour
Half price house vespers from five to seven.
WEDNESDAY
Oysters After Eight
A dozen oysters and a bottle of muscadet at a weeknight price.
THURSDAY
The Long Pour
One spirit served three ways, guided by our bartenders.
SUNDAY
Low Lights
Doors open at four and the zero-proof list is half price. The kitchen closes early.
Events
FRI SEP 04 · 8 PM · NO COVER
The Blue Hour Trio
Two sets of quiet jazz by the piano.
SAT SEP 12 · 7 PM · 40, SEATED
Vermouth Tasting
Five pours and a little history, with snacks from the kitchen.
SUN SEP 20 · 6 PM · FREE
Candlelight Listening
One record played front to back with the lights turned down.
FRI SEP 25 · 7 PM · 65, TWELVE SEATS
Supper at the Rail
Four courses at the bar with wine pairings from the cellar.
SAT OCT 03 · 9 PM · NO COVER
The Late Shift
The full late night menu, a guest bartender, and last call pushed back an hour.
What guests say
4.8
★★★★★
212 REVIEWS★★★★★
"The martini cart alone is worth the visit. Dark, cozy, and we ended up staying way longer than we planned."
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★★★★★
"Went on a Wednesday for the oysters and stayed for the piano. We booked the tasting before we left."
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★★★★☆
"Candlelit and quiet, exactly what we wanted. Weekends fill up fast, so reserve if you want the banquette."
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Photos from our guests
Visit
Hours
- Tue – Thu
- 5 pm – 12 am
- Fri – Sat
- 5 pm – 1 am
- Sun
- 4 pm – 10 pm
- Mon
- closed