Scott Lynch

The moment has arrived: Wylie Dufresne will open Alder, a “modern interpretation of a traditional tavern,” on Second Avenue tonight.

Funny thing: Mr. Dufresne — who on April 9 will celebrate the 10th anniversary of WD-50, his Lower East Side temple of modernist cuisine — has set up a stone’s throw from Michael White, who’s also in the running for a James Beard Foundation Award this year (the five finalists in the Best Chef NYC category were announced earlier this month). But don’t accuse him of following Nicoletta into the nabe: the Rhode Island native (hence Narragansett on tap) lived in the East Village for 15 years and attended high school nearby, according to a press release.

“The East Village is where I cut my teeth as a kid,” Mr. Dufresne told The Times last month. “I ran around here on a skateboard.”

At Alder, WD-50’s beverage director, Kevin Denton, has concocted $12 cocktails using ingredients like pine-infused rum, grape-must molasses, smoked maple and the like. The $25-and-under menu, overseen by Mr. Dufresne along with executive chef Jon Bignelli (formerly chef de cuisine at WD-50), is no less inventive. See for yourself below.

The 56-seat spot won’t take reservations: it’s open to walk-ins Wednesday through Sunday, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.

DINNER
Pub Cheese
pistachio-fig brittle, Martin’s “potato chips”
9

“Pigs in a Blanket”
chinese‌ sausage, japanese mustard, sweet chili sauce (6 pcs.)
11

Stuffed Kumquats
parsnip-black‌ sesame, merguez sausage (6 pcs.)
11

Caesar Nigiri
romaine, egg yolk, parmesan (4 pcs.)
15

Salmon Tartare
avocado, horseradish cream, risotto
14

Squid Salad
cashew pesto, watercress, red onion
15

New England Clam Chowder
“oyster crackers”
15

Soft Poached Egg
sherry‌ consommé, mushroom, celery, tarragon oil
15

Fried Cauliflower
lemon-almond puree, lardo, cocoa
15

Foie Gras Terrine
poached apple, chartreuse yogurt, english muffin
18

Chicken Liver Toast
cornbread,‌ grapefruit marmalade, chicken skin
17

Fried Quail
banana curry, chinese broccoli, pickled turmeric
20

Black Bass
nori salsa verde, asian pear, jasmine rice
23

Smoked Arctic Char
berbere lentils, apricot, napa cabbage
23

Rye Pasta
shaved pastrami
18

Pork Rib
saffron spaetzle, green apple-celery root hash
22

Oxtail Stew
carrot slaw, fried plantains
21

DESSERTS
Vanilla Ice Cream
arare crisp, red pepper oil
6

Root Beer Pudding
smoked‌ cashews
8

Banoffee Tart
carmelized‌ milk, sour cream, banana nougatine
8

COCKTAILS‌
Piney Pimm’s
Pimm’s, pine, rum, lemon
12

Applethy
vodka,‌ horseradish, green apple
12

St. Marks the Spot*
aquavit,‌ sea buckthorn, carrot
12

Dr. Dave’s ‘scrip pad
rye, yuzu, amaro, smoked maple
12

Love Oolong Time*
tequila, 5-spice, grapefruit, oolong
12

Zereshk is History*
gin, zereshk berry, grape-must, tonic
12

Shamrock Amigo
Irish whiskey, Mexican Fernet, Guinness Head
12

*Spirits Optional

WINE BY THE GLASS‌
SPARKLING
Riesling Sekt
Brut‌ Von Buhl 2009, Pfalz, Ger
9

Champagne
Brut Aubry NV, Champagne, Fr
13

White
Assyrtico
Koutsoyannopoulos 2009, Santorini, Gr
9

Riesling Spatlese
Zilliken‌ ‘Saarburg Rausch’ 2003, Mosel, Ger
13

Chardonnay
Kalin Cellars ‘Cuvee LV’ 1995, Sonoma County, Ca
13

Chardonnay
Arcadian ‘Sleepy Hollow’ 2007, Santa Lucia Highlands, Ca
13

Rose
Pinot Noir
JK Carriere ‘Glass’ 2011, Ore
9

Red
Gattinara,
Marco Petterino, 2000, Piedmont, It
13

Pinot Noir
Vital Vineyards, 2010, Ore
13

Bandol
Domaine de la Tour du Bon 2008, Provence, Fr
9

Megas Oenos
Domaine Skouras 2007, Peloponnese, Gr
9

BEER‌
DRAUGHT
Lager
Narragansett Brewery, Rhode Island
5

Dooryard Cider
Farnum Hill, New Hampshire
7

Black Pale Ale
Bronx Brewery, NYC
7

BOTTLES AND CANS
Shiro Wheat
Coedo Brewery, Japan
11

Headwaters Pale Ale
Victory Brewing, Pennsylvania
7

Sculpin IPA
Ballast Point Brewing, California
7

Marzen Rauchbier
Aecht Shlenkerla, Germany
9

The Yeti Stout
Great Divide Brewing, Colorado
8

Goudenband Brown Ale
Liefmans, Belgium (750ml)
16

SAKE‌
Nigori Ginjo ‘Summer Snow’
Kamoizumi, Hiroshima~Prefecture, Japan
13

Oka ‘Cherry Bouquet’
Dewazakura, Yamagata~Prefecture, Japan
13

Kura no Hana ‘Fair Maiden’
Hoyo, Miyagi~Prefecture Japan
13

Alder, 157 Second Avenue (near East 10th Street)