Yves Jadot came to New York from Brussels in 1986. He was 18 years old. After a brief stint at the legendary Michelin-starred French restaurant La Crémaillere in Bedford, New York, he moved to Manhattan to make his mark on New York City’s nightlife scene. Unlike many would-be late night impresarios, Jadot managed to distill his dreams into reality with the Yves Jadot Restaurant Group.
Jadot’s first venture, Petite Abeille, was an instant success, despite the fact that he had to sell his car, his watch, and put everything else he had on the line to launch it in 1995. For 25 years, he ran a string of successful restaurants and cocktail bars with partners, but shortly before the pandemic shut the world down, he pivoted to focus on his true passion: cocktails. Jadot has winnowed down his collection to two classic but contemporary cocktail emporiums: Dear Irving (three locations) and The Raines Law Room (two locations).
We sat down with Jadot to discuss the transition and his next delicious launch in the Big City’s backyard.
Question: With such a successful line of restaurants and bars, why did you choose to pare back and focus on cocktail bars exclusively?
Answer: I lived in Manhattan with my wife and two kids, and we had had a weekend house in the Hudson Valley for years. But suddenly my kids were not kids anymore. And owning restaurants is a seven-days-a-week nonstop job. If your chef calls in sick, sometimes you have to head in and get behind the burners. I found that cocktail bars were the best way to stay creative, work with great teams, but not need to be there every single day. If a bartender calls in sick, I don’t have to step behind the bar. I sold my share in the restaurant to my partners, and I love having the ability to trust my teams at Dear Irving and The Raines Law Room.
Q: Are you spending more time at your country house?
A: We moved to our Hudson Valley house full time during COVID. I commute into New York three times a week to visit my cocktail bars and connect with my teams. I wanted to bring The Raines Law Room’s speakeasy spirit and its talented team of mixologists to the Hudson Valley. The entire area—especially in cities like Beacon, Rhinebeck, New Paltz, and Hudson—changed during COVID. We were among many city people who moved to the Hudson Valley, and we all crave a little more of the city here. There are great vineyards here, great restaurants, and a real thirst to take advantage of the bounty.
Q: How are you bringing The Raines Law Room cocktail experience—with its 1920s vibe, tin ceiling, wallpaper, and turn-of-the-century velvet couch vibe—to the Hudson Valley? Not to mention the perfectly mixed cocktails?
A: I have a beautifully restored 1959 Airstream Pacer [travel trailer] that delivers The Raines Law Room experience with a fully operational Airstream cocktail bar. We basically bring Raines to you, anywhere within 100 miles of New York City. I bring in the whole cocktail experience, including our team of mixologists. I work with clients—a lot of weddings, private events, and collaborations—one on one to create individual experiences. People order at the bar, and look inside and it’s been decorated to look just like The Raines Law Room in Manhattan.
Q: What does the experience cost, and do clients have to worry about getting a liquor license?
A: It really ranges. I understand that not everyone wants to pay for the full experience with professional mixologists and an open bar, which is around $25 to $30 a person per hour, depending on what they’re looking for. I can also just bring the trailer to them. They can purchase a one-day liquor permit for us to provide the alcohol or they can rent the trailer, use our bartenders, and provide their own alcohol without needing a permit. I really work with people and try to figure out how to meet their needs and their budget.
Q: What’s next?
A: The initial response to Raines on the Road has been enthusiastic, so we definitely see a more permanent future and space here. I can’t say exactly when and where, but we have plans that are taking shape. There’s great potential here, and some of these cities are really exciting and progressive. I’m excited for the future.
Watch this space for more on Jadot’s remix of the Hudson Valley cocktail scene. And for a taste, head out to Raines on the Road.
