‘The Late Late’ Debuts at the Old National Underground Space on East Houston

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Where Gavin DeGraw’s National Underground once served its famous burgers (and music), the Late Late is now operating.

The East Houston nightlife newcomer bid farewell to its purple sidewalk shed this past weekend. It had been a storefront fixture since April, when renovation activity accelerated, and Centre-fuge was tapped to decorate the blight with an illustration of Brigitte Bardot. Now we have our first glimpse of the Irish bar, with its rustic wooden entryway and lion door-knocker. Interior mirrors this decor, channeling the feel of an Irish rural home in the 1960s era.

Named for the progressive talk show of the same name, owner James Morrissey has been promising from the get-go that the Late Late wouldn’t be the typical Irish bar with Shamrocks galore. Instead, it’ll be a more upscale affair targeting “young American professionals.” And small events like poetry readings, but we’ll see if that promise actually pans out, though.

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Photo: Late Late NYC Facebook

Expect eight tapas-style plates with choices like gourmet battered sausage, black pudding with apple sauce, and a fresh ham skillet.

The Late Late opened for business Saturday night at 159 East Houston. It’s worth noting that Rob Ackroyd, guitarist from Florence + The Machine, is a shareholder. So the pedigree of popular music at this address continues…