New City Microcreamery may be right on Hudson’s Main Street, but there’s more than meets the eye at this scratch ice cream shop: <> (Less Than, Greater Than), a hidden-in-plain-sight cocktail bar, is right there for those who know where to look.
But let’s start with the obvious – the ice cream. New City Microcreamery is the culmination of a global search for the world’s best; from San Francisco to Northern Greece, no ice cream was left untested. The end result is a cross between the creamy concoction of yesteryear and modern technology at its most delicious. The creative confections start with milk from Mapleline Farm, then come the boundary-pushing ingredients like red wines, rice milk horchata and fresh fennel in surprising (and surprisingly tasty) combinations. Add to that a first-of-its-kind small batch liquid nitrogen process (all of which is on display in the open kitchen), and it’s a game changer.
As if that weren’t enticement enough, hidden behind the shop, is < > (Less Than Greater Than) a East Village-inspired speakeasy that’s like a portal to another world. Guests can watch their drinks and dishes come together from across the soapstone bar or cozy up in the dining room at this dimly-lit cocktail refuge.
The idea here is simple: great drinks, great food. Neatly built cocktails based on revived classic recipes complement a menu of smaller fare like ramen with smoked octopus, tuna poke with house made wasabi aioli. To top it all off (and tie it all together): Spirits in Cream, a liquid nitrogen cocktail program that utilizes fresh ice cream bases from the creamery and craft cocktail know how from the bar to create spectacularly cold and creamy treats.
28 Main Street
Hudson, MA 01749