The American has a new lounge menu and other weekend possibilities

• This is a date-worthy view.

The American Restaurant (200 E. 25th St., Ste. 400) may not be the first place you think of for having a drink and a small bite to eat, but it should be. The restaurant has redesigned its lounge and relaunched it with a new menu of small plates (pork crackling, chicken liver pate, monkfish, cheese plates, and homemade ice creams and sorbets). The American also offers happy-hour specials in the lounge from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with half-price cocktails, wine and beer.