Little Branch Penetrating the inner cocktail sanctum that is Sasha Petraske%u2019s Milk & Honey on Eldridge Street is like booking a table at Rao%u2019s. But whetting your whistle at Petraske%u2019s new Little Branch in the West Village should be a relative cinch. u201CA kinder, gentler Milk x%x Honey%u201D is how partner (and accomplished mixologist in his own right) Joseph Schwartz describes the subterranean space. Little Branch has inherited its parent%u2019s patented speakeasy feel and devotion to meticulously crafted classic cocktails%u2014big beautiful chunks of ice, retro swizzle sticks, and all. 20-22 Seventh Ave. S., at Leroy St.; 212-929-4360 (from NYmag.com) Bartender mentioned in Food & Wine