"You don’t need to know the lore to enjoy a drink at Stray Pirate. But the imagined tale of a pirate ship cursed by a sea witch — its crew transformed into dogs and its vessel sunken to the sea floor — sure makes it a lot more fun. Portraits of distinguished pirate dogs hang on the shiplap walls, holes jutting from the sides give peeks to the ocean and the squids and sharks that lurk beyond. But none of the theatrics detract from the drinks. Traditional tiki drinks are well-executed, but owner and mixologist Chris “Tater” Gutierrez expands on the category, pouring excellent cocktails like the reposado, watermelon, and jalapeno-based Robbing the Gulf and the Hera the Dog with vodka, Svöl Aquavit gin, strawberries, rhubarb, and lemon." - Janna Karel
