French Cocktails and Live Music Land on Broadway | Eater San Diego

"Reopened at The U.S. Grant after more than eight decades, I note that Rendezvous occupies a 3,023-square-foot former art gallery with its own separate entrance off Broadway. Conceived by food and beverage director Jeff Josenhans as a French-themed, 'bistro for cocktails' and created in tandem with chef de bar Cory Alberto, the casual counterpart to the Grant Grill offers cocktails and wine starting at $10 and greets guests with a complimentary aperitif of housemade vermouth made with seasonal ingredients. The drink list highlights French spirits and inventive touches — including the Triangle Amoureux (gin, Lillet Blanc, and Yellow Chartreuse) garnished with a fondant disk printed with a Renoir painting — plus shareable punch bowls, classic cocktails like a Vieux Carre mixed tableside from a roving trolley, a traditional absinthe fountain, vintage spirits stored in an antique hotel safe, cask ale, and Normandy cider. The bar even employs an in-house “ice man” who makes 30-pound batches of ice to be hand-carved into spheres, pressed into diamond shapes, or dyed the colors of the French flag. Light snacks will be added next month, such as a bartender’s take on a cheese platter with garnishes that incorporate absinthe, calvados, and chartreuse; Rendezvous will operate Thursday through Saturday with occasional Wednesday pop-ups, live entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays, and an official grand opening party scheduled for Halloween." - Candice Woo