"Present Tense is where you go when you want to look extremely cool. The crowd is made up of people effortlessly rocking rare Japanese selvage jeans and Uniqlo sweaters. Plus, the eclectic indie records on rotation feature some funky, obscure choices. When it comes to the food, this Japanese izakaya and sake bar in the lobby of an Aparthotel is dishing up wonderfully shareable small plates like kombu steamed koshihikari rice, chicken and foie tsukune, and koji chicken frites. These aren’t things you readily see around town, and at Present Tense, they’re done really well. Aim for one of the booth-style tables where you’ll have a bit more privacy for conversation over a bottle of sake. They also offer a 20-course omakase option with the chef at a small bar in the back for something a bit more special." - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones
