Scott M.
Yelp
I've been spoiled. The experiences that my wife and I have had at The Waiting Room, Kodiak Club, The Everleigh, and many other places has made us accustomed to not only a certain quality of cocktail bar, but, of cocktail bar experience -- especially as it pertains to staff and service.
I realise that Boxing Day may not be the best day to expect the most out of a venue, but, having read such positive things about Gin Palace on Yelp, and having heard of a great visit by a colleague of my wife, I was up for trying it out and seeing what would happen.
Finding the location was easy enough, lights on the ground and a big sign over the door for "GP" made it pretty clear we knew we were there...and the immediate impression I had was actually quite a positive one. Eclectic interior, lots of comfortable looking chairs, great for small groups of people (which actually makes it less ideal for just two people, unless you like sharing your cocktail space (we don't))...
I think one thing that is critical to stress is that this is a *GIN* cocktail bar. If you like a good G&T, you'll be happy. If you like a lot of cocktails where gin is the primary ingredient, you'll be happy. If, however, your wife hates gin because the juniper base reminds her of drinking pine-sol (a disinfectant cleaner) you may be somewhat out of luck.
But that's okay, we're at a cocktail bar, surely if we provide a few suggestions from The Bartender's Choice (iOS app), they'd be able to accommodate. What follows is a conversation that should NEVER, EVER EVER happen in ANY COCKTAIL BAR, EVER.
Me: "Do you know how to make an El Guapo?"
Her: "No..."
Me: "How about a Paper Plane?"
Her: "No..."
..repeat through a few more classics..
Eventually, the waitress/bartender came up with a concoction which was based on something they recently had on the menu, and it was actually quite nice (Tu Madre, which should make Spanish speakers wince a bit, as it did me).
I actually went for the Q Tonic G&T and it was pretty good.
When I approached the bar for the second round, the main bartender was present (I got the feeling the waitress was only filling in till his return)...and I was a bit more hopeful that he'd have some fun suggestions and know some of my wife's favourite drinks.
I was wrong.
And it REALLY disappointed me.
I went for something on-menu, and that was easy enough (and very tasty), but for my wife I again wanted to try a Paper Plane. I had Bartender's Choice open on my iPhone, ready for the inevitable....
Me: ..and for my wife, do you know how to make a Paper Plane?
Him: hmmm, yeah....
But there was hesitance.
So I showed him the recipe from the iOS app.
Him: That's not how you make a Paper Plane.
Me: *BLINK* *GASP*
Me: I rather think it is. The app is written by a bit of an expert (Note: I am dramatically understating the case here. Read on.) Award winning bartender, knows his stuff.
Him: Well, that's not it. What app is that?
Me: It's Bartender's Choice.
Him: Well, it's not a Paper Plane. Sam Ross created the Paper Plane, and that's not it.
Me: This is HIS APP. It is written by Written by Sammy Ross. Inventor of the Paper Plane cocktail. His recipe. Source of the drink.
In other words: I was using the app from the guy who invented the drink I was ordering, his recipe, and was being told by a bartender in Melbourne that it wasn't the right thing.
Worse: They couldn't make it according to the recipe, and would have to fudge some ingredients.
Okay, now, if you've read any of my reviews before you know I LOVE it when a bartender gets creative. Invents. Twists and contorts something to my liking.
But this wasn't that. This was simple substitution. This wasn't art, it wasn't fun interaction with a clearly enthusiastic customer. This was making do.
I'll be frank: I was disappointed. A couple of weeks ago one of the main bartenders at Kodiak Club paid myself and my wife a huge compliment. He said he loves it when we come in because we drink "bartender's drinks" - we like to experiment, to explore, to ask "what if we do this instead?" and we learn and enjoy. We appreciate their art and encourage them to make the most of it.
I didn't get that at Gin Palace. Whilst the cocktails were okay, they weren't inspired. There was almost no sense of "tell me what you like, and we'll have fun" from the staff. Best way to summarise it: It was an awkward first date, and afterwards you realise you don't have much in common.
"I'll call you," you say, as you part for the night. But you won't.