Mark T.
Yelp
... and then the bill came. Two cocktails ran me $71.90 after taxes fees and tip (ahem, service charges). Were the cocktails fantastic? Absolutely! Were they worth the extremely high price tag? Ehh... jury's still out.
Yelp emails are perhaps the only email subscription I still get routinely. Nightcap was somewhere among the dozens of items I hear about, and I decided to make it a Friday to remember, or at least memorialize with Ye Old Yelp.
Down the narrow passageway I went, to be greeted by a door with a brass handle and a doorbell. I rang and was promptly greeted. I made a reservation just in case, and was offered a seat at the bar. At the time, there was one other group of 5-6 other patrons who apparently never learned the concept of "indoor voices" in grade school.... But I digress.
The vibe inside is modern and intimate. The translucent, illuminated bar top and otherwise dark notes gives a modern vibe without being depressing. One problem: if you are seated at the bar, with the backlight and no overhead lighting, reading the menu becomes a challenge without using the flashlight on your phone, which kind of ruins the vibe, to be honest.
Onwards!
I was once in a really fancy steakhouse, and I tried the A5 Wagyu, it cost an arm and a leg, and if I didn't order it, I'd've spent my life wondering. This is similar to how to felt about the T.V. Munson. If I am drinking fancy whiskey and that is old enough to drink, I understand the costs. Still, I'm sure we can agree $37 for a cocktail is steep. As with that fancy steakhouse, I'd be remiss if I didn't, so, subscribing to the 'YOLO' philosophy for a brilliant minute, I went for it.
I can't deny this drink was fantastic. The smoke was more than just for show, as I understand smoke de facto rapid-ages a drink, giving it unprecedented smoothness. The cocktail was not only buttery smooth, but also had just the right whiskey notes to be loved by whiskey and non-whiskey lovers alike. It also had a spot-on level of sweetness and had some silky savoriness too. It isn't oppressively boozy, but enough that you know there's alcohol, and you'll for sure feel it. Oh, and the cherries somehow had the bite of freshly carbonated water.
For my next drink I went for a Bee Bee Q, a savory drink inspired by a hot fried chicken sandwich. You know something? While not a chicken sando-in-a-blender, they did a fantastic job of putting the essence of this comfort food into cocktail form. The sweetness and heat from the honey was very light, and with help from citrus and spices, the piquancy was turned way up. Props for the interesting house-made garnish (a kind of cookie with duck fat?) and for the unique glassware.
Next, I want to highlight their menu, it's unique and cool that each cocktail has a story behind it. However, it would be helpful to have more info on the flavor notes one can expect.
Finally, I want to give credit to the service, which was fast, friendly, knowledgeable, and perfectly attentive without being overbearing.
Final verdict: if I were the Bee Bee Q alone, it would likely be an easy five-star. The Bee Bee Q alone would likely be an easy five stars; however, adding the T.V. Munson makes things a little more fuzzy, for $37 is extremely steep, and a total bill, including a 20% service charge (for better worse) of ~$72 felt high for what I got. I can foresee return visits, though I'd likely be saving their speciality cocktails for special occasions.
