Walter M.
Yelp
When you look at the location and the name and the menu there is a bit of a identity crisis. The name would suggest raucus partying like Halligans or somewhere in the Viagra Triangle, but the menu suggests elevated pub/gastro esque and the bar has cocktails that sound worthy by name only. I mean what's going on here. While they are brand new and finding their foot I can't help but notice, but the drinks scream Tavern/Pub along with the TV's. Yelp makes it difficult as there is no difference in a cocktail bar and craft cocktails.
I feel like John Taffer came in here and tried to rescue this, but the owner relapsed or whoever consulted on this place has only worked at 1 craft cocktail bar because the set up kinda makes sense, but doesn't have the direction/vision of someone seasoned. It's a new face to LP and it's close to my place.
Food was slightly elevated bar food, think fast casual. $42 dry aged rib eye is a steak I was too skeptical to get and yet to also mention no one dry ages choice, but unaged prime would be took expensive, then I thought well it might just be the eye and no spinalis. My worry did not overpower my curiosity. Lobster rolls, but Chicago style got the best of my. It's a great concept as far as creativity, but the toppings overpower the simple yet elegantly bold flavors we expect from any lobster roll. Fries were good, under salted though. They could have warmed the plates to hold temp a little better, just because it's spring isn't a reason to change protocol.
Service was great, bar staff was nice, prices were affordable to maybe even cheap.
The drinks were all riff's on classics, single ingredient swaps with a proper garnish. Nothing elevated or complex, but those names sure sound inviting. This has the signs that someone took a menu from somewhere else and tweaked it for this place and the owner changed the names. There is no vision. I tried getting a Black Manhattan because even though they are new I didn't trust their vermouth. None to be found. I love the deep grate, but it's not really a storage for glassware. A little saline, a little acid, some house made ingredients and a few cocktail books would turn this place around.
Hopefully they curate the experience a little better rather than mish mash things. I wish the best for them. I'll be back because frankly for me patio season makes me want to travel less than when it's dead of winter. I spent my 20's trying to find myself, hopefully they don't take that long.