Ravi S.
Yelp
As someone who grew up in Midland (1988-2006), I was greatly surprised to hear that a cocktail bar opened not only in town, but within walking distance of my parents' house (not that anyone in Midland ever walks anywhere). I wasn't sure what to expect the first time I went to the Blue Door, but after visiting the bar several times over the past couple of holiday seasons, I've been impressed with my experiences there.
The Blue door is clearly trying to cultivate an atmosphere that is relatively upscale while still being relaxed and warm. As some critical reviews pointed out, they don't serve shots at all. While this may be a little harsh, it makes sense to me. There are nice bars that serve shots without the place degenerating into a Senor Frogs, but in Midland, I wouldn't chance it.
The cocktails at The Blue Door are quite good, albeit overpriced (I live in the Bay Area in California and you can get an old fashioned of commensurate quality here for a lower price). I do appreciate how they make their own bitters though.
The beer situation is kind of unusual. While they offer an extensive selection of craft beers in bottles or cans, they do not have any beers on tap. I wonder what the reason for this is. Also, $7 for beer in a can is crazy. Again, I say this as someone who currently lives in one of the most expensive cities in the U.S.
I do not recall seeing any wine listed on the menu, nor do I remember seeing anyone drinking wine, so I can't really say anything about that.
It was interesting to see the variety of people at the bar. In most cities that I've lived in, there are generally separate bars for college students, young professionals, and middle aged adults, so I liked how The Blue Door has all groups of people hanging out together.
Lastly, the service that I've had at The Blue Door has been really good every time I've been there.
Overall, this is a fun bar and my go-to hangout spot for when I visit Midland.