Felicia S.
Yelp
We are in town visiting family and my sister-in-law made reservations here weeks ago. We were all excited to go not knowing exactly what to expect. Most of the experience was 5-stars with a couple of less than stellar points to mention.
First, I'm glad I didn't read the Yelp reviews before we went because I would have been disappointed that we did not receive free champagne, as was mentioned in many reviews. Because I didn't know about it, I didn't miss it. Just be aware it seems they did away with that aspect. We received only free water immediately upon being seated, which was refilled regularly. Excellent service!
Ambiance: 5 stars.
See some of the other reviews for a detailed description of the place. The 1920s NYC train vibe is spot on. We loved getting dressed up and enjoyed the atmosphere. I love how they called their bartenders "conductors," and it really seemed as though our bartender conducted our experience expertly!
Drinks / selection: 5 stars.
There's something for everyone here. Whether you like sweet, sour, alcohol forward, shots, bubbly, straight spirits, or beer, there is an interesting selection with fun names. The cocktails are crafted with fascinating flavors and it seems as if the ingredients are infused or mixed in house ready to be included in each cocktail. Even the garnishes are thoughtfully included to complement the flavors in each beverage. I don't typically drink, so I was pleased to have three distinct mocktails to choose from that were not mere afterthoughts or plain juice sugar bombs. They put as much thought and care into these non-alcoholic creations as they did the rest of the menu. I greatly enjoyed my two drinks!
Service: 5-stars
We sat at the bar (more on that in a moment), and our conductor was attentive from the moment we sat down until "last call," when we had to leave for the next party to arrive. He was so patient with our almost machine-gun barrage of questions at the beginning, and came up with an awesome option when my husband said "surprise me," for one of his 5 drinks. Our conductor was friendly and conversational to the level we engaged with him, following our lead.
Comfort: 2 stars.
The train car is small! The seats at the bar are padded bar stools, but they are close together and fastened to the ground. There are no backs to them - just the round stool. My powerlifter 6'4" 270-lb husband had to lean well into my space to avoid crowding the person next to him on the other side. As I looked around for somewhere else to sit, which wasn't an option anyway, none of the places for 4 would've been more comfortable because they are all tiny spots. As a result, I would not recommend going with more than one other person, and know you're going to be crowded together, especially if you're not built like a Barbie doll or horse jockey. Also the A/C kept cycling on and off, which on a cold night in January was uncomfortable. I had to keep putting on and taking off my coat because it ranged from really cold when the A/C was blowing to too warm to keep it on. There's nowhere to hang a coat or jacket or even a purse hanger from the bar, so it was a lot to manage, taking away from the enjoyment of the experience.
90-Minute Time limit: 3 stars.
While we were at the point of feeling about finished anyway, I personally do not like to feel like I'm being kicked out of a place. I get why they do it - the place is very small and unique and I could see how some guests would want to linger, but given the lack of comfortable seating, I think people might naturally just be done anyway.
Food ... none to speak of. Don't go hungry. They have one snack to nibble on that includes olives, popcorn, and cheese but that's it. This is a drinks only kind of place. We knew this going in and had dinner before we went. If you're looking for creative and fun themed small plates to go with your beverages, this is not the spot for you. Sure, some drinks have a tiny piece of chocolate with them, and there are a few ice cream options; so I'd say this place is better for dessert if you want to eat something (and my hubs loved their take on Irish coffee!).
The waiting area called Grey Hen is a whole other theme, also densely packed, with a whole different vibe and creative menu presented in a newspaper. We sat there while waiting for our ride after the train car experience. Again ... no comfortable seating, and there are just 5-6 tiny tables, but the chairs thankfully have backs. Good luck snagging one. Most people sit on the brick half wall or benches against the walls. Servers come to you, which is nice. You can also walk up to the bar... again it's tight and there are few places to sit.
Overall, we had a fabulous evening, despite the lack of comfortable seating. There are enough great things about this place that if you enjoy a craft cocktail in a unique and immersive environment, it's definitely worth a visit with your sweetie or bestie!