So this is a review of their happy hour, specifically, which is pretty solid, especially as far as…read moredrinks. I'd actually been here once before, quite some time, also at happy hour, but never got around to writing a review before it stopped feeling relevant. About a month ago, I had a reason to be in the area during happy hour again, so I decided to stop and try their burger. The burger is solid, though by itself, I'm not sure it's 13 bucks without fries level good. It's a good burger, and the fried mustard is great, but I didn't really taste any (advertised) plantain, nor whatever "chlorophyll aioli" is. As plated, it's like a 4/5 burger, compared to, for instance, my favorite burger place, Sideburns.
It's also the first burger that seemed specifically *designed* to be eaten with a knife and fork, which on one hand really feels, in some way, to defeat the purpose of a burger... on the other hand, if you like spicy hot sauces, the extra star is for their house hot sauces, which I absolutely immediately used all three of to make a fantastic basically smash-burger ahogada. I'm pretty sure this is also the first sit-down restaurant where they just gave me sides of all their house hot sauces by default when the burger arrived, without having to ask for it, which is pretty cool of them. Their hot sauces are extremely good, all three of them. As a hot sauce lover - I would've loved more of all of them.
I was there during a less busy time, obviously, and sat at the bar, so that says less, but anyway, the service was great (was great the previous time like a year ago, too.) I sat down at 5:45 (happy hour is until 6), had a food and drink order in at 5:50, burger showed at 6. (Got a second drink order in right at 6 on the dot too, of course.) There's a second add-on special for a boilermaker if you get the burger, so obviously I did that - I love that it features South American products, an aguardiente and a South American beer (I also like that that it means it's not a boring American macro beer, of course.) I also had the lulo margarita, $10 on happy hour, and great. I love learning about new (to me) fruits you don't see often around here, too. Delicious, though fun fact, it was even more delicious after I added a bunch of the lightest, creamiest hot sauce to it, lol. A non-canon modification that, conveniently, didn't require the bartender's assistance, and which I definitely intend to repeat if I'm ever back there (this is also a note to myself).
It is always a tough sell when I'm in the area, just because it's across town, Bamboo Club is around the corner, and I love Bamboo Club, but anyway, Selva is also solid too, especially during happy hour.
