Another snazzy one for the books. I don't know if I'd say I enjoy the 'Den of Sin' vibe I get from walking into this place, but if you're a gambler or just like feeling "exclusive," then this is the joint for you. The service, while classy, can be a bit lukewarm, but I find that if you play your cards right and choose to be friendly anyway, your server may just decide to hook you up with a small freebie; or, at least, treat you better. The food menu is on the scantier side, but what they do have tastes amazing. I cannot stress enough that those Truffle Fries are not to be missed. To hell with your waistline!
Now, on to the important part.
Drinks! More importantly, cocktails. Even more importantly, some of the most unique cocktails you will ever try. The menu itself looks like a cross between an alchemist's journal and a kid's illustration book, complete with colored pages and small print that make some of the descriptions difficult to read; especially in that dim lighting. I enjoyed the unique pairing of descriptive titles, such as the 'Night Thoughts' and 'Bright Side,' with accompanying 'Emotions' such as "Imagination" and "Optimism." Technically, some of them aren't actually emotions, but you get the idea. The descriptions will tell you- in a rather colorful way- what the drink is meant to convey, and what the classic equivalent is. Even the glasses have their own stories; and, for a rather exorbitant price, you can take a pair home with you. Hint: The price for each pair is in the higher hundreds. But, hey, it IS Harrods.
Not all of my drinks were amazing; in fact, the first one was meant to be a different take on an Espresso Martini, but the drink was neither brown, nor caffeinated, and was more martini than anything. Talk about a letdown. The 'Bright Side' and 'Night Thoughts,' however, were a rather pleasant surprise. As the name suggests, the 'Bright Side' has a delicate fruity flavor that adds a sense of brightness to it, and comes complete with a lacto-fermented piece of rice paper made with pumpkin. Between the Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition Whiskey, Pink Peppercorn, and Cacao Soda, I couldn't even begin to tell you what I actually tasted in there. I just know it was good. The 'Night Thoughts' was equally as confusing to my taste buds, and it tasted like a more well-balanced version of Benadryl. Not bad, but also not great. A pleasing twist to many of these drinks is that they also come in a non-alcoholic version that sound just as enjoyable to drink as the boozy one. Not that I would know.
I'm sure you get the gist of it by now. The drinks are cray. The prices are high. But, it's an experience you're not likely to forget any time soon. Enjoy! read more