Walked in on a Saturday afternoon around 3:30. The place was empty as it had just opened up. The vibes are great, cute interior, mood lighting and comfy seats. We just got drinks but I definitely want to try the food next time. I believe they start serving after 5. I ordered the divine wind, okinawa and appley named. If you like drinks that are on the sweeter side, I would recommend the okinawa and appley. I enjoyed all three drinks in their own way. The divine wind had a mango jelly on top that you are supposed to eat before sipping. Fun experience, great service. They also welcomed my dog and gave her snacks. read more

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My enthusiasm for Bar Iris has fizzled out in the last year since I first visited. I think it's still a solid spot to get cocktails, especially for a date night or relaxed hangout with close friends, but with the bar's evolving menu, what I once considered favorites, are no longer featured, so it becomes a guessing game trying to figure out which new drink(s) I'll like, and it's a costly game at $21+ per drink (not including tax and tip). I really think the selling points of the bar are its spaciousness and calm atmosphere. Unlike most bars with music blasted so loud, I lose my voice trying to talk to my friends, Bar Iris keeps the music at an ambient level for some background noise, but it doesn't interfere with conversations. The service is also quite good. The staff allowed my group of 6 to pay individually for our drinks, which was awesome. The most cards I've typically seen allowed per group is 2, so Bar Iris is doing it right with the payments process. read more

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When I visit SF I try to explore new spots and often make a point to always go somewhere new. I usually don't go back to the same spot. I landed at Iris after a quick look at their website & Yelp. ..May as well give it a shot. I grabbed a seat at the bar before it got busy and ended up having such a wonderful experience. Sitting at the bar there is like sitting at the bar when sushi is being made. You get to see the whole show & ask questions. I was educated about their drinks and the history behind them and what they were made of. The staff was patient and always took their time to explain my cocktail or ones I was interested in. Everything there is very, very intentional and so much attention to detail. At the same time no pretense. I did have the OYAKO-DON which was spot on. I will have to definitely break my rule and return again next time I am in town. Iris was my highlight of my visit to SF. read more

Bar Iris has the ambiance and class one would expect from the sister bar of Nisei, but it fails to deliver on taste and service. The dishes featured elevated ingredients (e.g., uni, wagyu, caviar) but failed to incorporate them effectively. We also ordered one dish specifically because the menu photo showed it with octopus, but when it arrived, there was no octopus to be found. When we brought this up, the server simply said it was an old photo. The service was unreasonably slow as well, despite the bar being far from full. The drinks were mediocre at best, with the described flavors largely undetectable. read more

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I've been wanting to go to Bar Iris for a while, but it took an 8pm Nisei reservation to get us there. DRINKS: Drinks are strong and unique and complex. Some great options here. I like how the menu explains flavor profiles so you can better pick a cocktail that you will like! I got the Appley Named (fuji apple. shiso shochu. calvados. awamori gin. [carbonated], $21) and my partner got the Barrel #4 (cinnamon smoke. kaiyo 5 wood. hine rare. dok 41. brovo 14. brown rice sake. [barrel aged], $22). I was feeling tipsy after half a drink! There are so many drinks we'd like to go back and try! SERVICE: Service was wonderful. Expect a long line/wait (they are walk-in only), but you can maybe sit at the outdoor heated parklet while you wait. FOOD (pro-tip): Pro-tip--they share a kitchen with Nisei. It's hard to snag a reservation there (also it costs an arm and a leg, as my dad would say) so you can grab food here too! The kara-age (fried chicken) is highly recommended and smelled amazing, but they also have onigiri, uni, a variety of temaki, yaki, dons (rice bowls), and more.) Will definitely be back here for a meal more often than Nisei! AMBIANCE: The interior is dark, romantic, cozy, and upscale. Definitely more of an elevated bar (what do you expect from Nisei!) GETTING THERE: Please walk or take Muni! I can't imagine trying to park around here. read more

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Came here thru a friend's recommendation & absolutely loved it. From the ambiance to service, this was a gem. I would recommend Bar Iris to anyone who enjoys craft cocktails and unique flavors. Service tonight was great and we felt taken care of. Thank you Calvin for making our first visit memorable!!! read more

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Absolutely hands down my favorite, favorite cocktail bar in the city. First, the service - all the waiters and bar tenders are so nice, attentive, and very knowledgeable about their drinks - extra lucky if you get Calvin or Ethan, they are fun! The vibes on the inside are bougie and never over crowded, nice low lighting. Very romantic , would be good for a date ! Drinks change a few times a year but they always revolve around Asian flavors like pear, yuzu, cherry blossom, and many more. I've never had a bad drink here. Well, one I didn't like but they made me a new one immediately no questions asked. Last thing to touch on is the food, MUST get the Tar tar with taro chips and the onigirl. Overall, everything is great a little bit on the price side, but definitely worth it!! read more

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Always love coming here for a great elevated cocktail. I love the way they make and present an extra dirty martini, my favorite, as they make great classic cocktails. they also have a great interesting selection of their own cocktails that are beautiful and delicious. On top of that, the food is from Nisei, Michelin restaurant next door and everything I've had is delicious. The bartenders are friendly and knowledgeable and the vibe inside is dark, but not too loud and fun. It's walk in only! read more

Bar Iris - Dirty martini - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Loved the ambiance and drinks here! Bar Iris is a stylish Japanese cocktail bar that's perfect for date night. I came with a friend to catch up over drinks on a Wednesday night and they were only half full so we were quickly seated at one of their small tables. I got the Mizu Pear with pear water and a mix of vodka, soju and sochu. The drink itself was actually very light and refreshing and the pear really came through. Loved how flavorful it was without being too strong or sweet! We didn't stay long with dinner plans after and only got drinks but I'd definitely come back to try more of their menu! read more

4.5 stars! It's better if you are able to make a reservation if not, if you have a party of 3 or more, it'll be trickier to get you seated without one, which is understandable due to the popularity and size of the bar itself. Wish I tried the food here but we came right after dinner just for the drinks. Tried the Okinawa and a martini here, would say the drinks were quite good! Will come back here for a more updated extensive review of everything they have to offer here because the ambiance is exceptional and intimate! read more

Bar Iris - okinawa - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Great attentive service, romantic vibes for a date night. A bit overpriced for everything, but the quality of the foods coming out of their Michelin kitchen in the back can't be beat. I ordered a hand roll sampler, and got everything I was hoping for: uni, wagyu, and hamachi. They were so fresh and a good portion for the price if you're willing to splurge a bit. I was just a bit disappointed that the drink I ordered, the Appley Named, didn't feel as carbonated as I was hoping for it to be. read more

Bar Iris - Appley Named - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Date: Thursday, August 14th, 2025 Time: around 9pm Party of: 2 *Nishiki Market ($27) *Kochi: n/a hakuto swizzle ($19) *Not a Martini ($21) We walked in without a reservation. Luckily they had a open table and we were seated right away. It took me a while, but I realized this used to be the old La Folie Lounge. Oh how I miss their foie. Anyways... Drinks here are fun and inventive. I wasn't sure what to expect with the NISHIKI MARKET - square watermelon rind. ki no bi gin. istine rosé vermouth. red rice sake. tomato + tamagawa yamahai, but it was kinda refreshing and not too sweet. Just what I wanted at the time. (I had a dark beverage at our previous stop.) The NOT A MARTINI - not made with gin, not made with vodka, garnished with not an olive - sake lees. siete misterios mezcal. sotol. raicilla. mukada nigori sake. jougo. mastic. lu mare. kapriol dell'alpe. sunchoke. snap pea. was a fun play on a sake martini, but stronger due to the other liquors. Our server was great! It's very dark in here so it took a while for me to figure out what I wanted since there's basically a cocktail per page and I had a hard time seeing. Oh, my old eyes! He was very patient and friendly. Great bar if you want a chill dark vibe. Had a lot of fun. REVIEW #3832 read more

Bar Iris - Kochi: n/a hakuto swizzle ($19), Nishiki Market ($27) - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Bar Iris is a tiny space, but we were able to get seated as a walk-in party of 7. It was a Saturday, but an awkwardly early time, so they weren't busy at all. The interior had a casual vibe, comfortable seating, and a funky blue-lit restroom. For drinks, they had an impressive selection of craft cocktails. I chose the Okinawa (non-alc option), which was both beautiful and delicious! I loved that it was fruity without being too sweet. My friend got the Mango Unchained, which looked like a fried egg on a skillet and tasted amazing. We also ordered a few bites to eat - the Wagyu Tartare, Hamachi Temaki, and Chicken Kara-age. Overall, the food was tasty, but expensive for the portion sizes. The Hamachi Temaki was definitely meant for one person but my friend and I shared it - tasty, but not worth $16. I really liked the Wagyu Tartare - both the lotus root chips and soft A5 wagyu. The Chicken Kara-age was easily the most bang for your buck, and was very filling. The chicken was perfectly fried and the fermented chili aioli was fantastic. Overall, worth a visit, but not if you're starving! read more

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Came on a weeknight with a group of friends after work. We had a reservation so we were seated immediately. Service was attentive and they were super friendly (even helped me when I was having difficulty deciding on what I wanted to try). The drinks were really creative and super delicious! Would go back just to explore the cocktail menu more. As for food, I ordered the Omakase (which is probably the most efficient way to get a feel for their menu. if you're new). My main entree was the Oyako-Don, which was fine, though next time I'll probably get some of their Temaki instead. The interior is relatively small, dark, and cozy. Great for a date night or girls night. Definitely check it out! read more

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I've been here a few times now and each time has been a delight! Drinks are superb and they definitely know what they're doing with their creative Asian inspired cocktails. With dim lights and vibey music that's not too loud, this is definitely the perfect date spot! DRINKS: (5/5 stars) The drinks menu has accurate illustrations of the drinks and includes a VERY helpful diagram of each drink's level of sweet, fruity, bitter, umami, spirit, and acidity. The Dew ($19): a refreshing honeydew seltzer. So tasty if you like something fruity Friend of a Friend of a Friend ($20): definitely a sipper! Very spirit forward at first sip but has delightful sweet afternotes. FOOD: (3/5 stars) This was my first time trying their food. Although I appreciated the fact that they even had food offerings, the food left more to be desired. Wagyu Tartare ($20): probably the best dish we had here. I appreciated the ratio of lotus root chips to wagyu tartare. Gimme a bag of those lotus root chips and I'd be happy! Oyako-don ($30): very comforting and heavy with 3 whole egg yolks! With that being said, it was very filling and tasted rather simple like I could have made it at home. It tasted like it needed a punch of flavor. Needless to say it didn't take me to FlavorTown :( Kaisen-don ($35): the better -don of the two! The quality was great but tasted like a standard kaisen don aside from the yummy uni. I appreciated the amount of salty roe in the dish that added more flavor. It could have used more fish because there was just too much rice.. All in all, come and stay for the drinks! One day I'll have to try their adventurous $40 uni cocktail - now just wasn't the time! FYI if you plan to pay with other forms of payment (like credit from a food app), be sure to let your server know in advance before you order! read more

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Amazing cute little bar in SF. Linked up to a sushi restaurant, this sophisticated yet cozy spot has some amazing cocktails. Forget the exact names but the Toysumo Martini was outrageously good- like the best martini of your life. The Smokey whiskey drink was just the right amount of smoke and sweet. Great date night spot. read more

Bar Iris - Martini - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Very nice cocktail bar. Nice cocktail menu. The drinks we had were more spirit forward for me. If you do get the uni drink make sure to mix it, we didn't know and ended up with all the uni at the bottom. So didn't get to experience full potential of the drink. read more

Bar Iris - Uni - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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bar iris is a modern Japanese cocktail bar that also serves food. It's located on Polk St, right next to Nisei, their sister restaurant. I've already had an amazing experience at Nisei in the past, so I was curious to try bar iris. The space has a sleek, high-end vibe and feels inviting. I went for dinner and tried the omakase menu. To start, I ordered a cocktail called the "DEW", made with dew melon and vodka. It was beautifully presented and tasted refreshing. The menu began with a small bite of maki topped with ikura and some tsukemono (Japanese pickles). Then came an omurice with ikura (yes, again). For the main dish, I had the oyako-don, a chicken and egg rice bowl, though they also offered a kaisen-don option (with squid, if I remember correctly). At the end, an ice cream was served for dessert. Since I felt the menu was missing some fish, I added a hamachi temaki à la carte during the meal. The oyako-don was too heavy and not very exciting, I couldn't finish it. I don't think it was the best suggestion for an omakase main. I think this place is better for enjoying cocktails and maybe some finger food, rather than a full dinner. read more

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What a fun place from the atmosphere to the drink selection-- mainly the drink selection! Went without a reservation with one other person and we waited about 30 minutes before getting a seat inside. (They also have a small parklet that is usually empty if you don't mind sitting outside.) We ordered three drinks and both of our favorites was this corn cocktail. From the first sip to the end, the flavors really transform. The ending flavor that lingers and opens up is this toasted corn flavor. It's light and leaves you wanting more. A huge plus is the artist on the menu! I love her, Maya Fuji, and was so pleased to see her drawings on their menu. read more

Bar Iris - "corn cocktail" - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Really nice people watching spot on Polk. Loved the one drink I got the apricot barrel which was - I'm not a cocktail connoisseur but it was just a beautiful mix of flavors you wouldn't imagine in a cocktail. I got to try the other drinks such as Hakuto swizzle (peach), angelfish. They all were sweet and salty and yeah go to bar iris. It's pricey but their cocktails are a work of art. Go if you feel like a splurge. read more

Bar Iris - Apricot barrel - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

We've been to Iris many times and usually love it, but this visit was disappointing. The server was unfriendly, unhelpful with the menu, and made us feel unwelcome. We asked him to throw away an empty Starbucks cup so it wouldn't take up space on the table while we ate, and he told us to get up and throw it away ourselves in a trash can outside, around the corner of the bar. For a premium-priced place, the service should be much better. read more

Food: 1/5 Drink: 3.5/5 Environment: 4/5 All food are premade and not freshly cooked. Do NOT order sea food because they are not fresh. I never saw a Don with such many rice...Fried chicken are not evenly warmed lol... Drink not bad, menu looks fun but not as surprised as how they look on the menu. read more

Bar Iris - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Bar Iris has been on my list of SF bars for the longest time, and I was so happy to finally try them on a Sunday evening. We arrived around 5:30pm and were able to get seated immediately, but the bar quickly became full after a few minutes. Everything on the menu looks phenomenal. I really like how their drinks are inspired by Asian flavors and ingredients; it was so difficult to choose! We ended up going with The Dew and Hakuto Swizzle. I absolutely loved The Dew--it tasted like a melon cream soda but still managed to be strong. The Hakuto Swizzle had such a complex combination of flavors and felt almost savory. The service was also great! Our server checked on us several times to make sure we had enough water and didn't need anything else. The ambiance is quite nice for both a date or girl's night. Overall, I was impressed by my visit, and I highly recommend trying them out! read more

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Came here on a friday night around 9pm with no reservation just as a bar spot was opening up. Place is small and almost always crowded but bar seating is convenient. Ambiance: dim lighting and japanese themed decor, giving chill sit down fancy vibes but not pretentious. Tried the okinawa ($19) which was a berry flavored rum. It was refreshing and well balanced but not strong at all. Also tried the dew ($19) which was neutral tasting but pretty good. I'm not a big fan of the drinks I tried. They fell flat to me and weren't worth the price. Also the bartender made a few comments to me that made me pretty uncomfortable. read more

Bar Iris - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Fantastic bar! I sat at the bar and was amazed at how much of the spirit selection I didn't even recognize (this is a HUGE compliment). Drinks were phenomenal and pretty true to the chart - the descriptions were pretty accurate. Mostly went for some bites before a show and had the karrage, shishito peppers and potato salad all of which were delicious. Karrage was super juice, potato salad was solid (and came with thin potato skins), but the favorite was the peppers. It's pretty rare to find stuffed shishitos and I'm glad it lived up to my expectations. Portions are well sized so I was nice and full with a few dishes between the two of us. Honestly it was pretty busy even for a Wednesday so it's definitely a great place to go. Loved the interior, well decorated with fantastic mood lighting. The bar isn't huge, but felt the seating was arranged in a way that made it spacious and cozy. Decently lively but not over the top. Well maintained bar, knowledgeable and sweet service, all around a great experience. Can't wait to keep coming back and try most food/drinks! read more

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We came when they opened at 3pm on a Saturday. Service was a bit slow as it took 20 minutes to get our drinks when there was only one other party at the time. Their drink menu was very unique and several drinks caught our eye, but my partner and I decided on the Mango Unchained and the Tsukemono Martini. The flavor profiles of both were pretty on point. We weren't a huge fan of the Tsukemono Martini, but it was Umami and Spirit-forward as stated. The pickle that came with it was tasty and cleansed the palette. The Mango Unchained was very cute-- it looked like a fried egg on top-- and it tasted fruity but not too sweet (which is a compliment). They have some pretty high quality cocktails, but could definitely improve on their service. read more

Bar Iris - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

So many fun drinks to order from that tastes great. I also love that you can order a drink off the menu if you give the bartenders an understanding of the flavor profile you like to drink with the preferred alcohol. The only con was that the kitchen closes at ten! I wanted to try some of the food from The menu but was informed that they already closed the kitchen. Can't wait to come back again read more

Bar Iris - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Very cool cocktail program next to a fancy schmancy Japanese spot. Awesome, unique cocktails with Asian influence. I mean how many places in the world showcase a cocktail with actual uni inside, and pull it off well? Friendly staff. Chill vibes. read more

Bar Iris - Uni cocktail - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Incredible Japanese bar, right next to michelin- starred Nisei. I love that you have the ability to order food from Nisei's kitchen to pair with the beautiful and unique drinks. Loved the layout of the menu -- it explained the flavor profile of each drink with diagrams so you know exactly what you're getting into. I was super curious about the uni drink ($37) but ended up getting their only hot cocktail, the matcha doin'. I didn't know what to expect, but it was actually such a good drink, so warm and comforting on a cold day. The alcohol flavor was subtle and it really just tasted like a cup of hot tea! My partner got the office barrel which was much more boozy but he enjoyed it too. We shared the pumpkin cheesecake ($18) which is beautifully presented and tastes just as good. I wish the portion was bigger for the price but it was honestly worth it -- we devoured it in minutes. The interior is stunning - very dimly lit and modern feeling. The seating is very comfy and feels like you could sit there for hours. I loved that the waitstaff never rushed us; service was on the slower side but it allowed for longer conversation which is always nice. No wait on a Thursday night around 8-9pm either :) new fav bar in SF! read more

Bar Iris - pumpkin cheesecake - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Love Bar Iris - Japanese cocktails! They have a variety of semi sweet and more spirit forward cocktails along with some specialty ones with Uni $$. I will say some flavors aren't as forward like the Pandan cocktail which doesn't come through at all. The snacks are also delicious! Love the Shishito Peppers stuffed with cream cheese :) read more

Bar Iris - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

The cocktails are each individual works of art. The Linda Linda was light and creamy - my favorite combo. You can even make it NA. The Okinawa is fun, creamy and fruity. Perfect for a lighthearted end to the day, dreaming you are on a tropical vacation. The uni you have to try at least once. Complex and flavorful - the richness of the uni comes through without being overpowering. The bar itself is a beautiful, glowing thing designed by Noz Nozawa. It's my life goal to be able to hire her for my home. A lovely, dark place for a nightcap with impeccable service. read more

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Love this place! Every part of the experience was wonderful! Great ambience. Beautiful cocktails crafted with, perfection. Iris has a wonderful staff. read more

Came here on a Saturday at 3PM when they opened. We were the 2nd party to be seated. Good ambiance! Background music is not too loud so it's a good place to chat and drink. Drinks are very unique. Cocktail prices are mostly around $20 except for a couple special drinks We got Tsukemono Martini and Mango Unchained. Tsukemono Martini was salty and very umami. A bit too salty for me (has brine) but presentation is very nice, and it is pretty strong. Mango Unchained is sweet and delicious. It comes with a mango jelly. Would come back to try other fruity drinks! read more

Bar Iris - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

The drinks were amazing, very aesthetic, very flavorful, felt nice in the mouth even better down the throat! out of 4 drinks between my friend and I there were 2 I absolutely loved, which is rare. the egg looking drink was quite Dr. Suess, very cute. Will be returning! (kind of expensive but not more so then everything else in this town) read more

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Ambiance was very calming Staff was very nice Lychee very strong Did not have a real lychee in it but still good. Bathroom was amazing. read more

Bar Iris - Lychee martini - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Drinks: 4 Decor: 4 Service: 4 Came here and sat at the bar after walking in. PEAR PRESSURE pear. nori. genmaicha. christian drouin calvados. veso olive. yuzu sake. pear eau de vie. clarified milk 19 3/5. Interesting and subtle pear flavor with clarified milk. OKINAWA okinawa yam. calamansi. kiyomi okinawa rum. saint james vieux. jougo kakuto. li hing mui 19 4/5. Tasty drink with clear notes of yam, calamansi, and rum. Overall very unique take on Asian-inspired cocktails with pretty presentation. Would definitely come by again. Also want to try out Nisei and the food here. Service was good. Big fan of the menu since it explained the taste profile for each drink. read more

Enjoyed the NINJIN SOUR with carrots. yuzu kosho. coriander. nikka gin. mizu sakura. leopold orange blossom. lemon. amazake foam. Thought the drink was purple but it's just the black cup. The duck yakitori was okay; several better yakitori options in the Bay Area. Service was fast and friendly. read more

Bar Iris - Duck yakitori - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Wonderful Japanese cocktails. Bartenders are attentive and friendly. Loved the music playlist and the entire vibe. Would highly recommend. read more

Bar Iris - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Really impressed with my experience here. The vibes were immaculate. The drinks were delicious! The service was great and fast. We came in on a Friday around 10 and got seated immediately (2). The menu has a variety of options of all flavor profiles. And the presentation is chefs KISS. read more

Bar Iris - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Super cute, grabbed seats at the bar and love their drink menu! They really thought out their drink menu and break it down with key legends for people who have a hard time choosing their adult beverages. I was able to find the beverage profile of my choice and went with the Dew, and I loved it! I appreciate all the artistry and attention to detail in the beverages. Will come back to try food next time. read more

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