I recently learned of Oso Felipe on social media and thought it seemed like a cool spot. Then, I…read morenoticed that they were having a Mexican spirits tasting event, which sounded like a fun adventure and a great time to visit. We took a rideshare out there and were dropped off in front of the massive restaurant. We walked inside and were in awe of its trendy, modern Mexican vibe. The main floor offered a dining room and large bar, but we were told to head downstairs for the event. The sprawling basement offered two party rooms, the larger of which included a bar and was where we were sitting. These rooms seemed underdone and unfinished in comparison to the well-decorated upstairs, which might have been because the restaurant was on the newer side.
The tasting was to include six samples and some light bites for an affordable $28. In front of each place setting were six shot glasses, holding two tequilas, two sotols, and two mezcals. Each spirit had been poured to be a mere taste and barely reached a fourth of the way up the glass. The staff leading the event was very fun and engaging, but took us through the six shots so quickly that we were done in moments. However, since the pours were so small, we were all willing to drink more. Per someone's request, the staff also wound up providing small tastings of three Mexican spirit-infused cocktails to enjoy while we continued to talk; we had all made the trip and did not want to cut the night short when we could be mingling with others.
The beverage-accompanying snacks were hit or miss. The Yucca "Tots" were actually fried balls of the starch stuffed with melted cheese. They were delicious! The Salmon Tostadas were round tortilla chips topped with tequila-cured fish, roasted corn, and avocado cream, which combined into something resembling a ceviche. Those were decent and offered a variety of textures, but I thought they were missing some sort of flavor kick. Lastly, the Tortilla Chips were perfectly crisp, but very heavily salted. They served with a "spicy salsa verde" that seemed more like an avocado crema, of which I was not a fan, as well as a red salsa that was deliciously tangy and smokey.
After the event wound down, we went back to the main floor bar to enjoy a full cocktail. My spicy mezcal margarita was made with their house bottle of Del Maguey Vida Mezcal and was fantastic. Plus, the bartender was a delight. We also discovered that there was a third floor that was much more of a lounge with couches, another bar, a photo booth and other items that created a sleeker, more celebratory atmosphere.
Oso Felipe was such an unique and creative spot that offered festive vibes and bold drinks. Their food menu was vast, and I would like to go back to try some of their other items that I would be more likely to select myself.
