They raised my standard for martinis to the next level! The Dirty Martini came with a side of olives and an oyster, literally the perfect girl dinner. The atmosphere is very chic, and intimate. The drinks were fantastic and the food was great too! We got the Nori Chips & Halloumi fries to split which was perfect for 3 people. read more

Silver Lyan - Martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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One word: Aperol Spritz Jell-O shots... with a Champagne chaser. Silver Lyan absolutely delivers on creativity and execution. From the moment you walk in, it feels like you're in on something special -- intimate, stylish, and just a little mischievous in the best way. The drinks are outstanding. We had a gin "smoothie" where you genuinely couldn't taste the gin (which makes it extremely dangerous), and a blue cheese martini that was shockingly, perfectly balanced -- savory, smooth, and totally addictive. Not pictured were several other equally delicious cocktails that disappeared way too fast. Even the snacks were excellent -- thoughtful and elevated, not just an afterthought. If you're looking for a bar in DC that feels fun, inventive, and memorable, Silver Lyan is it. Already planning our next visit. read more

Silver Lyan - Aperol Spritz Jello Shot with Champagne Chaser - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Amazing cocktails, some food options, cook space. The only bad thing was the horribly uncomfortable seating in the table area. Aside from that, we had an excellent experience. Great service, friendly and knowledgeable server. The sazerac was out group's favorite! read more

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Great service but the prices for the SMALL drinks was excessive. My husband and I stayed for one round and then we hit the road. read more

Silver Lyan - Menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Service was top notch in a traditional speakeasy fashion- we were able to discuss what we like or don't our server guided our selections. My water never went empty and I had a drink lined up before I finished the one on my table. Presentation is detail oriented - look at the drinks and food pics. The snacks we tried were home runs. I would come back for the eggplant - so much flavor with the kimchi. The fried chicken with dipping aioli - mmmmm. We loved the sexy surroundings - velvety smooth ambience. read more

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Unique decor, innovative menu, intimate low lighting digs! The food menu is really interesting and the cocktail menu weaves a story. By far the most impressive item to me was the Aperol spritz Jell-O shots which come in an orange wedge and served with prosecco. Great date spot or to hang with friends! read more

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Wish I could give this place a 3.5. 4 for Drinks were wonderful and absolutely WILD. Some of the ingredients they make up. Some have weird stuff in them. Some are just why-did-you-make-this? But one thing is for sure: VIBEZ. This is the place you go to for drinks and not the food. We had the tater tots and the pizza bites. Neither slapped. The music is way too loud with a dj in the center. The lighting is real real low. There are velvet seats. And you expect John Wick to come out and have a sword fight through the bar and into the kitchen while you sip your drink infused with bee pollen. You feel me? This is the place you bring your out of town friend to be like "yo I have a wild experience for you tonight." It isn't the place you take someone who you expect to have a conversation with. It's either pre dinner drinks or just a drink after whatever event you are headed to. Drink summation: lychee martini for the sweet lovers. Project Manhattan was strong. Perkins purple punch was delicious. We were staying at the hotel so can't comment on the parking. This place fills up FAST so Rez it up. Service was super fast and great recommendations. read more

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God I love Silver Lyan! Perfect place for a celebratory cocktail, date night or impressing out of towners. Service is thoughtful and just truly exceptional. They walked us through the drinks we were interested in, offered recommendations based on our flavor and spirit preferences, and were very accommodating for my friends doing dry January. They had 4 cocktails they could easily make mocktails. I haven't had a bad sip or bite here. The tater tots were perfect and maybe the best I've had!? They also brought us complimentary champagne and nonalcoholic sparkling tea (for those doing dry january) for our celebration :) Swanky ambiance in the basement of the hotel Riggs. You should be drinking here. read more

Silver Lyan - Celebratory champagne - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Our drinks were great I had the manhattan ! The vibe is great for a date and very intimate. read more

I came here on a Saturday and loved this place. We got a reservation pretty early and were sat promptly. The drinks were delicious and the server was so attentive. If you told the server what kind of drinks you wanted, then they'd find a drink you would like to enjoy. It's a very cute vibe, that's placed in a former bank vault. I'd definitely recommend stopping by! read more

Silver Lyan - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Probably my favorite cocktail bar in the area, I LOVE the ambience and menu - there's cute and interesting little stories for each of the drinks, and they even have a little chart showcasing how each of their drink compare in terms of sweetness and strength. The service has always been great as well, all the staff gave perfect recommendations and knew the menu well. Will keep coming back! read more

Silver Lyan - drinks - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Stumbled into here after visiting bar upstairs. Super cool lounge spot with good music and awesome cocktail drinks. Bartenders were fun to chat with while they worked. One of which whose job was solely tasting the product to make sure they were alright before sending them out. Sweet gig! read more

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Worth the price, I don't know how anyone disagrees. This is the absolute height of modern cocktail culture--pushing boundaries, telling stories with their drinks, while staying anchored in the traditions. Teddy was my guy behind the bar, and we started with the Oceanside Fix. Think of it like a Negroni for people who hate Negronis--spirit forward, but the overwhelming bitterness is swapped out for a hint that dies off before ruining the drink. (I hate Negronis.) Next was the Bare Market Handshake, which reminded me of a malted milk ball crossed with a whiskey sour. Perfectly balanced, complex, absolutely lovely. And last was the Silver Apple Martini, which was relatively simple but absolutely perfect. They also didn't forget about the food, unlike some other cocktail-centric bars in the area. The pretzel bites were the fluffiest I've ever had, the perfect bar snack. I wish I was local so I could drink my way through the entire menu! I'll have to settle for swinging by every time I'm back in DC. Love!!! read more

Silver Lyan - Oceanside Fix - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The ambiance is super cute for a chill date night or friend night to have conversation. The oysters were so good and my expresso martini and my server had a sweet drink made for because I said I wanted something sweeter. Our server Steph was amazing !! Loved his energy every time he came over I couldn't help but to smile. Was a great night and a great establishment. read more

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I reckon that Silver Lyan is a speakeasy under the beautiful & grand Riggs Hotel (& Café Riggs). It is mildly historically known to be a former bank vault and the vault door remains before the entrance as a cool olde for aesthetics (as pictured). It certainly adds to the alluring ambiance. If you are looking to go, you MUST RSVP. I made the mistake of just walking up without an RSVP & even the bar was booked. I waited a few minutes but didn't plan on staying long due to having another event immediately after. I was finally seated at the bar. I ordered ceviche tacos & a light cider to snack/drink on. The ceviche tacos, while delicious, we're incredibly tiny for the price point. The guy next to me got a cute expresso martini & let me take a picture of it. Despite the RSVP hassle & tiny bar food portions, I'd like to return again on a date or another solo adventure to explore the cocktails more. It's directly across the street (diagonally) from Gallery Place Metro on the 9th & G Exit. read more

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A fabulous cocktail lounge, very sleek and cool, with incredible cocktail and such a fun staff! It's gorgeous on the inside; very 70s-ish, sleek, and retro kind of cool so it's the perfect spot for a date night drink or to bring people visiting town. The cocktail program is killer. They known what they're doing and do it very well. They craft cocktail that you've for sure never had before and do so vert well! The food is honestly also really great. Smaller portion sizes so good lounge food. They sometimes have a DJ, which is a vibe, and really feels like such a fun spot for a night out with friends. Can't wait to go back, no one else is doing it like them! read more

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The experience is great and the design concept are really cool. You go into a musky hotel walk downstairs to the old Bank vault which is really cool really good playlist of music the whole time. The drinks and food are all based on a storyline or series of different story lines. The bad thing is the drinks are lovely but very low on alcohol content. Ubique concepts drinks the paso flores and the daisy ginger drinks with very little alcohol . The mushroom wraps were nice but disproportionately distributed between the mushroom and mango. The tater tots were good read more

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I was looking forward to slipping into Silver Lyan after seeing a show at Ford's Theatre. Unfortunately, I found out upon arrival that the venue was closed for a private event. Be sure to have back up plans if you're considering visiting this location, as no info about the venue being closed tonight was posted online. I will make plans to visit Silver Lyan at another time & update my review. read more

Silver Lyan - Silver Lyan * private event signage - A sign with a gold-colored frame is positioned on a shiny, gold-colored stand on a dark carpeted floor. The sign reads 'CLOSED FOR A PRIVATE EVENT' and includes additional text about service resumption. The background shows a reception counter with a wooden facade and a patterned carpet, indicating an indoor setting, likely a hotel or event space. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I personally think this is the best cocktail bar in the area. It's inside of a bank vault which gives it a cool speakeasy feel. It's moody and well decorated. There's a large selection of drinks that are unique and perfectly balanced. There are some unique snacks too, most of which are pretty good. Some things did miss, like the Wagyu hot dog being too salty. I liked the martini's that come with lots of extras like oysters. Definitely plan ahead and make a reservation here to start or end the night read more

Want to feel like a spy or a femme fatale? This is your place!! Hidden in an old bank vault is this cool vibes place to have drinks and chill out. We tried the Jell-O shots and they were so fun. Each drink has a story so it's up to you to figure out which one matches your mood and order up! read more

Silver Lyan - Jell-O shot with champagne - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Beautiful speakeasy with creative, flavorful drinks, and friendly staff. I tried to go one time right around the time they opened on a Friday... I had a group of 6 or 7, and we started upstairs at Cafe Riggs. It's a stunning hotel restaurant that we got caught up in, and we didn't get downstairs there right when they opened, and we were too late haha. It's the type of place where you should definitely reserve unless you come on an off-peak day and your party is small. Months later, my friend invited me, and we sat at one of the tables. The lights are dim and it definitely gives grown and sexy vibes. The cocktail book is designed for those optical illusion slide things. There's a combination of more traditional and more unique cocktails, including savory and sweet ones. Having been once with my friend and once solo, I've tried a variety of cocktails with multiple liquors and ingredients, and have yet to find one that I disliked or felt like was overpriced. They have some snacks too, but I've yet to indulge. Definitely add it to your list of great DC speakeasy options, and pay them a visit! read more

Really cool vibe inside here. Server was nice. The whole place was wide open when I walked in and I wanted a table for 1 person. The hostess looked at their tablet and told me they couldn't sit me at a table, but could sit me at their communal couch. I was in and out in less than 20 minutes, so this was stupid. Anyways, drink was pretty good, but definitely felt pretentious. Don't even think there was 1.5oz worth of total liquid in my glass. The ice cube took up 95% of the glass for around $20. I advise to probably skip this one unless you don't care about spending $100 to get the equivalent of two drinks. read more

Silver Lyan - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is a really cool bar and worth checking but I am not sure if I would go back. They had a new menu with super interesting drinks and they were all really good but it's just pricey. It's a great spot for a date night though! Our waitress was amazing and really helpful when explaining the menu and helping us decide what to get. read more

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Don't know why I haven't been coming here more often! This mysterious basement bar on F street has some of the kindest, most knowledgeable, and talented bartenders in the city. The drinks here are inventive and delicious. Everything is good and everyone is very helpful when making decisions I have only had the fried chicken, but that was delicious and I bet the other food is too. Is it on the pricier side at $21-$30 per cocktail I was conflicted on whether I should leave a review or not because I don't want to have to wait in longer queues for a seat, but this establishment deserves the hype read more

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The place was buzzing on a winter, weekday evening, but the host was generous and seated us right away. We had to scoot out in 90 mins so a reservation could have our place- perfect amount of time. Everyone in my party of 4 ordered something different and perfectly to our tastes. Sharp, fruity, dramatic, bitter? Covered. I ordered a Boozeless Lovejoy's Law. Typically, Boozeless (aka virgin) drinks are some form of soda with a splash of additional flavors. They are always carbonated, even if carbonation is also a problem. Not at Silver Lyan. My drink was flavorful, complicated, a really drink, and not at all bubbly. I can't wait to get another. I was also incredibly impressed with how I could hear and be heard in the bar. Definitely a value add from the many loud bars around DC read more

Silver Lyan - Lovejoy 's Law, Boozeless - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I love a good speakeasy and I was thrilled to finally try Silver Lyan last week after grabbing a late Sunday dinner at Cafe Riggs. After dinner with some friends we were in the mood to hang for a bit longer and lucky for us there was a speakeasy right underneath us! Our group of 4 went downstairs around 10 pm and were able to get a table right away with no reservation. We walked through some dimly lit 2 person tables to the back where there were couches and bigger tables for groups. Surrounding the tables were cabinets of trophies, pinks booths, mini lamps, and wood paneling. And on the tables were menus with with cool leaflets(?) to make the pages pop and give you that cutesy speakeasy vibe. Our waiter came by right away and brought us waters while we looked through our menus. I must admit the names and descriptions of drinks are rather unique so you may need a little help making a decision. I opted for the drink that included "sunshine" and tequila because you can't go wrong with those! It was very refreshing and a nice wrap to the evening. I believe they did last call around 11 pm, but I'm not sure if that was just for our table based on reservations or when they close. So we went ahead and closed out and dropped off some chocolate silver coins and we were on our way. Truthfully I get the hype and will definitely be back. I'm a fan of Cafe Riggs and will be sure to add this as my "next spot" moving forward! read more

Silver Lyan - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I just had the best martini of my life. Beefeater wet, served perfectly chilled (but not too chilled). THIS is how a martini is supposed to taste. Come here for the martinis alone, especially if you think you hate them. Everything else we had was great too, including the soft and addictive everything bagel pretzel bites. Great friendly service, didn't feel rushed, loved sitting in a quieter corner of the trophy room. read more

Silver Lyan - Beefeater wet martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

What a cool spot! Located in the basement of a hotel behind cloud printed curtains. We sat at the bar and were greeted with anniversary champagne. Service was great and cocktails were delish. read more

Silver Lyan - My husbands for the manhattan meets cosmo drink and I got the egg white nipple pasty cocktail - The image shows a bar counter at Silver Lyan in Washington, DC, featuring two cocktails: a pink cocktail in a martini glass with a cherry garnish and a creamy drink with a black cross made of what appears to be seaweed or similar garnish. A menu with a stylized graphic of a cocktail glass is placed between the drinks. The background includes bar equipment and a person wearing a blue shirt, indicating a bar setting with a focus on craft cocktails. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Ok so if you know me- you know I REALLY dislike a pre-batched cocktail... my bf surprised me a resi (they're competitive !) and I was SO excited. When I asked for an alteration to the cocktail I was informed they were pre-batched and my heart sank... the server said to tell her what I liked and she could make suggestions.... Lo and behold one of the BEST Passion fruit tequila cocktails was presented to me, and I was stunned. We also did the frozen drink... can't remember its name.... BEST. FOZEN. COCKTAIL. EVER!! On par with the frozen limeade at The Green Zone which is EPIC. We got a second frozen cocktail, and already made plans for our return... (we had dinner elsewhere).... The ambiance was fantastic, fun trophies, comfy furniture, dim lighting, WONDERFUL SERVERS.... ALSO- LEAST EXPENSIVE COCKTAILS WE HAVE HAD AT A HIGH END BAR IN DC.... check them out for sure. read more

Silver Lyan - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Definitely make a reservation! Silver Lyan is in the basement, in an old vault I believe in a hotel. We got the little hashbrowns with sauce and they were delightful. I wish I could have sooo many more. I enjoyed every single drink I had. They were flavorful and were well done with strong flavor profiles. Service sometimes took a little longer than expected but it was a cute place. The couch was a little low however the other chairs were a good height. I don't really understand the trophies concept but it was a fun idea. I would go again if they were to change some of the drinks to try new things! read more

Silver Lyan - Parasol Lunch - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Super cool speakeasy located at the bottom level of a bank recommended by my DC based friend. We all met up here for post-dinner drinks and had the best time. The lychee martinis were incredible and I loved the little chocolate coin they give you at the end. Such a vibey atmosphere with lots of interesting corners to lounge in and enjoy an evening with friends. Service was super quick and attentive as well. Highly recommend and can't wait to come back next time I visit! read more

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Absolutely loved this experience and was so sad it took me so long to make it in. Now that I've been there, you won't be able to keep me away. Ambiance was amazing, people were even more amazing and they have the most unique and flavorful shots - make sure and try them both!! Don't miss it! I love finding a fun vibe where you feel welcome! read more

Silver Lyan - Two amazing lite shots based on classic cocktails. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I just don't get the hype of this place. I've heard so many rave reviews, and I see that they keep winning awards, but I just can't figure out why, except that people in DC love throwing their money away on "vibes." I tried about 4 cocktails on the menu, and they all tasted exactly the same. I wish I was exaggerating. No matter what the spirit or ingredients, each cocktail tasted watered down and exactly the same. I also hate that the cocktails are all pre-made, especially considering each drink costs $20+. $20 for a pre-made batch cocktail is wild to me. Especially when it doesn't even taste good. Our bartender also seemed new to both the bar and bartending in general. She couldn't describe the drinks and didn't even know what some of the ingredients were in the drinks (including what larvae is). She also wasn't familiar with some pretty common classic cocktails, such as an Aviation. Another bartender had to tell her how to make it, and then it tasted horrible the first time she made it. Luckily, that same bartender was able to help her out, and it tasted better the second time around. I know that every bartender can't possibly memorize every single drink out there, but for a cocktail bar of this caliber, I'd expect them to be familiar with at least some of the classics. I've been to almost every cocktail bar in DC, and this one is my least favorite. Perhaps I just came on an off night, or perhaps I'm just not their target audience (in the words of Keith Lee). The host was very nice, and the products in the bathroom smelled lovely, however. read more

Silver Lyan - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The staff was knowledgeable about the menu and helped me choose the perfect drink. The softly lit, cozy atmosphere creates a sense of privacy and intimacy--ideal for a date night or a relaxed catch-up. I'll definitely be coming back! read more

Silver Lyan - A cocktail in a coupe glass, a glass of whiskey with ice, and a metallic table lamp are placed on a round marble table with a reddish hue. The setting appears to be indoors with warm lighting, and part of a person and a bowl of food are visible in the background. The scene suggests a relaxed, intimate environment, possibly in a lounge or bar. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I admire the ambience, the hospitality and attention to detail. Things like the ceiling at the bar to the light fixture choices. My drink of choice for the night was "it's alive 75" read more

Silver Lyan - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Easily one of the best cocktail bars in DC. I've been a few times, probably had about 6 drinks in total, and all but one are standout. What they can do with even a simple apple martini is mind blowing. The snacks are also really good. I loved the seaweed snacks! Plus, the vibe is luxurious, romantic and fun. P.S - the gumball machine outside the bar is free (there's some fake coins in a bowl next to it)! read more

I visited two speakeasy style places while in DC. I highly recommend Silver Lyan. The hotel itself is cool, built into an old bank. The Silver Lyan I think was the vault. It's downstairs and the experience of going from the bright and formal lobby to the intimate and vibey section downstairs sets the tone. I walk in, and they are jamming "when they reminisce over you" by Pete rock and CL smooth. Now that is some speakeasy vibe. Proper underground music in an underground vault. Now we are talking! The obscure music continued. It wasn't all hip hop. Just proper speakeasy underground vibes. The menu had these wonky stories for each drink that were hilarious because they made no sense at all and seemed to have no point! They were just these ridiculous tales. Perfect! I told the bartender by normal mixed drink taste and she whipped up a concoction for me. It was complex, savory, and a bit spicy. It was actually pretty good, but just not my vibe for a drink. She was already prepared for me not to like it but I said it was good. Still, she could sense that I didn't love it and she immediately brought something else. I would have been fine if she charged me for both but they kindly took the first drink off. Second drink was delicious with whisky citrus and bitters if I recall. They were serving a modified menu due to a private party upstairs. I got the Riggs burger. It was fantastic. Just a big ole delicious burger and fries. As the night wore on the music became more upbeat and the crowd poured in. I also had the ceviche and pizza rolls from their normal menu. Rockfish ceviche tacos were mild and delicious. I wish they had home made salsa to go with them is my only complaint. They had bottled hot sauce. The pizza rolls were fine but I'd probably skip them. They were basically cheese sticks with pepperoni. Not sure what I was expecting haha but these weren't bad but nothing exciting either. Service was friendly. They were very busy so It wasn't chatty chatty but they were friendly and fast. We shared a joke and quip here and there. Crowd was fun friendly and social. Silver Lyan is everything Allegory is trying to be and wishes it was. I came back the next night for drinks and had an equally good time. I highly recommend the Silver Lyan. read more

This is the definition of a instagram TikTok bar done right! There's plenty of fun gimmicks like the ~6ft gum ball machine outside with actual gum balls to take and the decor of trophies. Ok, maybe saying this is TikTok bar is a bit much since it isn't the greatest for photos in the dim lighting but they have an eclectic selection of drinks from Jell-O shots to savory cocktails based on women's rights. Is there a distinct connection to their themes? No, but you're going to have fun trying the drinks and exploring the menu while you're here. For my drink, I couldn't help myself. I had to pull from my university roots and ordered a passion fruit Jell-O shot (which came with a sparkling wine shooter/chaser). I thought this was very good for its price, given that everything is going to be pricey in a hotel bar. If you're here with a large group, you should start off the night with this shot. What's more fun than that? Oh and the wait staff was friendly and no complaints there. read more

Second time going to Silver Lyan in as many years, and it never disappoints. Sat at the bar this time and had a blast getting the menu recommendations from Sam, Jo, and Jalal (sorry if I got that wrong J!). I absolutely loved Operations Mindf*ck and the story/process behind it. Truly not a bad drink on the menu, and even the one recommendation I was most skeptical of as a non-Apple loving guy, turned out to be amazing = the appletini. Just a perfect cocktail experience from start to finish, and it really helps that all the bar food is so substantial and delicious so ya can keep boozing on a full stomach read more

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Sat at the bar on 7/23. The operation mind cocktail was tasty but had very little alcohol and was in a small glass with a huge ice cube and too expensive. The Cosmo was OK with very little alcohol. We ordered fries and never received them since our bartender was talking to a guest. When we asked for our bill and told them we did not receive our fries, they tried to give them to us. Over priced for these fancy cocktails with horrible service. read more