East End Hardware was our final stop of the evening, and overall, it was a really cool experience…read more
After dinner at Nancy's Hustle, we walked down the block to East End Hardware because I had specifically looked them up and wanted to try one of their snowball cocktails. Since this was a first date, I loved that we could just walk over, grab a drink, sit at the bar and keep the conversation going.
I ordered the Strawberry Snowball, made with Peruvian pisco and strawberry syrup. It was good, and the portion was definitely large enough to share, which made it kind of fun for a date.
I will say, though, I think I expected it to be a little more "cocktail" and a little less "snowball." There was A LOT of ice, and I found myself wishing there was a little more actual cocktail mixed throughout it. It wasn't bad at all--it just wasn't quite what I had pictured when I decided I wanted to try one.
One thing I REALLY liked about East End Hardware was the selection of board games and card games available to play while you hang out. We initially grabbed Connect Four, but unfortunately something was wrong with the bottom and it wouldn't latch to hold the pieces. So we switched over to Battleship--and that actually turned out to be really cute!
We sat at the bar playing Battleship, sharing our Strawberry Snowball and talking. It added a fun, playful element to the date instead of us just sitting there having another drink. I definitely think the games are a nice touch, especially if you're coming here on a date or with friends.
The atmosphere was great, too. East End Hardware has a cool, quaint, laid-back vibe that makes it easy to settle in and stay awhile.
I'd definitely go back, although next time I think I'd skip the snowball and try one of their regular cocktails instead. But I would absolutely grab another game while I'm there.
Overall, a cool neighborhood spot and a really fun way to end the night.