The Peel is located inside the Hotel Fera. The space is on the main level in the back, and is very open and well lit. There seems to be a cool outdoor area with seating, fire pits, and even a water feature!
BAR:
The first thing you see is the big beautiful bar. It's a large square shape with seating on three of the four sides. There are TV's on each side, a nice display of bottles behind the bar, and another display of bottles above your head for decoration.
DRINKS:
They have a dozen specialty cocktails featuring your standard spirits. The presentation on some of these is fun, and there were a handful that I wish I could have tried. You can also order custom cocktails as they have a full bar. There are ~10 options for both red and white wines. They serve 6oz, 9oz, and full bottles. A few of the options are only available as full bottles. There are also a couple sparkling options available in 6oz and full bottles. While I didn't see a beer menu, I noticed around 10 tap handles at the bar.
The cocktails we tried:
- Como La Flor (Teremana Resposado, Grapefruit, Lime, Lavender-Infused Simple Syrup, Grapefruit Soda, Butterfly Pea Flower Tea - $16.50) - This was really refreshing and wasn't overly tart or bitter. It's a beautiful purple color and served with a slice of grapefruit in the glass.
- So Cal Sling (St. George Gin, Luxardo Bianco, St. Germain, Pineapple, Fresh Lime, Bitters, Club Soda - $16) - I was going between this and the Gene Autry, and our server recommended this one. The spirit flavor was there, but not overpowering. Another refreshing cocktail served in a highball style glass with a dried pineapple garnish.
- The Fera (Ketel One, Basil, Cucumber, Mint, Fresh Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup - $16) - This was the replacement drink for one that was sent back. The display on this one is fun with some cucumber slivers on a skewer. She said it was crisp and delicious, and really enjoyed it.
FOOD:
We came with a small group of 3 and decided to order some dishes to share amongst us.
We got:
- Mediterranean Charcuterie Board (Spanish chorizo, prosciutto, capicola, salami, manchego cheese, point reyes cheese, brie cheese, pickled vegetables, olives, grain mustard, crispy baguette - $22) - This thing is loaded. Great value for the price, they definitely don't skimp on the meat. I do wish there was more cheese, but the ones they included were very tasty. We ended up taking a lot of this one home and enjoyed it on the couch a few days later!
- Peel Fish Tacos (Mahi Mahi, sour orange adobo, corn tortilla, citrus, coleslaw, fire roasted tomato salsa, guacamole, lime, chipotle aioli, cilantro - $18) - These were solid. They come with 3 per order, which was perfect for our group size. The fish is grilled, not fried, and has great flavor!
- Crispy Brussel Sprouts (Balsamic, honey syrup, crispy onions, roasted shishito peppers - $13) - There was a lot going on here, but it worked! I liked the crispy onions on top, and don't think I've ever had brussels with shishito peppers.
- Tempura Cauliflower (Sweet chili BBQ sauce, sesame seeds, scallions - $15) - This might have been the favorite dish of everything we ordered. One of our guests is Gluten Free, so she wasn't able to try this one... too bad! We ordered an extra side of the sauce, which was REALLY good. Would for sure order this one again!
- California Hummus (Sundried tomato, cucumbers, niçoise olives, Temecula olive oil - $12) - I only had a few bites of this, but it was tasty. I don't love olives, and it has little pieces of olive spread out on top, which I didn't love. It comes with cute little soft pita pieces, though we added a side of tortilla chips ($4) to accommodate our GF friend.
PARKING:
There is a self-parking lot that is part of the hotel. You grab a ticket on the way in, and are supposed to get it validated before you leave.
OVERALL:
We came with a small group to celebrate a friend's birthday, and had a lovely time. It was a Wednesday evening, and not busy at all-a few people at the bar and a few tables in the dining room. Our server, Bryan, was friendly and made recommendations on favorite / popular dishes. One of the people in our party didn't love the first cocktail she ordered, and he happily replaced it without issue. I would definitely recommend checking out The Peel for some great cocktails and delicious food!
IG: @bbnem.eats