Chef Valentine Howell's current residency at Wink & Nod is outstanding and worth the visit. All of the food we had was delicious and bursting with flavor. The griyot was nice and crispy, and the pikliz added just the right amount of spice and brightness. The djon djon fried rice had a lot of textural components to it that made it interesting. The fish was my favorite of the night, perfectly cooked and the broth it was sitting it was very flavorful. The dark, swanky vibes were spot-on - the chairs were super cushioned, the service was fast and attentive, and the drinks! What a great cocktail program, the base of Wink & Nod's excellence. Will definitely be back again for another date night! read more

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There is an Afro Caribbean pop Up shop at Wink & Nod by black cat eatery, Chef Valentine. The food was so good. We really enjoyed the oxtail ragu, cabbage and diri djon djon (black Haitian rice. Jesse was our waiter and he mixed great cocktails for us. This speakeasy is beautiful inside. I will be back! read more

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Wink & Nod is an incredible spot! The cocktails are truly top-notch -- creative, well-balanced, and always delicious. The atmosphere is amazing too... it's such a vibe from the moment you walk in. The service is friendly and attentive, and the whole experience just feels special. Definitely a place you'll want to come back to again and again. Highly recommend! read more

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The atmosphere here was beautiful and that's where the compliments end. The service was very slow and I don't know if it was a bad day but we only saw the server twice. The oxtail pasta was okay but it lacked flavors like spice and salt. I was a little taken aback when I pointed to the menu and asked for the old fashioned. I ended up getting up charged unknowingly. Me and my friends wanted to love this place but we all agreed that one star felt accurate. It wasn't at all a welcoming experience. read more

Wink & Nod - Oxtail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

First impressions... they really are terribly important. I stopped in for drinks and apps, ordering a Campfire Old Fashioned, and the Agua Chile Tartar. Good news: the drink was potent and flavorful. In my opinion, its uniqueness shone more on the nose than on the flavor. If you enjoy whiskey drinks and are already here, might as well. Otherwise, not something I would call a destination. Less-than-good news: The Tuna Tartare. Its undoing was a lack of contrast. The sauce, garnishes, and avocado all failed to make an impression or offer something to elevate the dish from being a monotone and lackluster - at $26 to boot! I wouldn't be myself if I didn't mention the plantain chips. These were so uninteresting, I almost left it out of the review entirely. Thin plantain chips, fried, and salted. Nothing mind blowing or remotely remarkable. When it comes to service, the bartender was friendly, attentive, and my items came out fast. As for the vibe, I can best describe it as upscale, uncrowded speakeasy. Final verdict: Despite my critiques, I do believe W&N isn't mediocrity in restaurant form. As such, I would be open to giving them a second chance, especially since their food menu and chef changes occasionally. read more

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I really loved the moody ambiance here. My drink was beautiful and delicious as well. As a matchbook collector I loved that they had matches here too! I went as a walk in on a Wednesday and was seated right away. Great spot, will likely be back read more

Wink & Nod - Drinks - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Amazing drinks-very creative and tasty! Chef Valentine's Black Cat menu was delicious-lots of warmth (but not too spicy!) and incredible flavors. The service was not what I would expect-she was nice enough but not very engaging and service was a little slow. I would definitely go back!!! read more

This was my second time here, returned because we loved their drinks so much! We tried their food this time around, and although the menu was small, the food was prepared extremely thoughtfully and was scrumptious. Especially the empanada, I think that was my favorite dish! I loved their classic fries, very crispy and tastefully seasoned. The beef was cooked well and the chimichurri sauce was a great topping. Our server was very kind and fun to talk to, adding to the relaxing and moody atmosphere of this restaurant. This place is such a good spot to catch up with friends and although it's pricier, I highly recommend! read more

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We came to Wink & Nod on a Tuesday night, had a reservation but probably could've gotten away with just walking in and being seated. The vibes are nice inside, definitely a speakeasy vibe and decorated beautifully. Xavier took care of us the whole evening and the service was great. We ordered a few rounds of drinks, my favorite was Get Lucky it tastes like a spiked version of the Starbucks peach tea lemonade. The Good Vibrations drink was also super yummy. All of the drink options were so unique and the flavors blended well together, we were big fans of the drinks we tried. For food we had the brussels sprouts and crab cakes, both of which were good. Their version of steak frites came with chile lime yucca fries which were tasty. Overall I would definitely recommend Wink & Nod if you're looking for a lowkey bar with good drinks and great service. read more

Wink & Nod - Old town road (left) and get lucky (right). - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Came here on a Saturday night with a small group. Went to book a reservation on their site, but it said it was booked up. Tried anyways and there was hardly anyone there. Looks like a nondescript office building from the sidewalk. We almost went elsewhere until we ventured in, and it's a mellow-to-the-point-of-somnolent atmosphere. Hardly anyone there, even on what should be their busy night. It's a great conversational vibe. No sports on TV. Slow, unrushed service. Great place for when you want to connect with you you're with, without distractions. Drinks are standard cocktail stuff. I'm not especially into them, and they all came off as generically sweet to me. I asked if they could do one that wasn't sweet and the bartender gamely offered something called a hot-something-or-other. Sounded great. I ended up with a pickle juice cocktail that was fine. If there was anything spicy in it I couldn't detect it. And for over $20, honestly, it should be something noteworthy or amazing. But let's say that's on me and next time I'll just order a glass of wine. read more

Wink and nod has such a great atmosphere. SO hard to find- there is no signage on the front and some of our group went into a random apartment building instead. The drinks were really good, we all loved ours, they were just quite pricey! read more

Wink & Nod - Bar area - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Definitely the fanciest bar I've been to in the area. The drinks are truly made with care and are delicious! The staff was very patient with our large group, and brought out what felt like endless apps (for a corporate event). Not sure what the actual food menu is as I've heard they have a rotating and sometimes absent chef, but everything I tried was great! read more

Wink & Nod - Lilac drink - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Went to Wink & Nod with a group after work and had a great time. It was a Tuesday so the service was a little on the slow side but the waiter was impeccable. He wrote nothing down for our table of 7 but remembered everything perfectly. The drinks were amazing! Super creative and nothing like I'd had before. The food though was so-so. The burrata and the Black truffle Arancini were excellent. For dinner I had the zucchini fritters and tuna cannoli which was simply tuna in a cannoli shell, which just wasn't for me. I'd go back again for drinks and a few apps but would do dinner elsewhere. read more

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We used to love this place, but unfortunately, we won't be back after our most recent visit. This was our favorite speakeasy gastropub. Now it's a regrettable choice for a date night with so many better options in Boston. They were out of ingredients for their signature craft cocktails. The menu is extremely limited. The bartender forgot to serve me the drink I ordered. And the sink in the bathroom wasn't working. Not what you would expect for an upscale Gastropub. I felt sorry for the staff. They were clearly understaffed. Honestly, if they would've just fixed the sink in the bathroom, I would've given them three stars. My message to management: FIX THE SINK in the bathroom! That just nasty. You might forgive a broken bathroom sink at a Cumberland Farms gas station but not at a restaurant with $20 cocktails. This place can't possibly stay in business with the cutthroat restaurant competition in the city. read more

We got espresso martinis, whiskey on the rocks, and a dirty martini - all were great! The service was excellent. The bartender forgot the dirty martini and threw in "something extra" to make up for it. Ambiance was super cozy! Perfect speak easy read more

Exquisite and cozy speakeasy! The food was delicious, my favorite was the butternut squash, the creaminess of the squash paired well with the crunchy grains. I got the So What cocktail, which has Belvedere, hazelnut liquor, chai, coffee syrup and a few other ingredients. I thought it was good, not too sweet, but slightly overpriced for what it was ($18). Not too hard find, and it can get pretty busy, so reservations are recommended. The wait staff was slow and it took a while for them to take our order, give us our check, etc. I also mentioned it was my friend's birthday in the reservation, but it amounted to nothing...which I understand due to how busy the location was. Overall, great ambiance, good food! Will be back to try some of their other drinks read more

Wink & Nod - Cocktail menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Great place to have a high quality cocktail! The bartender and service was great and i actually learned a lot just hanging at the bar asking questions. Ambiance gives off solid speakeasy vibes. read more

Wink & Nod - Cocktail with seasame - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Food and drinks are phenomenal!! From California so has low expectations for the Mexican / Hispanic food lol but it was insanely good! Music was soo good! Overall such a good vibe!! read more

Wink & Nod - Tuna Agua Chile Tartar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

My husband and I always try to seek out speakeasy style cocktail bars in cities that we visit. We lucked out with Wink & Nod, just around the corner from the StayPineapple Hotel. The bar has a simple sign in front (not hard to find but not flashy), and you walk a few steps down to another door for the bar. We walked in at 8pm without a reservation, but we were able to grab one seat at the bar, and about 10 minutes in, another opened up for us. The cocktails we chose tasted great, with pretty garnishes and both cold and warm options for those chilly Boston nights. The only downside was that the drinks took forever to make, because there were only 2 bartenders serving a bar full of 60+ people. I felt bad because it's not really their fault - maybe short staffed that night? - and they were apologetic. (One of the hosts gave me a free nonalcoholic cocktail when the person who ordered it abruptly left.) We kept it to just two cocktails each and called it a night around 11pm. Still a great bar with a nice vibe, but hope they can get more staff. read more

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This place a really just a high end cocktail bar with a limited menu for food. We had to send one entree back because it was cold. Drinks are good but PRICEY. Would I go here again? No. The server was excellent. read more

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This was a terrible experience. I was really excited after reading about this speakeasy with a large whiskey collection and Japanese pop-up menu. So, we came in on a Friday night and asked the host for a table. She expressed that they were busy and brought us to a lounge area. I had to ask if these were our permanent seats because it was unclear. We liked the atmosphere, though our area had some lights brighter than I like for a speakeasy. I was super excited by the advertising of the large whiskey menu. We were celebrating, so 3 of us decided to each order a whiskey flight at $55. We also decided to order a few apps, but they told us they were out of the tuna appetizer we wanted, so we stuck with edamame and gyoza. The edamame and gyoza came out quickly and we still did not have our drinks. The edamame were described as having yuzu salt but I honestly think it was straight from a Trader Joe's frozen bag. The gyoza tasted like that as well. From this, we decided we would not get anymore food. We still were waiting for our drinks and now our food is getting cold. We now start to get annoyed -- we ordered flights, which involves just pouring the whiskey, not even making a cocktail. We asked the waitress where the drinks were and she was very nice but unsure. Almost an hour passes and still no drinks. Ultimately we told the waitress to cancel the drinks and we left. This was truly one of the worst experiences I've had in Boston or anywhere really, it was almost comical. I hope this was just an off experience but I unfortunately will not be returning or recommending this spot. read more

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Went in here in a Tuesday evening, sat at the bar and it was fairly open. Old-school ambiance, calm lighting - felt classy. Actually reminded me of Eastern Standard before they closed, and I say that with love and fondness. Cocktails were expertly crafted and the service was warm and friendly. Great experience overall, I'd be happy to come back anytime. read more

Wink & Nod - two cocktails on a bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Unfortunate... I wanted to give this place a chance with such a cool ambiance (4.5/5), but the tuna crudo cannolis were extremely disappointing (2/5) - room temperature, no flavor in the tuna, overpowered by sweetness of the cannoli that just didn't work. The arancini was fine, not the best I've had (4/5). We ordered a whisky flight and asked if our server could tell us a little about the drinks, but he didn't even know their names, just pointed out they were ordered from light to dark. I understand what the place is trying to be, but they need a menu makeover and some more enthused and knowledgeable staff. If you already know your whisky and aren't looking for a bite to eat, this spot is worth adding to your list. read more

Wink & Nod - Tuna crudo cannoli - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Let me just say that this place has completely changed from my first visit several years ago. When I went last weekend, I literally could not have left the place any faster. Everything was moving at a snail's pace from a service perspective once we were seated but that was really the least of the issues. Starting with drinks, both my dining companion and I had gotten mocktails where the server had just asked for us to describe the flavors we generally like. We gave him the descriptions and when he returned with the drinks, we got no explanation of what was made for us, and we specifically overheard the bartender giving him an overview of what each of the drinks were. I found myself not really knowing what I was drinking - it just felt like drinking pineapple juice since I wasn't able to pinpoint what else was added. It sucks knowing the bartender put effort into crafting these drinks and the server just plopped them on the table and asked if we wanted to order any food. I also want to call out their online menu is out of date as when we asked for one of the drinks on the online menu, we were told that entire section of the menu was no longer served. The food was lackluster at best, we were a little turned off by the service around the drinks so we played it safe and just ordered an appetizer to start. We were willing to overlook the lack of service we were receiving if the food was good. Based on the menu descriptions, we got the arancini and it came out simultaneously overcooked and lukewarm at the same time. It was a single arancini that was overly brown on the outside, but there was a lukewarm clump of cheese on the inside that left you with a weird mouthfeel. While I think the components of the dish were well thought out, the actual execution of the dish was terrible. Based on this dish, we decided to end our dining experience at Wink and Nod - deciding to head to a different restaurant in the surrounding area for entrees and dessert. Even when we were trying to pay our bill, there was a lot of confusion from the service staff. We had asked a member of the team for the check and subsequently gave her our card to close the bill out. We saw her chatting with our server so we figured that she was telling him that our table was closing out - but two minutes after, our server came over and asked us if we wanted to order more food. The Wink and Nod space has so much potential but right now I would recommend any other bar in the area. The decor is well thought out but the entire restaurant was silent when we arrived at 7:30 pm. There was just quiet chatter around the bar area. The ambiance would greatly benefit from some background music - doesn't have to be loud, but the silence is off putting. Overall Vibes - 2/10 Food - 1/10 Drinks - 4/10 Service - 1/10 read more

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Old-style, heavy wood decor, which was beautiful. Great drinks. Okay-minus food (dishes were not very flavorful and we're fairly small for the price charged, see photos. We also had an overpriced, no flavor aranchini, and a tiny portion of Felicia chicken liver with a terrible combination of pita). The surprise of the night were 2 rats(!!!) that were running around between the tables and couches on the second floor! read more

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3.5** We made a reservation for 5:45, and only 2 other parties were there which made it feel awkwardly empty. There also wasn't any music playing so the ambiance was a bit off putting. Also, I wouldn't say it's a real speakeasy as there is signage out front. Feels more like an upscale basement bar. However, the drinks are SO good! The alcohol is so well hidden, but they are strong! Very unique flavor combos too- "the best I've ever had" is cranberry forward, yet subtly amaretto-y. "Autumn leaves" is very refreshing, but didn't strike me as very autumnal. "My favorite things" is a bit stronger on the alcohol, but still a tiny bit sweet, and the bartender lights the cinnamon stick when served. My favorite part of the evening was our bartender Jakob. He was so interesting to talk to and entertained our conversations, and even gave us free cocktails as he was 'developing the upcoming menu' (they rotate by season) and wanted feedback. I can't stop thinking about the strawberry/mint/chocolate bitters one (don't remember the name). I would come back solely for this drink and Jakob. We also got the zucchini fritters, which were decadent and not overly fried. The ricotta cheese has a kick to it, but it's not overwhelming. Overall, knocking off stars for the vibe of the place (it didn't fill up even close to 9pm, so it was just too big and empty), but both the food and drinks menus are incredible. read more

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Went with a group of 5 on a Friday night for drinks before a 7:30 dinner reservation. Between the 5 of us, I think we tried every cocktail on the menu and were not disappointed by any of them. We also got a few small bites which were unique and flavorful takes on some of my favorite things (like gyoza). I honestly saw so many other things we would have ordered for small bites if we didn't have dinner already planned. Our waiter was really sweet and attentive and overall it was a cozy, great place I'd definitely go back to for drinks after work. read more

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If you are looking for GROWN & SEXY, well you've found it! This is exactly, where you take that person on a first date. It's dark and vibey. The they have the beautiful bar area with all of the chandeliers casting a glow throughout the bar. Drinks are A1. The apps are hitting in the way they should. What more could you ask for? read more

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Positive: The vibe and aesthetic were cute, and we were happy with our drinks. Our server, Christopher, was excellent--attentive, knowledgeable, and truly made the experience better. Negative: The reservation was under my name, but my friend arrived first and didn't realize that, which led to some initial confusion. She was eventually seated but felt uncomfortable as the hosts were staring at her while she waited for us to arrive. Later, after we finished dining and were waiting for our Ubers, the same host motioned with his hand to shoo us off, which felt incredibly rude. We've lived in Boston for an average of five years, and we've never had an experience like this--it even made us wonder if race played a factor. We were standing by the entrance and would have understood if he needed us to move, which we did, but the issue was his tone, lack of courtesy, and complete lack of professionalism in using his words. Given the bad reviews and this behavior, it's clear why I won't be returning. read more

Wondered in off the street on very cold night. Entry from street is very unassuming. Down the stairs and into a really cozy vibrant atmosphere. The cocktail list is nice and the bar stacked. Every table was full of laughter and conversation. Didn't eat any food but will be back to see what's good. read more

We arrived 20 minutes early to our reservation. The staff was very accommodating and allowed us to chill and start on drinks in the lounge. We were then seated in the sunken down space by the bar. I liked this spot the best! We tried several different cocktails and each was delicious. Our favorite was the Tea Party which had Earl Grey in it! We did not have any food, but would certainly return again to try it! read more

Wink & Nod - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Wink and Nod is a beautiful speakeasy in the south end. We went there early on a Tuesday evening for my husband's birthday, so it was pretty empty. (Early on a Tuesday is not when a speakeasy is crowded!) But we had excellent service. Everyone was very hospitable and the cocktails we got were delicious. We also enjoyed some of the small plates of their most recent chef. Definitely recommend going there. We'll be back! read more

Pros: I've been to this bar a few times and the cocktails are awesome. The vibe is good for groups or a nice date night. The server for our group, Christopher, was excellent -- he was kind, made great recommendations, attentive to our needs, and enhanced our experience. Cons: The front greeter was extremely rude to our group as we were getting ready to leave. We were waiting for our Ubers in the front, and the host shoo'ed us away with hands to move us out of the way initially. After seating another party, he made a point to come back and ask us to stand to the side, when we were already out of the way of any groups entering the establishment. His tone, lack of courtesy, and dismissive behavior was unprofessional and uncalled for as I have never been treated like that the previous two times I have been to this restaurant or in the 3 years I have lived in Boston. Not sure I will be returning to this establishment to be treated less than with this negative experience. read more

This place used to have good food and great drinks but our most recent visit was quite a disappointment. The drinks were still good but the food menu had shrunk by a lot and one of the items we ordered (chicken tacos) was so bad it ruined the whole experience. We let them know about it but nothing was done to remediate... You can still try it for drinks and ambiance but don't get food. As for us, we likely won't be going back... read more

Great for a drink. Dark and intimate atmosphere with a great whiskey list. Recommend getting reservation for this place.

How lucky are we that we found this place! Apparently they're super busy over the weekends and we happened upon this amazing space by a whim. It's sexy. Very sexy space. Very inviting. Sat at bar and chatted with the chef and bartender. They were extremely nice. Service a++. Ambiance a+++ and Taste+++. Heavy on the craft cocktails. We did have a friend order a mock tail, which was also yummy. I highly recommend starting here for a happy hour with a group or just alone. read more

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A mess from beginning to end. Some of the worst service I've ever had. I've heard the cocktails are good. I wouldn't know, since we waited an hour for one cocktail and second order never came (or rather, eventually we had to just ask them to bring us the check). read more

AMBIENCE: 4/5 - Reminds me of the old school Harvard clubs with the dimly lit lights in a yellow hue gilded in gold. The leather lounge chairs and dark mahogany shelves towering from wall to ceiling is all that you need - Not as hidden as I had hoped for a speakeasy? First time here (have been waiting for the reopen since they closed for the pandemic) but longtime veteran of the speakeasy scene and honestly I thought I would have to work to find this place but there was golden plaque with the name in black letters SERVICE: 3/5 - We were greeted with a smile and was seated immediately. First thought was that it was pretty empty. I knew it was a Monday night but it was a 3 day weekend and I've always heard it was hard to get reservations at W&N so I had assumed it would be bustling even on a weekday night. Granted, they might still be bouncing back from the pandemic. - Glanced at the menu and knew of 2-3 cocktails I wanted to start with but unsure of which order would be better for a progression of flavors in the pallet. I asked the server and he looked confused? when I asked him which ones he would recommend first. He didn't seem to understand what I meant so then I asked him if he could describe the general flavors of the cocktails so then I can figure out which would work first. I feel as someone working in a cocktail bar/speakeasy, all of the staff should be trained extensively on their signature cocktail menu. Even if he didn't know enough to recommend a cohesive order of the tasting, he should at least know enough about the drinks than to reply to me "that's vodka in there" ect. FOOD/DRINK: 4/5 - The Tea Party (4/5) = I'm an all-time favorite of elderflower liquor and gin is my favorite spirit. I definitely tasted the lemon and the earl grey, not so much the allspice. A solid cocktail, but flavor wise it wasn't anything new/inventive that I haven't tried before with gin + elderflower - La Dispute (5/5) = absolutely loved the peach de creama that gave this drink a sweet tang. My friend who is very picky with cocktails liked it too. Good for someone who likes their cocktails more citrus and sweet. Would've preferred to be able to taste the gin a bit more but that's just me, would still order again OVERVIEW: - Glad to finally have a chance to try this place. Moved to Boston 1 year before the pandemic, never got a chance to try it and now it's been closed down for 3+ years or so. Good ambience and solid cocktails, but the drinks weren't as renovating as I had hoped for it to be. The cocktails weren't conversation starters and the staff needs a bit more training but it's still a solid place to catch up with a friend with a good cocktail in hand read more

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Overall decent time but wouldn't go back. Pros: we had a cozy table. Wait staff was lovely. Service was good. Drinks were good and beautiful to look at. Cons: hard to find street parking in the area. Very loud. Zero cellphone service as you're in a basement level building. But the real con is the food. The food is tapas style which I generally love but nothing was all that great. It was overall ok, but not memorable. There was one dish that was so dry and overcooked that we had to send it back and that was the short rib. When we sent it back the waitress was kind as could be and offered to replace it with another item. The steak was very good. Fries were flavorful but over salted. The hummus and pita was delicious but at the same time....it's just hummus, like how hard is that to make well. We got one other dish, similar to an arepa. It was good...but just not worth going back for. At the end of the day their tapas were nowhere near the level of a place like toro, for examp Perhaps this place is really good for just their beautiful, tasty cocktails. read more

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The manager is a class act all the way! The fire alarm went off because of smoke on the sixth floor and after a brief evacuation, he comped all of us drinks and apologized profusely. It's an electric and funky place with great food and drinks and a nod (see what I did there?) to an old-school speakeasy. Good luck with parking (if you drive) but I guess ride-sharing can easily solve that problem. read more