We stopped by With Love, Valentina for their grand opening party. The event lasted throughout the afternoon and evening, offering something for everyone, including activities for children earlier in the day. It was a very gracious and impactful way to announce their entrance into the town scene.
We did not arrive until later at night when they had a lovely acoustic guitarist and singer performing for the crowd. The decor was very different from the rustic, bar-style vibe of its predecessor, Northern Soul. Now, the atmosphere was much more refined and classy with brighter lighting and elegant furniture. The bar area was surrounded by comfortable tables and lounge areas, making it more of a place to linger.
We were able to grab two seats at the bar after another party left. While we did not have any food, we saw that they offered a variety of shared plates and boards, pizzas, pastas, and some other personal entrees. We did, however, order drinks. It took a while to get the attention of the bar staff, but, once they finally came to take our order, they apologized and said it was due to it being a busy opening event, which we understood. Many of their custom cocktails were on the sweeter side, so I just opted for the Mouthy Mom's Spicy Margarita, which included LALO Tequila, pineapple, and a "spicy liqueur". I found that the beverage had a great blend of smoky, fruity, and herbaceous notes. I heard that they made a great Manhattan as well.
I enjoyed the happening, sophisticated energy at With Love, Valentina and will need to return to try more of their menu offerings, particularly from their food list. read more