Your Only Friend was recommended to me by an Albany friend who had visited several cocktail bars in DC, and this was his most recent add to his favorites list. I enjoyed the vibe here. For some places, a casual, informal, atmosphere works best, and this would be one of those places. When we arrived, there were no available tables or seats at the bar, but within a minute of arriving, someone came over to us and said a few customers at the bar would be leaving in about a minute. Since we wanted to sit at the bar, that was fine, and we were in fact seated a minute later. The cocktails were indeed interesting and tasty and lived up to expectations. We enjoyed conversing with several of the staff, especially our bartender, Walter. The food looked good too, though we had eaten earlier and ordered no food here. We would have ordered another round, but we had driven in. But if you prefer, it's very convenient to a nearby Metro stop. read more

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Came for the drinks, stayed for the food! Every cocktail on the menu is well curated and will leave you wanting more. If you get hungry they have an insane sandwich menu along with some tasty snacks. read more

Your Only Friend - Sandwiches Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Lives up to the hype. Service was prompt, ambiance was elevated casual. Was in town for a conference and went to try the hot nug and cacio Pepe fries. The fries were so unique and perfectly crisp! The cacio seasoning was well balanced and paired so well with the chili sauce. As far as the chicken sandwich goes, think of one of the best ones you can imagine and that's it. Perfect balance of spice, sauce, mayo, pickles etc. Happy I decided to go try it out !! read more

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What a fun place! We were in town for the weekend, found this place online and decided to check it out for dinner since it was around the corner from our hotel. So glad we did! The service was great from the host who seated us to our fantastic server who made some great suggestions. We shared the Pimiento cheese and potato chips - yum - and the Friday special fried fish sandwich which had a really good, light breading and was cooked to perfection. Then we decided to try the Atlantic beach pie based on our server's recommendation - and we're so glad we did! It was amazing with their Dole whip cocktail. Crowded, fun and great food - this place is a winner! read more

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It's nearby the convention center and offers great options for drinks and food! There is a small dining area and bar seating , but it also has a carry out option. We were able to sit at the bar and the staff was attentive to our needs and answered questions about the menu as well as provided recommendations along the way. I had the RPG which was so good! I also underestimated how big the sandwich would be and got the Seattle fries as well. The fries were described as a poutine and were good as well but too much of the same saucy flavors for me at once. The Dole Whip drink is a carbonated drink and was just my speed! I loved it! read more

Your Only Friend - Dole whip drink! - Sandwiches Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

One of my new favorite sandwich spots. The char siu pork was seriously one of the most flavorful sandwiches I've ever had! It was light yet fatty in the best way. Don't sleep on the homemade French onion dip! read more

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Small hole in the wall with sandwiches, fries, dips, and unique drinks. The Midori drink was waaaay too sweet, tasted like a jolly rancher. The dole whip was yummy. Also sweet but smoother. The clean dirty martini was very salty. The pickle juice cocktail was surprisingly good. I'd go again and try some different stuff and food, interesting place. read more

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Arrived right at 11 on the weekend and got a great seat in the window. Service was personable and attentive. Food came out without too much a wait. I'm still dreaming about the cacio e Pepe fries. Also split the RPG and the Nashville chicken sandwich (has a kick to it!!). The bread held up great, large servings, tasted fresh, and the flavors were bold! Would highly recommend! read more

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After a local convention, my girlfriend recommended checking out this spot for dinner, and I am so glad she did. They are known for their sandwiches and there are just a few high tops to eat at. Nestled in the back is a bar that stays open pretty late, and they have some pretty cool looking cocktails. It was full when we arrived, so we had to wait about 10 minutes to go back there, but we were able to order food in the meantime. We got a sandwich, appetizer, and dessert. Hilariously enough, the dessert came first, and we just held on to it until the other things came. The dessert of the day was this grasshopper pie -- yes, a mint ganache with a chocolate pie crust... But we couldn't eat it yet. Our appetizer, the beet salad, arrived. I didn't read the ingredients, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that they used golden beets. We got that right before they called us into the bar area. We got settled dove right in. The flavor of the beet salad was exceptional, and it had a kick to it! As we we're finishing that, our sandwich, the RPG arrived. This is a roast pork sandwich with garlic mayo, duck sauce, bok choy, and more. I was floored by how wonderfully all the flavors went together. It was so delicious! Now the drinks.... Creative, elevated, the reason I like to come out to cocktail bars. I had a Dole Whip, a unique rum and banana drink, and an espresso martini that has tequila... Wow! I was honestly impressed by this place, and did I mention the music was on fire the entire time? It sounds like the owner curated it, but it was literally the kind of old school hip hop playlist I would organize myself. What a spot. I'm eager to return! read more

What a neat little place! We ordered our food at the walk up counter, were given a toy instead of a table number card so the waiters could find us once we were seated, and got off the walk-in waitlist in only 10 minutes. Service was prompt, the sandwiches were great (note that the caul me maybe is served cold and spicy panes con pavo is served hot), the fries were novel (the Calabrian dipping sauce was a welcome surprise), and the drinks were superb. I love a clarified cocktail so when I saw their seasonal drink list included a clarified orange creamsicle, I had to try it and that was truly the best drink I've had in DC. read more

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We loved everything! Our sandwiches were crazy delicious. The flavors in the crispy and juicy vegetarian sandwich were surprising and crave worthy. The servers were really sweet, and the place was very cozy. Definitely going back. read more

Your Only Friend - Sub Club; Cacio e Pepe fries; Crispy and Juicy sandwich; mimosa; espresso martini. - Sandwiches Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The cauliflower sandwich had amazinggggg flavor! The club sub wasn't bad, I did really love the ranch in it! read more

Your Only Friend - Sandwiches Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Excellent food and drinks and absolutely excellent customer service!!! I mean they went out of the way and hit it out of the ballpark!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

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Cool sandwich spot with a walk up counter and small bar/seating area. Love the decor and vibes here and everything on the menu sounded amazing. I wanted to get something unique so I ordered the RPG which includes char siu, garlic mayo, bok choy, and duck sauce. It's a massive sandwich! And loaded with char siu so you definitely get your moneys worth. The first half was good but the sweetness and sauciness of the sandwich was too much for me to finish the other half. If it came with daikon, cucumbers, or some other fresh/crunchy veggie to balance out the sauce I think I would've liked it past the first couple bites. I didn't see they had breakfast sandwiches until after I ordered (they're not on the board) but I'll try and circle back to try one of those next. read more

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Was in town for Spring Break and got to stop by here for a bite. The menu is what drew me in. Turned out to be the best thing I had on the trip. I wanted to try the shallot dip but that wasn't ready yet so I started with the pimento cheese and some cacio e pepe fries. Both were really good. The sauce with the fries had a little kick to it. I ended up getting the Mort & Mootz... and I just thought it was too die for. Easily a top 3 sandwich that I've had and possibly my number one. It was that good. Tried to figure out a way to swing by and get another one before I left but just didn't work out. Anytime I am up in the area, I'll be sure to swing by. If you were looking for a spot to check out, I highly recommend this spot. read more

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We attended an event in the convention center and were looking for a new lunch spot to try. I saw that Your Only Friend had sandwiches and that was the mood (+ they're my only friend). Two areas: a counter to order for take out, then off to the right, a large bar with tables for dine in seating. People here were laid back, great service, and really good food. It was still earlier enough for their brunch menu. I got cacio e pepe fries, a chicken biscuit, and a cider. The sauce that came with the chicken biscuit was like crack. read more

Your Only Friend - Sandwiches Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Tried Your Only Friend for the first time this past weekend and I'm already planning my next visit. We went on a Friday around 4pm - it was pretty full, but we lucked out and grabbed bar seating for our group of three. Small detail, but I loved the hooks under the tables for bags and coats. Such a thoughtful touch. We kept it light with drinks and a few things to share before heading out, and everything hit. The Cool Ranch Onion Rings were wild in the best way - they absolutely do not hold back on the seasoning, and the sauce was so good. The Seattle Fries had me curious (as someone from Seattle), but they totally delivered. The furikake and fish sauce teriyaki combo was unexpectedly perfect. But the real standout? The RBG Sandwich. Easily my favorite. The char siu was insanely tender and the hot duck sauce tied everything together so well. On top of that, the staff were all super friendly and welcoming, which always makes a difference. Definitely a spot I want to come back to - especially with their rotating menu. read more

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I ordered my phone online for takeout. There is metered street parking available, but parking is tight. I had to make a spot and run in and get my food. They have a take out/togo area with some seating along the window overlooking the sidewalk. Just off of that is a dining area. My interaction with them was very limited but the staff was friendly enough. My order was ready when I got there and I picked it up and was back on my way. The restaurant serves some very unique sandwiches and also has a unique selection of fries. I ordered the RPG sandwich, with a side of cacio e pepe fries. The fries were very good. The sandwich was ok. It was a bit too fatty. There were a couple of chunks fat in the sandwich. Don't get me wrong, the sandwich was still good and as I mentioned earlier, the fries were awesome. The sandwhich had a Korean BBQ taste to it, if you were wondering. I recommend checking this place out. They have good food and a chill and hip vibe. read more

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Wow oh wow, this place is amazing!!! Tucked away in DC you'll find Your Only Friend. A small place with big flavor and a very deserving addition to the DC Michelin guide. The inside is small but it's very comfortable, large windows in the front of the restaurant fill the bar area with light. It's decorated in a way that's hard to describe. Lots of wood, almost feels like the Brady bunch. I'm not saying that in a negative , it's just very unique. Service is perfect. They make you feel like you been there a millions times. Quick service and great conversation!! Forget everything else, you're going here for the food. Everything we had was amazing. A couple highlights were definitely the pimento cheese, miso Chex mix. The sandwich was also amazing, although my hot fish sandwich was a little off, nothing that ruined the meal. This a great place, highly recommended going here. It got busy quick so I recommend going early. read more

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Came here for some drinks and eats with some of my friends. We all really liked our drinks! We loved the chicken wings. But the sandwiches were just okay. I got the Mort and Mootz because I love mortadella. Maybe we didn't love the bread selection for the sandwiches. But they were still decent! I'd go for the wings and drinks! Oh I will say we loved our server. She was amazing! Helped us with our selection because we're a little hesitant on a couple of things. She made sure we were happy. read more

Your Only Friend - Mort and mootz - Sandwiches Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Odd little place. Ordered at a window. But had a great chicken sandwich and some unique fries. I would eat there again.

I just happened to walk by and noticed that they were selling a char siu sandwich! By 7:30PM on Sunday, several of their sandwiches had sold out so make sure you come earlier if there's something in particular you want to try. I ordered takeout but it looks like there's plenty of seating inside and could be a fun place to just grab some drinks and chill. The RPG: I had my doubts because this seemed like an American take on a very traditional Chinese dish but I was blown away. I thought the char siu was beautifully caramelized and tasted pretty authentic. It tasted like there was horseradish sauce and the crunchy veggies might have been pickled? Either way, everything was perfect when put together on the soft roll and I would absolutely order this again if I'm in the area. read more

Your Only Friend - RPG - Sandwiches Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Came here for a quick weekend lunch between nails and hair appointment. I was able to sit, have a drink, order and eat half a sandwich, and pay - all in about 45min. I sat at the bar, and there were maybe 7ish tables. The bartender/server (Maria) was so kind and friendly. She recommended the Panes sandwich (which was later reaffirmed by another cute male employee). The martini was good, but not dirty enough for me (it is called clean/dirty so maybe that's why). The sandwich was delicious and filling, I ended up eating the second half for dinner. My only thing was the bread was kinda meh, basic boring; also the sandwich is cold... I think it would be sooooooo much better if the meat was warm, or the whole thing was toasted (that's what I did for dinner). Cute spot for a date. Will definitely be coming back! read more

Your Only Friend - Martini, Panes Con Pavo sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This place has the BEST sandwiches I've ever had. Hands down. So incredibly upset I can't pitch a tent in the kitchen. Sandwiches happen to be my favorite food group, so I am quite discerning. And, don't get me started on the cocktails... they are beyond inventive and tasty. My brains and mouth exploded. I have to also mention the attention to detail with the decor. There is a jar of mayo with a halo in stained glass over the bar. These people are geniuses. They speak my 2 love languages - sandwiches and cocktails. The creativity, the decor, the taste, the amazing service. Mic drop. read more

I was walking by, and kind of hungry so I stopped in. Cute, quaint little restaurant. You can walk in to order, or sit down. The woman making the subs was awesome! I had the The Sub Club $18: Smoked turkey, bacon, Swiss, fancy pants ranch, shreddy letty, shaved onions, parm, dill pickles, soft roll - This was okay, just WAYYYYYYYYYYYY to much parm & ranch for my liking. House Twisted Tea $16 Orange Vodka, French Sweet Vermouth, Lemon Cordial, Southern Tea Came in a little bottle that I poured into a glass with ice. This was good Paid using the scan feature on the receipt. A block away from the Mt. Vernon/Convention Center Metro read more

Your Only Friend - Twisted tea and water - Sandwiches Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Wow! I had to check this place out while I was rooting around for lunch spots when I was attending a conference next door. To my surprise there were several places next to the convention center with writeups in the Michelin Guide, I had to be there! I was a little confused when I came in. There is a counter you can order at and then a dining room with a sign that says to check in at the counter to be seated. When I went to the counter she told me to just go right into the dining room. It's not huge, but there are tables wrapped around a bar. It has a very upscale feel compared to the counter service room. My waitress was very nice and left a large glass of water that I could fill my own cup with - which was great since I ordered the Nashville hot chicken sandwich. My orange cream soda cocktail arrived quick. It was mentioned in the Michelin Guide and sounded delicious and oh my did it love up to the hype! Do I love the fact that I was day drinking? No. But after tasting this delicious concoction I was able to sit more with that initial discomfort. Next up, my side of Seattle Fries arrived. The French fries themselves were perfect. Perfectly crisp in all the right places. The topping? Don't even get me started. Asian fusion fries with furikake and the most delicious sauces- I can't recommend it enough. Although, the other fries on the menu also sounded great. Lastly, my sandwich. I flew a little too close to the sun with the hot mugs sandwich. I'm not a big spicy person and this sandwich was HOT. I guzzled that jug of water down no problem. I feel like I can't do the review justice since it was much too hot for me, but the chicken itself was good, as were the other sauces and the soft bun. So if you can do spice, go for it. But if you're weak like me, pick another fantastic menu option. read more

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This is a special place. All of their sandwiches are so thoughtfully created. They do a great job job with allergies, especially on the Toast app. The bar is always welcoming and the bathroom wallpaper just takes their love for mayo to another level. This is great for a laid back meal where you can just walk in and grab a cocktail. Huge fan of the pep bolo and the onion rings. read more

Normally I am a huge fan of posting pictures with my reviews but unfortunately I was too busy enjoying my drink and good that my camera did not get a chance to eat first. First off the names and descriptions of the drinks are incredible. Huge fan of the Gin and Pickle juice drink. Love both separate and never thought of putting them together, what a mistake that was cause I absolutely loved my drink. Second, the food. OMG the food. I got the Thanksgiving Sandwich and it was outstanding. There were like six other sandwiches I wanted to order and I can't wait to try. I legitimately had to stop myself from ordering delivery from them the very next day. Do not sit on this place. Seriously drop what you are doing and go NOW. Maybe next time I'll get some photos :) read more

The bottom line is definitely get the onion rings... They're probably some of the best onion rings I've ever had! They stay perfectly crispy and the breading does not come off from the onion. Service was fine. I ordered at the counter not realizing there's a separate dining room. The woman who took my order was not overly friendly and relatively short when I had questions about the menu. Ultimately, I decided on the club sub which was an elevated turkey sandwich. It was delicious but definitely a splurge for what it is. One of my favorite details about the restaurant was the Duke's mayonnaise inspired wallpaper in the bathroom and the Uncle baby Billy cut out up front . read more

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This chicky pep sandwich is unbelievably good! I made a delivery order and it looked a bit messy when it arrived but it was so tasty and the right amount of spice. read more

Your Only Friend - Chicky Pep No. 2 - Sandwiches Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I'm surprised with all the high reviews here! The char siu sandwich I got was really disappointing - the bun was not toasted, tasted like it was from Safeway, and there was barely any veggies or toppings? Lots of meat which is never a bad thing but it definitely was not I was expecting with the high reviews. Cacio e pepe fries were on fire though. And the bar area was really cute. Great service. I would probably come here for the apps and drinks, but eat a full meal elsewhere. Bumped up to 3 stars given you should be coming here for a specific thing (aka not the sandwiches but everything else). read more

Subs and cocktails! What an interesting combo you'd think they'd only do one well but I was actually amazed by both the food and the drinks. Perfect place to grab a bite or a drink by the convention center. I was surprised to find the char siu sandwich was actually pretty good. The cool ranch onion rings and tequila Expresso martini is ‍ Great friendly service! Will definitely come back read more

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What a great little establishment! I want to come back because I feel like I chose poorly on my sandwich and wasn't a fan. But their menu is so interesting and I love that they back every menu item. The drinks were incredible! I had the ecto cooler and the clarified orange Julius. Nostalgic without being too pretentious. We also had some of the miso Chex mix and I could absolutely make a meal out of that! read more

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Stopped for a quick lunch. Quick service. Beautiful little table with a window bench. The good was messy but delicious. I don't remember the names but the pickle brined chicken was phenomenal. Will absolutely return! read more

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With the unassuming front we were immediately welcomed (as if friend or family) and quickly seated. What I love is the creativity of the menu. First the ranch onion rings are tremendous. Lots of work has gone into this menu. The combinations are a work of gastronomy art. The ambiance eclectic and we love it. A fun place to eat and hang out! read more

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I had a absolutely wonderful experience at this place. It's half sandwich shop and half bar. I was here with some friends for a toy drive. I love this little cozy spot in the heart of D.C. I really enjoyed myself and kudos to the bartender he was awesome and so were the drinks. I will definitely hit this spot again next time I'm in the city . read more

Your Only Friend - Old fashion - Sandwiches Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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My husband and I were looking to try somewhere new while we were in DC. We went around 6pm and a lot of the popular sandwiches were sold out unfortunately! When you enter the store, there's a deli counter where you can order to go, or you can go in a little more and sit down at the restaurant. We wanted to try the RPG and hot nug. However, we ended up trying the sub club and panes con Pavo. The sandwiches are quite generously big and I like how they cut them in half so we shared. Sub club 10/10 I honestly was not expecting much from a turkey sandwich but I was so surprised with how good it tasted. The bread was soft, tasty and the sandwich was just so good and complimented. The turkey was not dry and I'm usually not the biggest fan of turkey sandwiches, but this one made me wish I had just ordered that. I would come back for this. Panes con Pavo 5/10 This sandwich was savory, however I felt like there was too much going on flavor wise I didn't know what to think. The sandwich was also cold and not what I expected. The hot sauce and the sourness of the cucumber or something pickled just didn't complement it very well. It's a decent sandwich, but not my favorite. Service was great. We were seated promptly. Food came out fast. There is a bar area as well and looks like a cute place for a few friends to come out and eat. It does seem like a place that most people eat and go versus staying for a while. So that's something to consider, however I do recommend this place if you're in the area and around the convention center! read more

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I ordered the chicken nugget sandwich/with bacon. That sandwich was fire, I'm so intrigued by the texture. It was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Perfectly imitated McDonald's chicken nugget. The sauce was great, not overly spicy. Only thing that could make it better was cheese. The service was nice as well, ordered online and the dood was ready quickly. And the person working the front desk was very friendly read more

Your Only Friend - Chicken Nugget Sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This place legit pulled me out of my review writing slump. There's no way I couldn't get on here and rave about how phenomenal this place is! Your Only Friend is a pretty small double sided restaurant in DC, one half being a deli counter style with some window seating & the other side a sit down type restaurant with the bar in the middle! (Pretty fun to watch them make all of their amazing drinks) We walked in, put our name on the waitlist and immediately got to ordering drinks & apps! We tried the Cacio E Pepe fries & cool ranch onions rings. Both absolutely perfect! No greasy mess, or oily residue. Accompanied by super great sauces too! For drinks, this was the kicker. We tried over 6 of their cocktails and not a single disappointment. Each one was better than the last, INSANITY! Ive never ordered multiple different drinks at a restaurant and loved every single one! Probably the best Amaretto Sour Ive had to date. The Twisted Tea was ridiculously delicious! The Midori Ecto-Cooler tasted like a capri sun in the best way possible & the Sherry Appletini reminded me of sour green apple jolly ranchers! We also tried the smoked Cherry Soda and Clarified Orange Julius, both absolutely amazing, and get this... they make their own soda! Soo much fun to watch the bartenders at work! Alright, down to business! The sandwiches were insane. We tried the Sub-Club & the Crispy Juicy (v). The sub club is the perfect beach sandwich, no better way to describe it! And the Crispy Juicy was ridiculously delicious, the hash-brown and carrot combo throws you for the best loop. I say all this to say, go immediately. If you have the chance, this is the best date night/stop in place Ive found in DC thus far. Right down to the amazing customer service. We will be frequenting this place! Can't wait to go back and try more! read more

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A nice sandwich and cocktail spot open near Blagden Alley (but not on the alley side). When you walk in, you see a takeout counter, but look to the right, where they have a deceptively large dining area with a square bar for seating. On a Friday night, we had to wait about 5-10 minutes for a spot to open, but that just gave us time to peruse the menu. The space is nice, dim but full of energy. They have a sandwich focused menu, but don't skip the onion rings. You can get them coated with a cool ranch doritos inspired coating and a side of ranch, which is so genius I can't believe no one else has done it (at least not this good). We tried the hot nug and caul me maybe sandwiches as well. The nug is hot, crispy, and quite spicy after a few bites. Nice flavor to it. The caul me maybe, which has cauliflower, mayo, and crunchy veggies, was a nice chaser because it was cold, cool, crisp, and tasty. The cocktail program is top notch, which is no surprise considering they started inside Columbia Room. I enjoyed the inception old fashioned, a citrusy take on the classic, though several drinks are inspired by sodas and other beverages from childhood. They have an alcoholic ecto-cooler made with midori and cointreau, for example. I tried a rum & clear cola, which I can also recommend. It is rum based with crystal clear cola and acid phosphate. I have never seen another bar serve drinks with acid phosphate other than Columbia Room, so it's nice to see them keeping the tradition alive. Worth a try! read more