As smooth and swanky as a Manhattan but warm and welcoming too–the new Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour opens Friday and is sure to impress. Behind the frost-covered windows in the historic Luhrs Building lies a vintage lounge with a bar menu that includes over 50 carefully crafted cocktails plus beer and wine.
We were fortunate enough to get a sneak peek last week at the space, which is a dead ringer for a time and place where the spirits were strong, and a necktie and pearls were routine.
Though there were several different options on the menu, The Accidental Connoisseur (pictured to the left) stood out among the rest with Carpano Bianco and plum wine stirred with bitters, lemon juice and red wine syrup. What’s then placed in front of you is a citrusy, bittersweet concoction that is the epitome of class and elegance.
The cocktail paired nicely with the beets & eggs dish, which came with peppery roasted beets, hard boiled egg, crisp potato slices and smoked salmon laid over a creamy dipping sauce.
The real show stopper was dessert, which was a modern twist to a campfire classic: Four delicately roasted marshmallows served on top of a graham cracker stick along with a warm bowl of chocolate for dipping.
So while you sip on an old-fashioned or one of their signature drinks, make sure to check out the food menu, which features small bites like the market meat and cheese board, heartier grub like the Tropic Thunder Burger and sweet treats like, well, s’mores.
So cool off this weekend, grab a carefully crafted cocktail and see for yourself what’s sure to become a local favorite. You can read more about the cocktail parlour and its owner, Ross Simon, here.