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| - After eating next door at the Thai Cottage, we ambled on over to Root 174 for cocktails. Little did we know that we should have parked ourselves here originally and forgone the Thai!!
The small, unassuming storefront opens up to an intimate dining room with a half bar at the back. Though there were many tables open (rather surprising for a Friday night at 8:30), we opted for the bar. We typically enjoy talking to the bartenders, and they always give great recommendations. Root 174 has a unique list of cocktails. I started off with the Royal Oligarchy, a slightly sweet blend of rye, St. Germain, and Cava. I loved the added bubble provided by the Cava. My boyfriend chose the Mezrita as his first (he is currently nursing an obsession with mezcal) and enjoyed the bitterness of his drink.
As we sipped our drinks and looked over a local pittsburgh events magazine, a heavily tattooed man showed up behind the bar and asked how we were enjoying our drinks. After we assured him that they were delicious, we realized he was the chef and owner! We then asked him for appetizer recommendations (who better to ask, right?). We needed some food with substance after our subpar dinner next door. He told us to try the coffee confit duck wings, and when they came out we were so happy to have taken his advice. They were crispy and literally falling off the bone. The coffee rub was slightly sweet and gave the duck a lovely flavor. The skin melted in your mouth. The wings normally come with a vanilla creme sauce, but since it included dairy we asked for it on the side. Our waiter was very helpful and gave great suggestions on other options for me with regards to my numerous allergies.
While we ate, the owner walked around the space and spoke with patrons, even sitting down with some to enjoy a drink. I appreciated his hands-on approach, and his eagerness to please his customers. He has an obvious obsession with Star Wars (you can purchase a Star Wars koozie,ha) and will unashamedly tell you all about it.
After one more delicious drink each, we headed out into the cool night, already planning our next visit to this unique and fun place.
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