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| - Craft cocktails that shine and american comfort food kicked up a couple notches, all in dark and cozy atmosphere that still feels energetic and bustling. Hard not to attract a crowd with that kind of synergy. As the "new kid on the block" with plenty of social media presence, expect reservations are necessary, unless you dig the roulette of an open bar seat. While parts of a dinner experience here are great, others are a bit more unbalanced, but should get worked out as the kitchen and service staff settle in.
Table service begins with drinks and the delivery of popcorn to your table, seasoned with a little siracha salt and Sazon, a latin spice blend. Great for munching, deceptively easy to continue devouring. The staff will not let your basket get empty, so just be forewarned unconscious munchers.
The drink menu showcases a cocktail selection that is relatively brief but clearly thoughtful with ingredients like cilantro simple syrup and a host of muddled fruits. Bitters also figure in a number of drinks. I tried the Southend Gin and was quite pleased, as this gin-based drink rose above the sum of its parts to be both bright and refreshing, without being too sweet. The wife went darker, with the bar's take on an Old Fashioned. Again, the mix of fruits and rye whiskey was skillful and allowed each ingredient to play its role. Clearly a sipping drink, as it was quite potent. A small selection of local beers and a small collection of wines round out this menu.
To start, we tried the deviled egg appetizer, which comes 4 pieces to an order. They were good, with a nice creamy texture to contrast against the firmness of the egg, but there was nothing really popping here. Given the menu's prevalence of peppers, this felt a bit like an opportunity missed.
For entrees we gave the meatloaf and the chicken a try. Meatloaf was a manageable slab that benefitted from the kick of the siracha ketchup. I had it served with a special side of brussel sprouts and the mojito fries, which are hand-cut fries mixed with mint and lime salt. The chicken came with our picks of mac and cheese and a side of corn. The chicken was a full quarter, with a smooth green sauce very sparingly dolloped along the edge of the chicken. Sadly, it was a bit dry, especially compared to other local restaurants that focus on rotisserie chicken with South American spices and flavors. Upon asking for additional green sauce to help with this, it was a bit of a poke in the eye to find a $.50 surcharge on the bill.
In both cases, the kitchen has a clear penchant for trying to present the protein on top of at least one of the sides. Not sure why, other than the side portions (at least the mac and cheese and brussel sprouts) were quite small. As in, "we could count the number of pasta pieces served in the mac and cheese on 2 hands," small. Same for the sprouts. Both were quite well prepared, just disproportionately small, and this coming from a guy who strongly believes in quality over quantity. The fries order was properly sized, but the very heavy amount of salt used made them hard to devour, even if I did like the flavor combo of lime and mint on my potatoes. Unfortunately this was the weakest portion of the meal and is hopefully something that evolves as the kitchen gets its feet firmer on the ground.
Service was fast and expedient, and I like the "all hands on deck" approach whereby your food and drink are delivered by anyone who happens to be close when the order is pushed out from the bar or kitchen. Even on a Friday night we got in and out in just under an hour. If that sounds a bit rushed, you're right, though our server was always gracious to check in without being too pushy. A slightly more relaxed pace would suit the vibe inside, though, and this is something that should settle down as time wears on.
While this first menu might not be a true foodie stop for truly inventive cuisine, it shows there are many sparks of promise here and the kitchen is led by a team from which great things are expected. So I certainly will come back, sample through more of the menu and then watch as things evolve. The space is great and the drinks are, alone, worth a trip in. With time, and a settling in, this restaurant will be an asset to the city and a welcome addition to dining and drink options in Southend.
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