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| - Simply put, I loved it.
The rebranded Avenue Club and Bubble Up Bar has been given a much needed facelift but stayed true to their mid-century roots with both the decor and menu.
The space is peaceful, sleek and modern, yet comfortable and not at all pretentious. We attended a pre-opening event the Friday before their planned Sunday public opening. They said there were a few furniture items yet to arrive, so they will continue to enhance the decor.
The cocktail list is diverse and impressive. The menu includes pictures of the drinks, which I thought was a nice touch and practical. I love bubbly cocktails and quickly gravitated to theirs. They also premix a tiki drink and one other and have them kegged. We shared samples of both and they were excellent. The tiki drink is a great throwback to the mid 20th century cocktail party vibe.
The food we sampled at different stations throughout the night was excellent. They make their own hummus, chicken pate and wonderful bread, including a pretzel bread. I was particularly fond of the hummus and the lightly pickled vegetables for the bahn mi. Throughout our visit, servers brought around samples of many menu items. The fish fry was so good and the slaw was perfect. My husband even loved the slaw, and he's usually critical of slaw. I also enjoyed the pork chop sample very much.
The staff working were all eager to explain the food and drinks and were genuinely excited about the opening and how great the menu is. I loved their enthusiasm. The Food Fight leadership team there were great and welcoming. The sense of pride they all have in the food and the space was infectious. That, more than anything else, makes me look forward to my return trip.
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