| rev:text
| - Ordered a round of drinks at The Punch Room on Friday night. I selected Strange Brew, and also had a few sips of the Jack Talk Thai Real Good and the Crafted Punch.
Quality
The evening started with a small sample of the Crafted Punch being served along with a tiny snack. I was immediately impressed as the Punch was probably the best drink of the evening. It managed to highlight the alcohol, while at the same time giving it a fruity edge. I was less enthusiastic about the other cocktails we ordered. I went with Strange Brew, which mixed bourbon with hazelnut milk, and then placed a coffee ice cube in the center. The problem with this however is only the midway point of the drink is it enjoyable. The start is too strong and the end is almost all coffee. And it is hard to love a drink that is only good for a limited span. My girlfriend selected the Jack Talk Thai Real Good, which mixed tequila with chartreuse, lemongrass syrup, and fresh muddled basil. It was overwhelming with basil, and I did not enjoy the few sips I had. My girlfriend liked it, but was far from crazy about it.
Quantity
The drinks were a fair size and clearly used a good amount of alcohol. I also appreciated the small sample of punch provided at the start.
Value
Expect to pay between $17 and $20 for a drink, unless you decide to splurge for the $400 cocktail. You are clearly paying more than you should for the exclusive atmosphere and the fact that it is the Ritz.
Ambiance
The Punch Room is located inside the Ritz Carlton in downtown Charlotte. Found on the fifteen floor of the hotel, it exudes exclusivity and class. Just to enter we had to wait thirty minutes, but after the wait we finally got to enter the mysterious doors. The space itself is dimly lit with tons of candles and a few strategically placed yellow lights. The far end has the small bar, but the rest of the stretched out space is full of leather couches and oversized chairs. Simple artwork and a few bookshelves can be found on the walls, and beads hang down over the windows. We were told the reason the windows were covered was because the view was not very good, but a quick peek showed differently. In the background classical music played softly. There is no doubt that this bar is a magnificent environment to have a drink.
Crowd
When we arrived we were told it would be about a thirty minute wait. I had read it was a small bar, but I was honestly surprised by the wait time. And I was correct because when we finally got inside we found the place nearly empty. Even with thirty seats, they purposefully seemed to only fill ten. While this makes it an intimate experience, I found myself upset that they made us wait when they clearly had space for us.
Service
Beyond slow and with no excuse. Maybe I was doing things wrong expecting my cocktail to come out relatively quickly after waiting for a seat for thirty minutes, but no one seemed to be in any rush. It took nearly an hour for us to get our drinks, which while I am sure take some time, could not have taken that long. The slow wait nixed any idea of ordering a second drink, as we instead struggled to grab the attention of staff to get our check and go. Don't even bother coming unless you have hours to kill.
Parking
Located in the middle of Downtown Charlotte, we just walked over from our hotel. However, for those driving I believe if you valet at the hotel they will validate your parking.
Extra
While the aura of The Punch Room makes it appealing, it just did not live up to the hype. The creative cocktails we ordered did not hit the spot and the aggravating wait and service were very frustrating. I personally enjoyed our experience at the lobby bar better with slightly cheaper drinks and a warm fireplace.
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