My experiences have been mixed (hurray for cheesy puns) but keep in mind that the few times I went here was back in 2010. I remember that some of the drinks and ingredients described on the menu ended up sounding and tasting way better in my imagination than they did in reality. I think the price factor plays a psychological role though. Some of the herbal notes are very intense and so be careful when choosing what you order. A waitress brought my group free samples one time which was pleasant.
As the name of this Queen West spot suggests, the man making your drink is a bar "chef", i.e., a mixologist. His name is Franki Solarik and he's earned a reputation by winning mixology competitions and igniting the bar chef trend in Canada. This man is seriously passionate about your cocktails.
All of the drinks are skillfully concocted from an array of spices, herbs, homemade bitters and other unidentified potions sitting stylishly on the bar top. Franki will even personalize drinks based on specific taste preferences but newbies typically start by choosing from the four-page drink list, which includes a section entirely dedicated to molecular drinks. A 45-dollar Vanilla Hickory Smoked Manhattan stands out to intrigue some and to shock others. A snack menu is also available until 2 am.