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| - Almost Bliss/reTHINK Landscaping
I left Seattle for multiple reasons. One was the horrid parking situation. Sure, I've spent 30 years in Phoenix, where parking is (mostly) not only abundant, but *gasp* free! When I was given an invite to an anniversary party at Bliss/reBAR, and the website, itself, boasts about parking on the street or at a closed place next door, I was not very optimistic. Parking is something I want to be the least of my concerns when trying out a new place.
Thankfully, I did find some parking on the street, but then again, I arrived at 5:59PM on a Saturday. As the night crept on, it appears any later, it would've been a problem. So - get there early.
The place itself was rather dead - it's a weekend night and this is supposed to be a faddish place? - so I found my party easy, even though the 5-6 employees at the "Please Wait To Be Seated" desk were smiling and helpful. (On a side note, even though there were 4-5 too many staff members hanging out, the empty tables and bar seats outnumbered them 5 to 1.)
Now...at the party, or a long outdoor section alongside the Garfield street side, the décor and arrangements seemed very nice and comfortable. For my friend's 15th Anniversary, they even doctored a picture of them and honored them with well wishes on every table. That was nice.
One very pleasant cocktail waitress brought by multiples of half-sliders, half-grilled cheese sandwiches, half-fried sausage ravioli, mini-coconut chicken tenders and shrimp. All of that was WONDERFUL with the best being the shrimp and ravioli. We were generously given two drink tickets by the host, and we had to get our drinks at the outdoor extremely well decorated bar. No real criticism on the bartender - he did his job, was moderately quick, but just not the friendliest or approachable guy. He was just there.
Inside the bar, it was adequate. The ambiance was okay. Not inviting, but not standoffish. Middle of the road. Amazingly, and unbeknownst to me, towards the beginning of the night the few tables inside had chairs but as the evening grew, they were promptly taken by the staff one-by-one. People had to stand and they were served food. I like to sit at a nice place when I eat. Just me? Maybe it was for more space for more people to pile in, though there wasn't enough evidence for me - again on a Saturday night - that this place gets busy. And speaking of more space...
With three adjoining empty lots and three more within walking distance, there's no excuse for no parking lot. Even if that was out of the question - why? I don't have a clue - the original idea should've been to occupy a larger and vacant plot nearby. Heck, maybe they'd have room for *gulp* two bathrooms!
Oh, and I don't know the general rule about "chic" places, but ONE bathroom? Personally, I prefer privacy and not really into the whole idea of the opposite sex wandering around inside the bathroom. Heck, when I was in there, the only two other occupants were female and oddly, they seemed to want to hang out. No, they didn't appear to know each other, they were just standing around. Hmmm. My impression, this was supposed to be a gay-friendly establishment and if they thought something different - especially from me, they're barking up the wrong tree.
This was my first experience with a unisex bathroom, and dear God, I hope it's the last.
Overall, the food was great, the setting was comfortable and the one cocktail waitress was friendly. Sadly, the parking situation, or lack thereof, the lazy one bathroom situation and the terrible neighborhood - oh, yeah, it's located 2 notches from the ghetto, gives me a dead even 3/5 stars and sadly, I probably wouldn't have any reason to return unless someone else drives or I happen to move downtown. Within two blocks. Max.
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