Why is it that most things that Hotel Arts touches turns to gold? My place of employment has used their catering several time with tremendous results. So I was expecting good things from Raw Bar seeing as how they are under the HA umbrella. Floored, I was!
Dinner and dessert consisted of Haida Gwaii Halibut and Yuzu and White Chocolate Cheesecake. The golden beets and arugula complemented the tenderness of the halibut. Taste-wise the bitter/sweet/light fish flavour collage were a beautiful marriage; however, the textures of the mix were also a marvelous meld. Semi-solid beets with tender fish ... Art! The Cheesecake was ok. It felt too sour for me though.
However, what earns Raw Bar its five stars are its cocktails. The two cocktails I had were among the best in my life. The Yuzu Sunrise was so citurs fresh it made me actually enjoy my Vodka (not my spirit of choice). However, the winner of the night was Blood and Sand. Besides having the coolest name ever for a cocktail (sounds like another US-military-in-the-middle-east-Hollywood-movie). The name also made ordering my drink fun. In a deep-voice and fist clenched I dramatically ordered my drinking stating "I want Blood and Sands." Always a bonus when you can do that! The surprising thing about the drink itself was that it made me finally find a Johnie Walker cocktail that I actually love. 2 for 2!
Decor-wise I love it here. The subtlety contrasting red-orange and green shades blend beautifully. The crowd is young and hip. And the DJ spinning in the background is the perfect cherry on this fine dine sundae.
It isn't cheap here though, but sometimes its nice to go somewhere that is hip, cool and makes awesome cocktails. Well done RB!
4/30