Just ate here for a friend's birthday tonight- lots to say.
Food: The food menu is not nearly as long as the beverage menu, which wouldn't have been a big deal (because they have AWESOME options) if I wasn't vegetarian and my friend a vegan. For such a trendy place I was expecting to have more than a couple options, but I made do and what I got was great. I think my dish was $12, and most plates were in the $11-$16 arena.
Drinks: The restaurant is owned by two guys with a lot of bar experience, and I hypothesize that the Clever Koi was originally a bar concept that was born a restaurant. They have a large selection of beers including a group of drafts on tap. Then, they have a long list of upgraded classic cocktails. THEN, they have a menu of probably... 20 specialized creations that are to die for. There are some wine options as well. Our drinks were delicious and instagram-friendly via complementary garnish/glass presentation. Win-win. It's important to include that you're looking at $8-$15 a cocktail.
Ambiance: SO COOL. The architectural design of the restaurant is admirable and inviting. Loads of natural light via window-walls. We were there in the evening, and the artificial lighting is perfectly done. Romantic, warm, and intimate. The styling is contemporary, and the bar is plotted in such a way that it almost creates its own exclusive space in the restaurant- my friends and I agreed that we would readily come back just for drinks.
Service: The owner came over to our table and spoke casually with us as we waited for the rest of our party. He was informative about the restaurant foundations in a very humble way, that made me feel very valuable as a customer. Our waiter also was kind, humble, and attentive. We had some less favorable staff interactions, which really is the only reason I couldn't give 5/5 stars. That and some inproportionally priced items on the menu (dumplings, small plates + certain cocktails).
Overall, a great dining experience. As a vegetarian, I probably wont come back for a meal, but I'll definitely be back for drinks!
OMG I almost forgot- their banana fritters are to die for. I don't care if you don't like bananas or never get dessert- you MUST get an order to share with your table.