Cool concept, moody vibes, but too rigid to feel truly welcomed.
We were the first ones there, literally standing outside before the doors even opened. Staff was immediately on point, super friendly, got us excited right away. Grabbing the red book to gain passage behind the bookcase? Very cool detail. We got seated as soon as they opened, and man, the space is exactly what you want in a speakeasy, dimly lit, intimate, and tucked away like a secret you don’t want to share.
There were nice little touches: chilled water and a sip of wine waiting for us at the table to open the palate, plus a deck of cards with questions to spark good conversation. Great start.
The menu looked good! Not too long, not too short. Just enough to keep it interesting. But here’s where things took a weird turn.
I asked the waiter to surprise me with something in the Old Fashioned or Manhattan family but mentioned I wasn’t into Rye Whiskey. His response? A whole interrogation on why I don’t like Rye. Like bro, I’m here to relax, not defend my taste buds. He pressed me again: “Is it too punchy for you?” Honestly, I didn’t even know what that meant in cocktail terms. Yo, I just don’t like Rye. Period.
Ended up ordering the Boulevardier, which was solid. No complaints there.
Then we got a text from some friends who were nearby and wanted to join. We’d already let the waitress know more folks might swing by, and she said it shouldn’t be an issue. When I flagged her to ask about moving to a bigger table, the vibe shifted. She seemed annoyed but moved us anyway. Ah-aight, cool, we’re settled again, good vibes all around.
Until one of our friends asked for the simplest drink imaginable: vodka tonic with lime. She didn’t want sugar in her drink, and the place pushed back saying all their drinks had sugar, but they could sub in stevia. She agreed, but when the drink came out it was not it. Sent it back and re-asked for just the vodka tonic. They brought it, but again, with some clear reluctance.
Bottom line: if you go off-menu here, they don’t like it. And that’s a miss. We’ve hit almost every speakeasy in SD, and never felt this kind of pushback on basic, respectful customizations.
To be fair, the service was attentive. They were present, checking in, and the aesthetic is on point. But hospitality isn’t just about being visible, it’s about being flexible too. And that’s where this place lost me. Also, no food options and they tack on an automatic 22% tip, which would’ve been fine if I walked away feeling taken care of. I didn’t.
Would’ve been a 4.5-star spot easy, but between the drink drama and the attitude, 3 stars is all I can give. Still a cool stop, just not rushing back.
