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Barbarella Neighborhood Bar & Kitchen
Dear Love,
If there’s one thing I love more than happy hours, it’s car chases. I will sit, eyes glued to TV, from the first siren wail to the final pit maneuver, secretly rooting for the bat-shit crazy driver who thinks he can outrun a helicopter. So imagine my giddy surprise when some friends and I popped into Barbarella Neighborhood Bar & Kitchen to find one on TV!
The place wasn’t poppin’ yet, but everyone in there became instant friends. Why is that? Oh yeah, CAR CHASE MAGIC. The staff was incredible—super personable, made us feel right at home. Our server Lydia even let us sample some drinks before ordering, and the bartender Judah promised everyone free shots if the truck sped by us. It didn’t, but we still got the free shots. Lydia delivered them to us on Judah’s behalf, adding “He thinks you’re all pretty, but one of you especially. And she’s wearing a dress.” Luckily, Judah knows more about mixology than women’s fashion, because none of us were wearing dresses. But the drinks were fantastic!
On the menu I opted for the Pink Gin Rickey while Pilar went for the Paloma Rosa, each at $6. The Rickey was too sweet for my taste, but the Paloma Rosa was wonderful, and I definitely commandeered it over the course of our stay… KC, who lived in Germany last year and is now my own personal beer aficionado, ordered the Franziskaner for $4. Maybe because it was delicious, but probably because you can say it super German-like. Franziskaner.
Barbarella is a legitimate restaurant, so the small happy hour plates are creative, delicious, and intricately plated. And their napkins have button-holes! Classy to the max! We started with the Granny Apple Bruschetta ($6) made with honey goat cheese, black currants, and walnuts. Such a cozy mouthful, like a grown up version of a little kid snack. We also went for the Tuna Tartare ($9)—ahi tuna, shallots, jalapeños, avocado, and won ton chips—which I can only really describe as Superbowl-y, if that makes any sense. But like, sophisticated pescatarian Superbowl-y. The clear winner, mutually agreed upon by all parties involved, was the Hummus ($8) served with teriyaki mushrooms and hot pita. Such a range of flavors, and perfect for a chilly evening.
Now if you’re reading this and you own a bar, I’ll let you in on a little secret. CAR CHASES ARE GREAT FOR BUSINESS. Because I wasn’t gonna leave ‘til I saw that pursuit through to the end, and watching a car chase without a drink in hand is like driving without a steering wheel. So we ordered another round of Jalapeño Twists—a tequila-based drink with muddled mint and a jalapeño kick. Yes please!
Maybe it was the exhilaration of the car chase, or the fact the sun hadn’t even set and I was feeling tipsy in my head and my heart and my knees, but I turned to my friends and I meant it when I said, “This is exactly where I want to be right now.”
XXOO,
Happy Hour Breakdown:
Barbarella Neighborhood Bar & Kitchen
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