Last Friday, we headed out to Bourbon & Branch, the new-ish speakeasy-style bar in the TenderNob. I was fully prepared to hate it, what with all the New York-style cloak and dagger drama surrounding it (secret location, mandatory reservations, a password).
Turns out I was totally wrong. I love it. With the exception of the giant non-sign out front (yes, I get the joke...but the giant backlit plastic sign kills any aura of Gatsby-era authenticity) the whole experience is almost perfect.
The hostess was accommodating and friendly, even when 66% of our party was late. She showed us to the table (instead of making us wait), and within minutes of stepping through the door we were sipping a wonderful vanilla mimosa amuse while pondering the evening's drinking possibilities.
The tin ceiling, low lights, loungey vibe and Prohibition-era soundtrack were the perfect backdrop for the hand-crafted cocktails. A classic Gimlet got a respectful update with the addition of cucumber and elderflower, and the Sidecar was spot-on. Despite B&B's protest, they actually do make a great Cosmo, albeit a pomegranate-ginger version, which they creatively named... well... Pomegranate Ginger. Drinks are a tad pricey, but considering that a reservation guarantees you a seat, a waitressperson, premium liquors and house-made mixers it's worth the extra $2 or $3 a pop over what you'd spend in another bar. Early reports were that wait staff were slow and limited your table to only a few rounds, but our waitress was quick, helpful, and happy to serve us as many rounds as we wanted.
Once our table reservation was up, we headed through the secret doorway into the library. It was like being in a Scooby Doo cartoon, except with booze. Anyone, reservation or no, can step into the library for a drink.
While I might pop in there on a weeknight if there were no tables available, a Friday night in the library was just like Friday night in any other bar in San Francisco, namely loud and crowded. If anything, the library made me appreciate the relaxing, civilized atmosphere of the main bar even more.
