Zig Zag Cafe
Categories: Lounges, Restaurants [Edit]
Neighborhood: Downtown1501 Western Avenue
on the Pike Hillclimb
Seattle, WA 98101 (206) 625-1146
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 5:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: No
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Late Night
- Best Nights: Fri, Sat, Thu
- Happy Hour: Yes
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: No
- Coat Check: No
63 Reviews for Zig Zag Cafe
Tried this out because we had heard good things. Made it to happy hour. All the drinks specials sounded strange. I'm not sure I liked the one I got. We waited for a friend to join us and then ordered some snacks. The pizza was ok but the salad he got was great.
I felt like if we went there more often the staff might be friendlier? I don't think it will be a favorite spot. I felt like an outsider.
Plus it's difficult to find if you've never been before.
MURRRRRRY!
I sit at the bar and say, "I want something with rum".
After a few questions and some wacky, truly old school,
from the old school bar mojo, Murry hands me probably
the best drink I have ever had. Mind you, this has happened
time and again.
Murry is a master mixologist. He finely tunes his cocktails
by adding a drop of bitters here, or a tease of Tabasco there.
After his taste buds approve he gives you a sample like
a sommlier would from a bottle of wine. After nodding yes he
fills your glass and places the unique bottle in front of you
that he used to concoct the magic potion.
The Zig Zag is a cool little joint off the beaten path and
Murry makes it Seattle's best kept secret.
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I recently spent 24 hours and 5 minutes in Seattle, and was told by the folks at Bourbon & Branch in San Francisco that this was this place to go.
It was.
First, the food was excellent. We had the Seared Tuna, Prawns, a Pizza with Walnut Cream Pesto, and a "Meat Plate."
The tuna was served with a real nice mound of crunchy, fresh Thai-style salad; slightly sweet and spicy. A nice balance with the fish which could have used a touch more seasoning. The pizza was perfect. The sauce was a nice twist on pesto, and the crust just chewy enough. The charcuterie plate, that they call a "Meat Plate" (which I think it unpretentious and... accurate. Brilliant.) had some nice chunks of warm sausage, a generous amount of thicker-than-usual prosciutto-style cured ham, and some thinly sliced salame... all with a real good mustard, soft foccacia, and simple olive oil. The prawns had a thick slightly-smoky rojo sauce made with (I think) anchos, garlic, and pepper. Delicious.
But the real reason this is the best bar I have ever been to... ever... is Murray. The best bartender I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, watching, and being served by. I can't explain it, but it's magic. He's like a god. Yes. Murray is god-like. God-ish.
Just go. Sit at the bar, take your time, get something to snack, and enjoy.
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Went here for a friends birthday this past summer and had a wonderful time! We got there as it was opening on a Friday night (literally on the dot, right as they were unlocking the front door), and grabbed a table on the patio.
Happy hour prices are a great reason to try something new. We had some apps, can't remember exactly what (hey, those drinks are strong!) but we liked whatever we had. Food gud. Yum.
Great mellow place to say hello to familiar faces and relax with friends. It could be pretentious, but I think it tries v. hard not to be.
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I'm trying hard to ignore everyone else's glowing reviews and just focus on my own experience. I'm just going to try to relate the experience as faithfully as possible so you can make up your own mind. I couldn't finish either drink I ordered and I didn't like any of the food. In my experience: atmosphere=ok, food=bad, cocktails=insane, price=not worth it.
We did find a table for a group of five people. In my mind, that was the only upshot of this place. The atmosphere was cute but weird. Every single person in the bar looked up when we came in, giving it this feeling as if every single 40-year-old on an internet first date had chosen this place on a Wednesday night.
The cocktails were bizarre. I understand that odd combinations can sometimes surprise and delight the palate. And sometimes, you just wind up making an adult version of a "graveyard". I love cocktails and I could not find one on this list the length of my arm that I liked! If you don't want every single thing to contain Dubonnet, chartreuse or bitters, go somewhere else.
The food was not good. Granted we were ordering from the happy hour menu, but pretty much every single thing we ordered was disappointing. I actually thought the bruchetta was the best thing we had, if that tells you anything. For the amount that we paid, I was very disappointed in this place. My girlfriends and I left and went somewhere else where we could have an actually tasty cocktail and something tasty to eat, fried in batter. But that's just us..
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I didn't get to eat here, but I went in for a drink.
The place seems to cater to a special kind of Seattle scene, something a bit uppity and pretentious.
Their house cocktail menu is made of ingredients that I couldn't barely make out or didn't even know exist. While it was a great to see their identity, it's a bit unwelcoming when you don't know what you're ordering at times.
The Sauvignon Blanc I chose was really horrible.
Three stars for the mixed review, I don't think I was able to give it a fair experience just yet, but who knows if I will come back.
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Again, we saddled up to the bar after waiting a few minutes for some space to open up. We love to sit at the bar. Seems like we always do.
At Zig Zag you have to! You simply must sit and watch Murry "Mur the Blur" work. His hands are always moving and at lightning speed. He creates all of the usual standards and some exceptional concoctions that I haven't even heard of. Being an amazing booze hound, that says something.
This most recent trip was an exceptional evening there. We were served by Murry and by 2 of the other bartenders working that Friday night. After having my usual Kami - I asked them to pick something for me. Vodka based - and off they went,
Amazing - things I have never tried before, never heard of before, can't remember the name of - yet I want more! They were great, each and every one.
We also had some food this time - surprisingly I have never eaten there in the dozens of trips that I have made there. The food didn't disappoint. I wish they had the flat bread for the pizza - I would have like to try that. But the Ham and Grilled cheese - was out of this world - the cheese was an amazing mix. The bruschetta was a heep of tomato salad - not being a tomato fan - it was just ok to me - everyone else loved it!
Zig Zag - another wonderful place to stop on the way to - or from the ferry! A great downtown spot!
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What's not to love about the Zig Zag? Charming, tucked away on the market hill climb, cozy patio, and innovative cocktails. I am impressed that the drink menu includes a drink made with Unicum, and another made with Aquavit. These people know their liquor. Take it from me and order the "Satan's Soulpatch." House cocktails are around $8.25, but they are $4.50 during happy hour!
Murray is a wizard behind the bar. This is my top recommendation for delicious, sophisticated cocktails and just a great place to go to unwind and for conversation. It's tucked away in the hillclimb of the Pike Pace Market and it makes you feel like you're part of a private club since not everyone is in the "know" because it's off the beaten path.
They have the biggest Whiskey and Brandy selection that I've found since I moved to Seattle. The menu is simple with sandwiches, salads and light snacks but they are really tasty.
This is a fine establishment. There's nothing wrong with it. Sure, it's small and cozy and can get loud if there's a boisterous group having drinks. And it's on the Hill Climb, and I wouldn't have found it without Mitzie's pics (I think Mitzie submitted them).
I enjoyed my drink. I enjoyed my appetizer. The waitress was kind. I didn't get to meet the bartender, and so I can't say that there was anything stunning about the concoction that I ordered (it sounded dirty, whatever it was, like Devil's Advocate... but dirtier... not quite Demon's Penis, but... man, I've got a bad memory).
The only thing preventing me from giving it five stars is that, honestly, there was nothing on the dinner menu that I wanted to order. Like, I spent a half hour looking over the options before deciding to just go somewhere else for the real meal deal.
Also, my date was a total douchebag. I don't know - I just wish the waitress had seen me enter with him, taken me aside, and said, "Girl, you know that guy's a douchenozzle? Yes?" It is my experience that a waitress can spot a douchebag from 100 yards; I, on the other hand, have terrible douchedar. Would have saved me a good hour, in any case.
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I hadn't been here in years, and why have I not been going? Frankly, I've always been on an off night and I was blown away Friday PM when we happened in and were very lucky to score a couch like booth before everyone else happened in and the joint was full.
The cocktail list is extensive and I sampled all of the waitress' recs and they were super mouth numbingly strong, just as I desire them.
And the people were super cool as well. Just an all around banner time. In fact, this place is a 5-star (mouse move to take it from 4 to 5).
Great everything, tricky to find but worth it.
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This place is the only reason why I would move back to Seattle from S.F. Murray is "yes" the best and kindest bartender I have ever experienced.
I asked for:
- Muddled Lemon and Lime
- Dry Gin
- Lillet
- 7-up
Shaken served on the rocks
This use to be my favorite drink that I use to make for my friends when I use to bartend BUT MURRAY on the first try made it exactly how it should taste; like a Fresca with alcohol.
Did I mention they play JAZZ in the background! This place is the spot.
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It's important to understand that Zig Zag is not your typical bar. The cocktail menu doesn't have the staple drinks you find at every other place in the city. Instead, Zig Zag specializes in whiskeys, brandies, rums and gins. They've received more awards than I can count.
The atmosphere is subdued; dark and sophisticated. The location is great during the day, when the market is lively, but at night it's a little sketchy and not really in walking/stumbling distance of much (aside from several hundred stairs).
But if for no other reason, go to Zig Zag to try the Mojito; the best in Seattle.
This place is so good that they're people waiting at the door fifteen minutes before they open. The bartenders are personable, informative, and amazingly good at what they do. They have a few specialties; the Aviation, Mojito's, and bitter cocktails. The Aviation is featured in quite a few published cocktail guide and books. The Mojito is best made by the bartender nicknamed "Mojitor" and is perfectly chilled with small, round ice (a sign of a great Mojoito). The rest of the cocktails are great and can be made to order (based on your likes/dislikes) by talking to the bartender.
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Zig Zag didn't live up to the Yelp four-stars this weekend. What a shame, as we were looking forward to a great experience.
Plus side: they were great at finding a spot for our group of five folks, especially as half the tables in the room were "reserved" but no one showed up to claim them.
Also a plus: the drinks were good and water was refilled without prompting.
Downsides: This isn't a "cafe." It's primarily a bar, and the food suffered from pretentious descriptions that weren't really worth the price. All our bread products arrived nearly burnt (to hide the fact that the hamburger buns were stale, maybe?)...I've never had an entire table where sandwiches shattered upon eating.
The food is also incredibly bland. What had been described as a five to six star heat rating turned out to be about a two (on a ten scale). The buffalo burger was dry, and not just because the bun was toast. There was no moisture in the meat. The ahi was so poorly plated and sparse that it looked like an appetizer for one and not a main course.
Other downside: unless you plan to stand up all evening, it's not really a good place for groups of more than four. The banquette tables are long and narrow, so anyone sitting on the ends can't see, hear or speak with the folks on the other side. And the round tables in the main floor space, pushed together to accomodate a group, mean the folks in the middle don't have much table top to work with.
In any case, it's a good bar, but definitely look elsewhere if you want something to eat with your booze.
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Ahhhhh...Murray, Kacy, Ben, and the young 'un Eric. They are, quite simply, the best quad of bartenders that exist in my known universe. So much respect is due these gentlemen that #1 and #4 above are featured in my profile one of my photos. So respected and widely known is Murray as the most experienced of the four that my wife and I have drunk many a free drink at lounges in other cities merely by mentioning that he sent us there.
Disclaimer: I like to drink, so my known universe is pretty damn big and spans from Tahiti to Europe.
This is not a place for lemon drops, appletinis, or other assorted giggly Belltown fare. This is a cocktail bar. Think stealthily strong, hand crafted, high quality cocktails, usually based on a brownish liquor. (Take a look at their well liquor sometime...it is other bars' top shelf).
This is a place of balance. You like sticky sweet cocktails? You can get them here, but they may taste different because of the lack of corn syrup-based mixers here. Most everything is scratch. Future diabetics should not drink here.
This is a place of simple yet very tasty gastronomy. Aaron in the kitchen does a fantastic job of serving upscale bar fare with a twist (lamb burger with pickled fennel, sauteed (yes, sauteed!) calamari in a smoky briny sauce) that complements the drinks and atmosphere.
Here's a hint: don't order a drink. Go up to one of the four above, describe what you like in a cocktail; if eating, describe what you will order, and let any of the above gentlemen make a cocktail to match: transcendent.
Last comment to Ninja Ian...earlier reviewer. Jamie Boudreau, chief mixologist of Vessel and an outstanding cocktail man himself, drinks here often when he's not working. So, your favorite cocktail bar's driving force is drinking here for the bad cocktails?.....huh......it'd be like William Belickis eating at Rover's for the bad food.
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Aren't you fun, you little hidden gem, you. (Not so much hidden as the author of this missive being previously unaware of its location.) The brass pig in the heart of Pioneer Square? Go down the steps behind her/him/it. Cross the street and go down those stairs as well. Can't miss it.
Got introduced New Year's and have been back 3 times since. The food is awesome, decently portioned and well priced. Their grilled cheese is served on a luscious panini and accompanied by a tasty, yet simple salad. (Who gets full off of a grilled cheese? No one. But you will here.)The drinks? Ace. Go now!
This place is super cool. We usually stop in for drinks but I did dine here once and the gumbo or whatever it was I had was pretty tasty. I've heard good things about the bartenders but haven't had them make me anything fancy. I got a glass of wine once and the server let me sample it first to make sure I would like it. That was nice. They are very good about keeping your water filled too which is nice because sometimes I just hang out with my friends and don't actually order anything but they still keep bringing me water.
I like to make my first experience of anything something that all experiences after that have to live up to. So I saved trying hard alcohol for my 40th birthday, and I chose to try it at the Zig Zag. Ben & Murray were our bartenders for the evening. It was an unforgettable night, and the drinks that were mixed for us were out of this world! I probably would have started drinking much earlier in life if I had known the elixirs could taste this good! (I don't like that funny burny aftertaste of alcohol, i.e. beer, wine, champagne, etc.) The food was also amazing, and great fun was had by all...
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Murray is quite simply the fastest bartender, able to sustain high quality service, I have ever seen in my entire life.
Ever.
He had a bar brimming with people as I walked in, so I foolishly assumed that my wine order would take a moment. I turned to talk to some friends and Murry was standing right next to me within seconds! ! !
Spry is not the word.
Startled at his Puma like reflexes, I watched in awe as he poured me a tasting! The bar was packed, and he's not just slamming the glass in front of me? He's actually leaving the bar and making sure I enjoy my wine! He's actually sitting here patiently waiting to see if I approve!
Unreal!
He turned to an arguing young couple, said some witty comment about never minding the little things, and they smiled. As I blinked in astonishment of this remarkable fellow... HE WAS GONE!
A quick glance around the room and there he was at the bar! Smiling away as he expertly crafted a perfectly executed martini! Smoothly conversing, smiling, concentrating, repeat.
I was in the presence of greatness.
As I was leaving I couldn't resist the urge to tell Murray how amazing I thought he was, and he looked at me quizzically, as if to say, "did I do something special?"
I couldn't decide how much to tip him, so I just gave him my wallet.
A day later and I'm writing this review... It is now my very strong belief that Murry is supernatural. Probably a vampire, but I'm not ruling out cybernetic construct from the future.
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OH ZIG ZAG, how I love thee! Let me recount the ways....
I went down to Zig Zag last night for my birthday and as usual I was quite happy! I walked in expecting to see Ben behind the bar as he is my favorite bartender. But this was not the case, this fresh faced young'in was there cosied up behind my favorite bar and I wanted to yell who are you and where is Ben??? Obviously I did not do that. The new bartender (what is his name?) was fabulous! My husband I saddled up to the bar and had a great time with the bartender and our friends. The drinks I had you could not go wrong with. I started off with a glass of Mermier (sp?) Pastis, yum but the drink made me yearn for this tiny bistro in Paris called Chez Janou with over 80 different types of pastis. Pernod--NO THANK YOU! Then I had a Lillet Blanc, a glass of Champagne etc...
Love you Zig Zag, mmmmm happy birthday to me!
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I wish I could write something witty about my experience here, but the truth is that I don't remember it all too well. I do know the drinks were good. Maybe I had a few too many. They were THAT good.
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A stiff drink for happy hour and some great food? Yup, this is the place to go. For me, it's more of a place to grab a few drinks on my way somewhere else, but they mix a wonderful cocktail here. Weekend nights can be pretty packed, but they make up for it with fast service. Great spot!
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Murray is the best bartender on the planet. I've had my birthday party at Zig Zag 3 times. End of review.
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I met the Man last night. He lives at Zig Zag and is name is Murray. He's 'keppin' it reaaaaah' if I've ever seen it.
We walked right in at 9:30pm on a Friday night and got a seat right at the bar.
I knew I had to go 'specialty cocktail' here. I had the Cloister, a delightful mix of Gin, grapefruit juice, and well.. other things that made it delightful (I will not say the 'Y' word, rhyming with mummy even if it does apply here.. NO.. NEVER!). My friend had the Satan's Soulpatch, (bourbon, vermouths, gran marnier, orange, orange bitter). Both were great and very strong. Worth the $8.25 price tag for sure.
The food looked great but we didn't partake. I will next time, for sure.
We both enjoyed the strong drinks and watching Murray work crazy mad hard with crazy mad bartending skills.
He loves his regulars. He remembers them from way back, including a friend of mine. I just mentioned that she digs his Gibsons. He asked who. I gave him a first name, and he responded with, '(her last name), yes, she's a sweetheart. Tell her hello for me!'
That's how good, folks. Go see Murray. He'll treat ya right.. and he'll remember you forever. Gotta love that.
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Sometimes when I go to a bar I come home feeling like I wasted my money. I could just pack a pocket flask with vodka and order OJ, then mix them together myself and the drink would taste as good as the $6-10 one made by the bartender.
I really didn't start drinking for quality until I was in my mid-20s, and I still know very little about alcoholic drinks. I'd heard that the bartender was amazing and decided to test my luck. Everyone else ordered off the menu, but I just told him what I wanted my drinks to taste like and what ingredients I liked/disliked/didn't know if I liked and disliked.
My favorite concoction was when I explained that I wanted "something chocolate but simultaneously really spicy, like mole sauce." Delicious!
If you're brave, try my route rather than the menu and it'll be awesome.
Every drink I got was gourmet and worth the price. I haven't ever been when they were overly busy, though... both times I went were right after the bar opened and there were only a few tables.
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Zig Zag offers the best cocktails I've ever had. At my first visit, years ago, I had the honor of being served by both Murray Stenson and Ben Dougherty. More recently, I had a Tivoli and Deshler from Mr. Dougherty. What a treat! As a whisk(e)y fan, I'm now on a quest for Zwack Unicum. It's not easy to find Zig Zag, but worth the hunt. Go early and avoid the crush.
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oh my goodness talk about a very well made mint julep!!! : )
murray is a god... hail to murray, the king of mixologists!!!
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sure they've got strong drinks, fast service and pricey food, but no one ever mentions one very good fact....
their booths are great for tilting your head back and passing the f**k out after a long night
(thank goodness I didn't get kicked out)
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The best time to write a bar review is after a bit of drinking! Tonight, Zig Zag was running pretty hot. Over the years I have popped in and out of this hideway and just assumed everyone knew how great this place is. But this evening, I caught up with friends from NY and Chicago. It takes out of town guests to remind me how nice some of Seattle's digs are. Zig Zag is one.
The tinis are tasty and I am partial to their Ceasar salad.
If you are feeling a bit neglected just introduce yourself to Casey. You'll find "attitude" from a staff is actually your own state of mind.
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House cocktails = boo
Bruschetta = burnt (or as Grandma would say "It's cajun baby") no Grandma, it's burnt.
Calamari = small octopi?
Ambiance = great
Wine = good
Service = good
Stick to wine or beer, steer clear of the bruschetta and enjoy your company!
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I really thought this would be a cool place to have a drink. It had a cool location, a chill atmosphere, and a huge "fuck you" attitude.
The specialty drinks are way bizarre. I mean way waaaay out there. I tried to find one that would be good, but I was foiled. I was at a loss until I saw "Devil's Soulpatch" and told the beatnik waitress, when she wasn't too busy reading something and ignoring us to be bothered asking us what we might want, that I'll have one of those.
It was vile.
I mean bad. I understand that tastes in drinks are not universal, but there are some things that are understood for the majority to be really badly mixed beverages.
You could go to Vessel, and everything on the specialty menu will be awesome. This is like the Anti-Vessal. Everything on their drink menu seems to be atrocious. I haven't had everything on the menu because the one drink I thought would be least horrible I had to upend like caster oil or some kind of horrible home remedy hangover cure. Aweful!
Weak staff. Obvious regulars dogeared at the bar. Druggies pissing out front of the establishment. I can't think of a reason to return here ever.
Another post-alley failed misadventure.
Perhaps if you perch at the bar and invest in establishing some kind of relationship with the bartender, this might be an alright place. I have no interest in this.
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I am in love with the sauteed calamari at Zig Zag. I shared one order with Maia, but liked it so much I ordered another one all for me. It's not battered and deep-fried (yawn), which is a nice change of pace. The squid is sauteed with tomatoes, capers, and garlic. And I think anchovy paste, which gave the dish a deep, pungent quality.
Their bruschetta was really good, but they burned the bread. The pizza was pretty good too, but nothing special really.
The house cocktail menu was WEAK. Only one vodka drink? WTF. The rest of the cocktails consisted of bizarre combinations that just didn't belong together. Most of them were not good. My drink, Satan's Soulpatch, or some such, was OK once I got used to it. But I only ordered it for lack of better options.
Overall, great food, bad cocktails, and good service.
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the drink I had tasted like a$$. ugh.
I blogged not too long ago about something else that tasted this way. here's a link to that entry (http://yvonnelo1974.sp...) and an excerpt...replace the energy drink part with my vile cocktail from Zig Zag...
"I once knew someone who used the word ass for just about everything. When she made a fool of herself rather than saying she made an ass of herself she said she assed. But it didn't stop there, ass was also used to describe how something bad tasted.... that tastes like ass. I like the word ass.
I have used the term off and on myself, but just now, in the comfort of my own home I opened up an "energy" drink and just about spit it out cause well, it tasted like ass. Not that I've ever tasted nor ever care to taste an ass...human or equine. I'm just saying."
I don't remember the name of the drink I had but it had champagne in it...and the champagne was flat...flat like my chest was in junior high...er...ok, high school... It also tasted like robitussin.
I liked the tomatoes on the bruschetta (bread was burnt) I ordered and the waitress was fantastic...still not enough to overpower the nasty ass drink.
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I'm a simple girl when it comes to my cocktails, give me vodka and tonic, soda, cranberry, diet coke and I'm happy. While at Zig Zag I decided to be adventurous and go out on a limb and try one of the drinks made by their world famous mixologist. I noticed one drink with vodka on their house special list, the drink with no name or something like that and I went with that. Bad bad decision it kind of tasted like what I'd picture a flavored rubbing alcohol tasting like and to think it was made with Grey Goose, how anything made with Grey Goose could be bad I had no idea. I'm sure if you are a fan of bourbon or gin or things I've never heard of you'd probably like the drinks. The company I was with was great and the booths were nice if I ever go back though I'm sitting at the bar and having them make me a special Mitzie drink with vodka and things I know I like.
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Ok I have to admit that I didn't have the world's worst experience there at Zig Zag. The first drink I had there was the Satan's Soul Patch which was pretty good and nearly as horrible as everyone else drinks. Then I was recommended to try the ABC(tasted like a Manhattan) and was pleasantly surprised. And my house pie(margarita pizza) that I split with my table was pretty darn good too, so all in all I was very happy with my choices. I guess I can thank lady luck for my decent time at Zig Zag's.
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I had wonderful drinks at Zig Zag -- I went with a friend, we sat at the bar and described kind of drinks we like to the bartender, and he mixed one up for each of us. Actually he followed that with a couple more, on the house. If we didn't like one, he would take it back and start over. I'm not sure how much of this had to do with my friend's flirting ability, but I would definitely not write this place off as 'bad drinks.'
This is not the place to go with a big group. Go with just one other person, when it's not too busy, sit up at the bar, and actually talk to the bartender.
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Apparently world renown bartender, well crafted chic Italian food, a well arranged (if small) dining room, and a killer "hole in the wall" sort of spot on the stairs up to the market.
Stop in for an elixir, but skip the usual - take a chance.
Update:
Take a chance I did, I tried 3 of the more adventurous drinks on the menu last night only to determine that they are apparently well beyond my understanding of mixology. The drinks were well balanced, and decidely on target for the intended taste (in my estimation), but unfortunately I just didn't like it.
From this limited sampling, their star bartender is an excellent chemist. Perhaps a well crafted classic would be a better order.
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Oh the conflict, oh the unmet expectation, oh the ensuing writers block.
Round 1:
As soon as I walked into this place I knew I was going to love it, everyone said I would love it, and right off the bat I loved the atmosphere and started making plans for how this was to be my new favorite bar. I would make friends with the renowned bartender, he'd come to learn my tastes, we'd make up fun drinks together...but it was busy, and I was with a big group, so I figured I would come back later for that bit of wishful thinking.
The waitress gave us the menu to peruse, and at first I didn't understand that she just left without answering any questions, because I was too busy oohing and aahing over fancy drink concoctions. When she came back I was confused as to her put-out attitude but figured since we were with a large group perhaps that was just unnerving. Long story short I didn't like my drinks, or anyone elses, and I didn't know what we had done (we weren't a boisterous group, it's not like I was out with Yelpers this time) to earn the scorn of our waitress.
Round 2:
Yelper happy hour! Alright! An excuse to give this place a second chance! Their normal $8+ drinks are a practically half price. Expectations readjusted and ready to love it!
Oh no! Our waitress doesn't like us again. The drinks are all kind of gross again*. The waitress auto-added the gratuity again. I am disappointed again.
Round 3:
Has yet to happen, but I'm hoping to go there solo (cause I'm trying to drink more by myself these days) sit at the bar like a proper customer and see if I can't make my expectations of this bar become a reality.
*I enjoy a stiff cocktail, I don't shy away from bitters, not everything has to be fruity, I get it, c'mon Zig Zag we should be buddies!
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Y'all are crazy.
Here's your recipe for having one of the best nights at a bar ever, courtesy of the fine people at Zig Zag:
1) Sit at the bar. Really. If the bar is full, wait or come back later and wait for a stool. A big part of being at this one-of-a-kind bar is watching the dan