I do love a good speakeasy. And. I think, we all know why. Last week my glam best friend and I went to the Darby, a new speakeasy that's been on my list since it opened several months ago. And I don't need to go back. It was uneven. The ceiling was gorgeous (red with a sculpted plaid of stainless steel flat bars screwed to it with several chandeliers that were hundreds of strands of silver bugle beads hanging from a criscross circular form. On one side of each chandelier the strands were longer and then twisted into a loose knot but the tables and chairs were awful (washed wood, but in a wierd brown-grey, though you can't tell if you look at the link I've added, it looks much more glam in the photos). The lounge downstairs was one of the ugliest rooms I have ever seen-brown, rust, beige patchwork leather banquets ran all around the room and down the center, with grey vinyl floor tiles covering the floor. Like someone's parents' awful basement recroom from 30 years ago. I am not doing an event there. The bartender and the bus-staff were wonderful (caring, professional and elegant) but the maitre'ds were snotty. Our waiter was the new annoying breed that wants to "go over" the menu-which translates to "read" the menu to you (WHY???) The food was also uneven, the Brussels sprouts oozed butter into your mouth and balanced against the crispiness of the edges made them one of the better dishes. The chicken liver mousse toasts were terrific, the ricotta cheese crostini were nice (good flavors but it had some long crispy noodle thing on top that kept poking me as I tried to eat it), the tomato soup was delicoulsy creamy but the grilled cheese garnish was a bit off (the toasted peasant bread totally overpowered the melted brie inside). Dessert however was divine-a chocolate walnut torte, bathed with a chocolate ganache that was so shiny and firm that it truly looked like patent leather. A caramel sauce was strewn around the plate with candied walnuts dropped into it.
The combination of flavors and textures was quite perfect.
I am glad we went but I don't need to go back.
Comments