After making a reservation, I heard on social media that this place may be closing soon, but there…read morewas no indication of that on the restaurant's website or in-house. We arrived right on time for our reservation, stood for quite a few minutes in a half-empty house before being seated, then waited a very long time between visits from our apparently over-stretched waitstaff. The first cocktail I chose wasn't available; nor was the first entree. I settled on the "red wine flight", and it arrived in three glasses. The server recited their names, but I didn't catch them. Food was middle of the road. A smoked sirloin sandwich was tasty, though rather well-done. And the order of "salmon cakes", which the menu says is made of "smoked salmon, roast corn, tomato, cucumber, creme fraiche, and capers" was in fact just one cake (not cakes!), smaller than a hockey puck (about 1/2" thick max) and seemed to be made of canned fish, not the bright orange of smoked salmon. It was accompanied by five thin slices of cucumber and three or four halved grape tomatoes. No corn, no capers. It was so boring, and an overpriced disappointment at $23. If this Bridge is actually closing and focusing on the event space, they've gone out with a whimper. And if they're actually continuing service, I hope they get the food a little closer to the menu descriptions. Our drinks and water glasses were empty for long stretches. Our server was very pleasant and polite, but must've had way too much to do.

The seating was upstairs. It was very dark. Hard to read the menu without a flashlight from the…read morephone. The service was great. Attentive wait staff. The food- 3 of 4 of us said it was just ok. The other really liked theirs. We had 2 different pastas & 2 different sandwiches. Calabrian carbonara & citrus fettuccine. They were both kinda bland & not much flavor. Large portions. Wagyu reuben & smoked french. The reuben was a hit. The smoked french was too smoky. We had the pumpkin ricotta appetizer. It was pretty tasty. And the caesar was a large portion & decent flavor.

I literally live a 4 minute walk from here and have no idea why it took me this long to check it…read moreout. I took my boyfriend here last night for his 24th birthday celebration, and boy did it exceed every expectation. When we first arrived, we were taken aback by the waterfall feature at the front door. We genuinely thought we were at the wrong entrance. Turns out it was entirely intentional, and in the excitement of the evening, we forgot to ask about the story behind it. A fun little mystery to solve on our next visit. We arrived about 30 minutes early and were welcomed warmly from the moment we walked in. The staff gave us a lovely intimate table with a great view of the restaurant's eclectic decor and designs. The ambiance struck the perfect balance, lively and engaging without being so loud that we could not have a real conversation, which for my partner and me is genuinely one of the most important aspects of a dining experience. Since we both work incredibly busy schedules, this was not only a birthday celebration but our first proper date night in quite a while, and the atmosphere made it feel truly special. The staff even surprised us with a complimentary prosecco for the birthday, something we were absolutely not expecting and deeply appreciated. On the drinks side, although I am not personally a big drinker, my boyfriend loves exploring new spirits and cocktail combinations. The bartenders were fantastic: knowledgeable, approachable, and genuinely enthusiastic about their recommendations across both wines and spirits. They made the whole experience feel curated rather than transactional. Now, let me tell you about Jelly. Our server Jelly was, without question, the highlight of the entire evening, and that is saying a lot given how spectacular everything else was. I have a severe pineapple allergy, and if you dine out with food allergies, you know the usual routine. The server writes it down, maybe glances at it when the food arrives, and you spend the whole meal quietly hoping for the best. Jelly was on an entirely different level. She went completely above and beyond, meticulously checking every food option and wine pairing to ensure nothing contained pineapple and that there was zero risk of cross contamination. When a wine bottle did not clearly list its ingredients, she did not guess or assume. She looked it up on the internet right then and there to confirm it was safe for me. That gesture might sound simple, but for someone with a severe allergy, it is everything. It communicates that she genuinely cared about my wellbeing, not just about getting through her tables for the night. I felt completely taken care of, safe, and able to relax and enjoy myself without the anxiety that usually accompanies dining out with an allergy. Jelly, if you ever read this: thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are exceptional at what you do and an absolute asset to Blood & Sand. And now, the food, which was nothing short of breathtaking. From the presentation, to the pacing and timing, to the extraordinary depth of flavor on every plate, the food at Blood & Sand is spectacular and amazing in the truest sense of both words. My boyfriend and I had the 5 course tasting menu with wine pairings. We had originally hoped for the 10 course, but it was not being offered that evening. No matter, because the 5 course delivered more than enough to leave us completely floored. The evening opened with a palate initiator of carrots, goat cheese, and walnuts. I will be honest, I was not excited. Carrots and goat cheese are genuinely two of my least favorite foods on the planet. But I gave it a try and it was absolutely heavenly. A perfect encapsulation of what this kitchen does: it takes ingredients you think you know and transforms them into something you cannot stop thinking about. My absolute favorites of the evening were the tuna carpaccio, the wagyu flank steak, and the pierogis. Each one was cooked and composed to perfection. Everything melted in my mouth and left me wishing the courses would never end. My one constructive note is on the oyster course. I love oysters and eat them often, so I was genuinely looking forward to this one. The portion, two very small oysters with modest accompaniments of horseradish, a small salsa, and lemon, felt a little light even by tasting menu standards. I would love to see either four oysters at that size or two larger ones. It was gone so quickly and felt slightly out of step with the generosity of every other course. That small note aside, Blood & Sand delivered one of the most memorable dining experiences I have had in a long time. Every single person on that floor, from the bartenders to the host to the incredible Jelly, went above and beyond to make the night comfortable, fun, intimate, and genuinely special. We will absolutely be back, and next time I will not wait so long given that I practically live next door.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

30. The place was pretty empty/ maybe 3 other tables while we were there. (that's a bad sign)…read moreWe originally had reservations for 8 but one person couldn't attend so we arrived with 7. The menu had printed that the 5 course tasting menu was only for parties of 6 or less. We inquired knowing it may not be able to happen since we had 7, but it was worth a try since it was just one more person. The waitress said she would have to ask the chef to see if he could do 7 instead of 6..... she came back to inform us that the chef was not able to accommodate this request. Ok, fine. A rule is a rule, but there were only 3 other tables in there the entire time we dined. I love music and a good vibe but the music was so loud over our table we could hardly hear each other speak. (90s Cranberries at that).... The cocktails and apps were the only good part of the meal, but $25 for one cocktail is a stretch unless I'm in Vegas or St. Barths. All of our main entrees were overly salted- like so salty we all commented how salty each of ours was. I had the pasta. Good flavor and creamy but too salty. No decaf coffee. I've never been to a fine dining restaurant that doesn't have decaf for an after dinner drink. Strange. Then it was time to pay. There was a noted 3% credit card fee. We paid with cash. The waitress attempted to say she didn't think she would have change because "there was no one working that had to cash to break our bills." Really? No one has cash at a restaurant? Must be next door with the decaf coffee and dinner music. The cherry on top that leads me to write a negative review (I am in my 40s and can never recall leaving a negative ereciew) The friend that made the reservation just found a $200 charge to her credit card from this joke of a restaurant. Ends up they charge the card you make your reservation with $25 per person and supposedly take this amount off the bill when you pay... we paid with cash and then they still charge the card. I'm well aware hardly anyone pays with cash anymore, but people still do. Be ready. Everything about this place screams closing in 18 months, poor quality control in the kitchen and no owner/management oversight.

Great drinks and vibes!!!! Subi was the best server so nice and attentive :) big menu and comfy…read moreatmosphere

Lovely, intimate ambiance and incredibly friendly service! The bartender was super attentive and…read moremakes a mean Sazerac. I liked that there was a wide selection of non-alcoholic cocktails as well.

Walking up to the wine garden, we were greeted by the inviting outdoor seating. The ambiance inside…read morewas equally captivating, with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. We decided to grab a spot at the bar to soak in the surroundings. One of the highlights of our visit was the extended Happy Hour on Tuesdays, which we thoroughly enjoyed. As the day was hot, I opted for a refreshing glass of the Red Sangria. The service was impeccable, with attentive staff ensuring that our every need was met.

I can't believe I haven't been here before! The interior of the restaurant reminded me of a…read moreParisian café, and the plants throughout are a nice touch. We (party of 4) waited about 1 hour to get a table outside. While waiting for our table, I ordered the Woody Straw at the bar, and it was delicious. The strawberry liqueur and basil vodka paired well, and it was refreshing. The only issue was that it wasn't filled all the way. There was ice filled to the top to give an illusion of a full drink, but it was obviously not full. After being seated outside, I ordered a red Sangria. It was sweet, tart, and the perfect drink to go with the Dylan Pizza. The pizza was incredible and Neapolitan-style. It was smooth and the combination of flavors worked well. I loved the honey and caramelized onions, but the olive oil base made the pizza a little soggy over time. The service here was a bit underwhelming. After being sat outside, the servers switched, and we didn't get taken care of until it was near closing time. However, the patio and pizza were stars of the show, and definitely have me wanting to come back.

I stopped by Apéri in Tower Grove, a tiny wine bar that also serves tapas style plates. The place…read moreis very small, probably fewer than eight tables, which gives it a cozy and intimate feel. We went on a Sunday around 5 pm and there were already a couple other tables there, so I can imagine it fills up quickly at normal dinner times. I would probably make a reservation if planning to go at a typical hour. The service was excellent. Our server was attentive and really on top of things. We had the patatas bravas, which were good, and the croquetas de bacalao. The croquetas were a little runny for my taste. I usually prefer them a bit meatier, but they were still enjoyable. We also shared a cheese plate, which was a nice portion for a snack with wine. The wines we tried were very good. Overall, this feels like a great spot to stop for a couple glasses of wine and some snacks between plans. I could also see coming back and building a full meal by ordering a few different plates. I would definitely return.

We went to Aperi on Sunday afternoon at 4 for some before dinner drinks and snacks. They have a…read morehappy hour from 4-5 everyday with a nice menu including two feature glasses of wine for less than $10 and 4 or 5 snacks and an aperol spritz at happy hour price. We got the papas bravas and cheese plate off the happy hour menu plus the croquets de bacalao off the regular menu. Generally it's a small menu of tapas plus wines and cocktails but it's well curated. We enjoyed both the red and white featured wines both seemed very high quality and was fun to try something new. The food was delicious and happy hour prices were very reasonable. Service was prompt and our server was very knowledgeable about all the wines. You for sure need a reservation here unless you come at 4pm as it's quite an intimate space, I believe about 6 tables. They have a tasting menu for 2 or 4 that comes with several small plates and an optional drink pairing (2 wines and 2 cocktails). For two the food was only $60. Would love to come back and try that tasting menu as it sounds fun. The small plates they offer could definitely be made into a full meal if one was hungry enough.

When I get my time machine, I'll visit Gaslight Square in its heydey. It's long gone and the only…read moreremainders and reminders are on the 3rd floor of the City Museum and on this one stretch of Boyle in the West End. If the headliners and the patrons of early 1960s Gaslight Square take my time machine to the future, I'll tell them Black Mountain Wine House is where to have a quality 2020s dining experience. This is another "how have I not reviewed this place?" review. I've only eaten here twice and I'm an enthusiast. The toughest decision is when to go. As of a few months ago... Monday night is wine tasting night. Complimentary. Tuesday and Wednesday nights: One is pasta night and one is pizza night. So, choose. Wine? Pizza? Pasta? Of course you can get wine any night. But that doesn't make Monday the wrong answer. Sit outside if it's pretty out. Inside is good too, though it's loud. The beat +... Was it goat cheese? Item was a highlight. Everything was good. We ordered more and more. Must return!

We had a fantastic visit to Black Mountain. As soon as we walked in, the scent of the wood fired…read morestove filled the room. It immediately made the vibe feel like a cozy mountain cabin. Everyone was so welcoming and super informative with what was available on their menu. Drink options were various and their food options ranged from little bites to items with lots of substance. It was a perfect mix! They also have a dog friendly patio and they are family friendly.

Such a unique space. Finding out that this was an extension of Pagan Wine Bar was so interesting!…read moreIt feels like I've stepped into a dark, European space that serves aesthetic, delicious drinks. I ordered the Blue Skies and it was very floral. The blueberry soda added a nice balance, but highlighted the floral notes in the drink. Not something I would likely get again. Service was fast when we were seated, but we felt forgotten about as the crowd picked up. It was very busy on a Saturday night, but still a great time!

Saturdays are for cocktails! Just swung by Silk Road in the CWE for a cocktail aka the Central West…read moreEnd's very own neon shrine to pink and purple lighting (your Instagram feed will thank you). The vibe is disco unicorn and above ground speakeasy eloped and had a cocktail baby. Drinks are flowing, guests are chatting and seating is cozy. Plus, it shares the same half-block aura as Pagan Wine Bar, which is another favorite! Make sure you check the spot out!

The best kind of cocktail bar: moody ambiance and made from scratch drinks but lacking insane…read morelevels of pretension. The two bartenders here were as knowledgeable as they were friendly. I had two delicious cocktails but, more importantly some deep conversation with strangers.

Pagan Wine Bar is situated in the Central West End, not far from Euclid and Lindell. Parking is…read moreeasier the later it is at night. I ventured to this bar for the first time three years ago and am now a more frequent customer with my beau. On weekends, Phil is the expeditor while the sole bartender, Ed, creates magical drinks from behind the bar. Seating is very limited with no reservations, so bear that in mind. Also, the last call ends promptly at 1:00 AM, and 1:30 AM is the absolute cutoff for finishing up your experience there. Every drink I have had there has been excellently crafted and consistently good. It is pricey but worth it. My only critique would be the gender-neutral bathroom. It could use some love and a deep clean, but otherwise, it is a great place for a nightcap.