Had the thrill of taking my girlfriend out to check out one of Paso's most unique cocktail…read moreexperiences. She'd only been once before and thought it would be a fun place to return to. We arrived just minutes after 5pm on a Thursday, with only one group ahead of us -- about a 5-minute wait before we were ushered in. They do check IDs, so bring one, or find somewhere else to drink.
After the secret knock and moving a book in the entryway library, the door opens into a 1920s-style bar: heavy, dark wood, and very limited seating, with just 8 seats at the bar and two larger seating areas for groups.
I believe our bartender's name was Matt -- the last of the original employees since Eleven Twenty-Two opened eight years ago. He was great, walking my girlfriend through the menu when she asked for recommendations, and sharing some great insight when we asked about the bar's history and the mixology behind the drinks.
She started the evening with a Mexican Firing Squad -- very margarita-like, with tequila, lime, house-made grenadine, and Angostura. I wasn't quite as adventurous and wanted to keep things simple, so my first round was a martini, stirred and dry.
The fun didn't stop there, since we had 90 minutes to relax before our dinner reservation. Round two was a Slow and Foamy -- a lemongrass- and fennel-infused vodka with egg white. It was an interesting drink; flavors you wouldn't expect to work together, worked together beautifully. It's an in-house creation by the female bartender, whose name I didn't catch.
Torn between a Sidecar and a Manhattan, I went with the Sidecar, since I hadn't found a good one anywhere else in Paso. Matt poured a really nice one -- not too sweet, with a sugar-rimmed glass and well-balanced simple syrup. Like every drink that night, it was beautifully balanced. We finished with a Banana Daiquiri -- their unique take on the drink, without the slushy ice or fake banana flavor. This was probably the best drink of the night for both of us, and we shared it.
It's not cheap, but a night out for drinks never is. That wouldn't stop me from bringing out-of-town guests here -- they'd love this kind of historical, speakeasy-style setting. I really appreciated the staff's attention and professionalism. We had a great time. Thanks, Eleven Twenty-Two!