Am I the only guy who gets weirded out when going to a burlesque show, with their spouse also…read morepresent? "Don't worry honey, it's okay to look, and also throw money at the half-naked women! I promise you won't get in trouble!"
Uh-huh. ;)
Alright, I digress. Awkwardness aside, Prohibition is a really great place to enjoy a classy dinner, where the meat is served on a place AND on stage, and the cheesecake comes with the price of admission!
Speaking of admission, as my wife and I were guests, being shepherded along by our friend, I cannot recall exactly what the "cover charge" was (not much, if I remember correctly...less than $20 for two?), and if reservations are *required*, I cannot say for certain, but I would say they are *recommended* at the very least, because our showtime was packed. Anyway, once paid, you are escorted through a secret bookcase door (SLC residents sure do love their speakeasies, don't they?), and into the dining hall and saloon, where you're soon to have your socks knocked off...well, someone's clothes are coming off, anyway!
We were given a table that I dismissively thought was tucked away pretty far in the back and out of the way, but it ended up being one of the best seats in the house, as the table where the performers gathered, prepped, and returned to was just adjacent to us, so we were about as up close and personal as you can get, without getting yourselves arrested. Each of the dancers brought their own style, flair, and wardrobe to their performances, which were spirited and energetic, and a touch racy, without devolving into outright debauchery. It may be an (18+? 21+?) venue, but alcohol restrictions aside, I wouldn't hesitate to take older, more mature teens to a show with similar content.
We ordered a smattering of smaller dishes, as we weren't particularly hungry, but the Mishima Wagyu tacos were fantastic (as you would expect), as was the Fedora Fin (Za'atar-crusted ahi tuna), and all of our cocktails. As the show is timed event with multiple performances per night, both food and bev are fired out of the kitchen/bar faster than the bullets from a Tommy Gun, but with far better accuracy. The whole operation here was honestly very impressive, from start to finish.
Coming from a progressive city like Portland, it's always struck me a little odd that places that, by reputation, strike you as more conservative end up having some of the best, most wild entertainment venues, that you only wish you had back home. Prohibition is one of these places that I would rather see in my downtown, instead of the litany of seedy strip joints pushing for maximum titilation, but with only a fraction of the class and sophistication. Prohibition is good, clean fun, masquerading as something illicit, which is the heart of what makes it work so well.
