Strong Water isn't just a place to grab a drink, it is an entire experience from the moment you…read morewalk through the door. We were escorted inside and our hostess immediately started introducing us to the lore of the place: a capsized ship with the space decorated using pieces recovered from the wreckage. The room is VERY dimly lit, and we actually stood near the entrance for a moment while our eyes adjusted, but honestly that just added to the atmosphere. On the way to our reservation in the Captain's Quarters, our hostess gave us a little tour of the main room and even pointed out the bathrooms for later. Once we sat down, we met our bartender, Drew, who was fantastic. He walked us through the different menus, explained the food and cocktails, and really added to the experience throughout the night. I'm normally a whiskey drinker, so I started with the Southeast Spice Trade while my girlfriend ordered the Pineapple Whipped Colada. Both were delicious, but half the fun was watching Drew make them. You could really see the amount of care that went into the craft and presentation of every drink. For food, we ordered the chicken katsu and ahi poke nachos. I was especially excited when the nachos arrived and I realized they were made with wonton chips. I'm a sucker for wonton chips, so those were an immediate win. We obviously couldn't stop at one round of drinks, so next came the Tarobi Colada and Zombie King. Drew told us a little about the history of the Zombie King and gave us a lesson on rum, so I had to try it, plus it came in one of the coolest mugs I've ever seen. The Zombie King was easily my favorite drink of the night. The flavor was fantastic from beginning to end and dangerously smooth. I didn't even realize how much it had hit me until I stood up. Even leaving was part of the experience. We finally checked out the bathroom and the door has what feels like TEN different locks on it. It genuinely felt like I was locking myself inside the bathroom of an old pirate ship. Between the storytelling, incredible atmosphere, Captain's Quarters, food, cocktails, and especially the service from Drew, this was such a memorable night. Strong Water completely commits to its theme without sacrificing the quality of the drinks. Absolutely an experience worth having, and we can't wait to come back.

We have returned to Strong Water several times in recent months, so it's time for an update. We…read morefirst returned in early June since they introduced some new cocktails and food to the menu. The other visits were just because this is by far our number one place. Recently added cocktails: Buzzin' Jungle Bird (Jamaican gold rum, coffee infused campari, dark rum, pineapple, lime, hemp orgeat, cane, Angostura bitters). This is a great spin on a jungle bird, with some complexity and coffee flavor. I'm usually not a big fan of coffee, but it is at a good level. Chi Chi (Whey vodka, pineapple, lime, date, honey, coconut, salt). This has a great creamy texture which I believe comes from the dairy component of the whey vodka. It is well balanced with some sweetness, and I could taste the coconut and date flavors. Lapu Lapu (Asian rum, Jamaican rum, dry curacao, lime, orgeat, demerara). It is juicy, well balanced, and served with a flaming sugar cube on top. This is the cocktail they chose to serve at their booth at Tiki Oasis recently which says a lot, try it! Thai Me Down (Barbados rum, coconut liqueur, papaya, lemon, demerara, Thai basil). It is served old-fashioned style, and was light and perfectly balanced. Those Thai inspired flavors were all noticeable. Demerara Dry Float. They added and took this one off the menu as of now. It was a balanced light citrusy drink which was served with a delicious sidecar of Hamilton 151 rum infused with banana chips. I sipped half of that and mixed the rest into the cocktail. It was served with a beautiful ice shell. I'm guessing it was too labor intensive, and took up a lot of space in their freezers. Recently added food: Ahi Poke Nachos (marinated ahi tuna, masago, avocado, cucumber, spicy mayo, furikake, green onion). This is such a tasty starter with so many textures and flavors. I love that the nachos are wontons too, and not just chips. Crab & Cream cheese wontons. Nice crisp wontons with a good amount of crab and cream cheese inside. The chili sauce and spicy mayo adds another layer of flavor, and there is a slice of jalapeno on top for a little heat. Pan-Seared Scallops. This was an excellent lighter entrée. The four scallops are cooked perfectly, and even have a little dollop of caviar on top. I liked the mix of veggies and really liked the bed of potato puree underneath. Steak & Eggs (8oz hanger steak, crying tiger glaze, Nam Jim Jaew sauce, sunny eggs, rice). I normally wouldn't try steak & eggs for dinner, but I can't resist a good hanger steak. It was cooked a perfect medium rare and I appreciate that it was pre-sliced. The crying tiger glaze and sauce were so flavorful. There's plenty of rice to soak up any left egg yolk or sauce. Recently added desserts: Dubai Chocolate Lava Cake. This was excellent, but it's definitely sweet and rich. Save some room if you plan on ordering this. Ube Flan Cake. I'm usually not a fan of flan, but I have to try anything with ube and this was good. The cake had nice ube flavor, and I liked that the flan was a little firm since the looser custardy/gelatinous texture is not for me. This is definitely a lighter dessert than the lava cake. It's not a new drink, but I also had the Naval Grog for the first time. (Lost Voyage rum, overproof white rum, allspice dram, lime, grapefruit, demerara, honey). It is boozy with nice spice notes. Other repeat cocktails enjoyed were Tales from the Black Lagoon (my favorite), Missionary's Downfall, Agave Parrot, Singapore Sling, and Serpents Grasp all of which are excellent. Their cocktails, food, ambiance, and service are always top notch. Thank you Ying, Erica, Greg, Jordan, Joey, Iris, Karen, Kyle, Joy, and John for your wonderful hospitality during our visits. We will return again soon!

I think this is on everyone's speakeasy list!…read more Make sure you make a reservation It is very packed. They offer bar seating and booth / table Follow the wall from Randy's donuts and Look for a wall of Japanese sake/beer barrels and head towards the restaurant - the rolling boil. There will be a check in host and stand there and wait (it will be located up against the wall with a big secret door right next to the hostess station) It's very New York inside. When I first came in Spring with the amazing, Karen, the menu and everything was great Now, I took my friend who was in town from Nashville and it was a brand new theme. It's the great Gatsby. Even our waitress, Jasmine was dressed for the occasion. I would say this place is known for Absinthe. They have cocktails featuring it or you can get one of the huge apparatus (huge and glowing green) which, if you are into it? I highly recommend. Just one of the huge apparatus makes one regular drink. Or, what Karen and I did, was split it and make it into a shot for the both of us. The waitress comes out and shows you how it works and goes over everything. Karen, who I came with, was a pro and knew her way around it. She showed me the ropes lol. Honestly, if you are here? When in Rome. Go all out and try it, since it's where they shine here. They took off a few menu items and added some themed drinks. ( a couple new champagne themed drinks) They have big entree items but I suggest small bites and sharing and mostly coming for the drinks. There's no bathroom inside, so you do have to leave the bar and go to the closest one (over behind Randy's donuts) and then enter the speakeasy again Both times coming here I've never had an issue. It's a small, packed place. And yet they still have the cocktails flowing and the food coming out in a good time. So the food and drinks are good Atmosphere is lovely. Service is good. Especially for it usually being very busy in here This place is located inside the Anaheim packing district. So I suggest hitting up a couple other spots before or afterwards for some more food or drinks P.S. it is very dark In here. They never cared if we used our light to look at the menu. However, they do not want flash photography They also do not strictly enforce a dress code (my friend from Nashville asked) however, they suggest dressing business casual and not too underdressed

Date night for mom and dad away from the kids type of night. Very mellow and chill. Small but cozy…read more I loved the Gatsby decor. We chose to be seated at the bar. Service was decent. I really liked the clarified strawberry drink, similar to strawberry and cream. I ordered a drink after that unfortunately forgot the name (photo attached with a tall glass) but there was no special cocktail craft taste to it. Just hard liquor taste and undrinkable :( the bartender kindly offered another drink. Unfortunately none of the food was the least bit good. Steak and fries was ordered medium rare and cooked to medium well with what seemed like no seasoning was on there at all. Crab cake was just ok and the slaw beneath it was drenched in a vinaigrette that was just sour and unpleasant. And the Mac and cheese, as we were very hopeful and looking forward to, was probably the blandest Mac and cheese we ever had. We asked the lady bartender for salt and she handed us, no exaggeration (and you guys will probably think I am) a salt shaker with 10 grains of salt in it and said "looks like there's a lil something you could still get out of there" My jaw dropped. But yeah. The shredded meat on top of the Mac and cheese was cooked beyond the point of edible. That one was unfortunately sent back bc we just couldn't eat it. We were bummed over all mostly about the food.

We've had dinner and drinks here many times, but this was our first time having breakfast…read more Our host, Lisa, was very friendly. We've met her here a few times before, and it was nice to see her again. Our server was very nice as well. I had the Lomi-Lomi Salmon Sandwich, and it was really good! It was also much bigger than I expected. We were here on D23 day, starting from the park opening time. Disneyland and Disney California Adventure were both so crowded, so having a nice, quiet, and relaxing breakfast was exactly what we needed. We had a great time and really enjoyed our breakfast!

This review is for the Trader Sam's mixology seminar. I haven't visited during regular hours yet…read more The inside of Trader Sam's was closed for a few months for renovations earlier this year. They have mixology seminars periodically, and I snagged spots for a friend and me a few days after they reopened. The cost is ~$180 per person and it is held inside the main bar area. They will also validate your parking. Arrive at least fifteen minutes before the start time at the check-in sign near the entrance. When it's time to enter, grab any available seat at the bar or any of the tables. Everything for making the drinks is set up ahead of time. You mix and garnish a cocktail and a mocktail. Kelly Merrell who is well known in tiki/cocktail circles guided the seminar. For an introductory mixology seminar, the format was great with a lot of basic cocktail education and interaction with the attendees. I've been making cocktails at home for a while and even picked up some helpful tips. The "Barrel of Mischief" cocktail we made had six different spirits, which was perfect for describing the different characteristics and some background on each. After mixing up the cocktail, you garnish it however you like from various options provided. The cocktail was very good. Even with all those different spirits, it was very balanced and not boozy and had some complexity. We also made a basic mocktail with lemon, simple syrup, and elderberry tonic. It was even garnished with a cute Mickey Mouse cucumber slice. Apparently, bars have been paying a lot more attention to mocktails lately, which is great for people who don't drink but still want to get the same experience. Once the seminar inside has completed, there is a reception for attendees across from the entrance in the Tangaroa Terrace outdoor patio area. The area was reserved and has tables, a large fireplace, and live music. We were served ahi tuna bites, Hawaiian fried rice, and a Taiyaki waffle fish filled with ice cream. We were also served a Miehana cocktail. Kelly and other Trader Sam's staff mingled with guests. Each attendee also received a Trader Sam's 15th anniversary mug a few weeks before its general release. I had a great time, learned a few tips, and I finally got to see the inside of Trader Sam's. Since reopening, they are now walk-in/waitlist only and no reservations, and they said it's actually easier to get in now. I'm looking forward to returning during regular hours for food and cocktails.

My first time here. Great place to hang out, nice view, rooftop, great food, and most of all,…read moreKayla our server was amazing!

Food is mostly carbs such as pasta, nachos, sandwiches, and burgers. All the food was delicious our…read moregroup enjoyed it tho Service here is a little slow but not a deal breaker -- the staff themselves are awesome and made our experience very memorable.

Super cool, retro arcade/bar located in DT Anaheim…read more Decently priced games, my husband and I stopped by and played a few games for about $10. I didn't interact with anyone so can't say much about the service They sell beer on tap too, and host a variety of pinball nights. It's small but we had a fun time. Lots of pinball machines and other arcade games. Refillable play cards, as well as a modern jukebox.

Hyper beer is one of those feel good nostalgic places in a world full of muted Brown and…read moreaesthetically pleasing. It gives you that old-school bar feeling while you get to play some arcade games or pinball machines. The overall vibe is unmatched while you can choose your vinyl tunes to listen to. I personally had a blast, getting to look through some classic vinyls well my son was running around playing a bunch of the games. The service is second to none as well. I wish hyper beer nothing but success, and I cannot wait to go back!

Tonight was my first time here. I had so much fun tonight dancing for hours. DJ FROG !!! . The bar…read moreis cute and clean and the bartenders were all good and had banging bodies. They were all so nice and didn't make other women feel out of place. The dance floor was popping. #funk#oldies#80's Security was fire too

It does not smell like anything bad here; great atmosphere .. drinks are great and Kimmy/Rosa gave…read moregreat service and attentive . We played billiards and the gals remembered especially kimmy came by and checked up on us. My first time and wont be me last.

Divey, but not TOO divey…read more Play a game of pool, or chill with friends for a drink or two. If you need some air, head to the rear patio. This part of Anaheim is full of touristy spots - and no wonder, it's by Disneyland - so The Cave is a breath of fresh air in a touristy desert. Shout out to Maryna for putting up with our group, getting me kamikaze shots, and being cool. Credit accepted.

This is my favorite local bar! My boyfriend and I come here all the time, and it's always a great…read moreexperience. Every time we've visited, it's had the perfect crowd--not too busy or overcrowded, which is something I really appreciate. The bartenders are always friendly, welcoming, and provide great service. If you're looking for a laid-back spot to grab a drink, I definitely recommend checking this place out!

Such a fun and unique experience at Story! Felt like we were transported to Vegas. It was so fun!…read moreSo unique and sooooo yummy! The Great Gatsby theme is so beautifully done from the atmosphere to the cocktails, everything feels elevated and immersive. We ordered the Dinner Tower, the Great Gatsby Effect cocktail, and the Chapter 91 cocktail, and everything was amazing. The presentation was incredible, the food was delicious, and the drinks were just as impressive. A huge thank you to Ben for taking such great care of us and to Logan, our server, for making the entire experience even better. The service was attentive, welcoming, and truly five-star. Definitely a place I'd recommend for a date night, celebration, girls night or just a fun night out in Anaheim. We'll absolutely be back!

Story is a really cute themed restaurant in Anaheim Hills. They offer brunch, lunch, dinner, and…read moreeven tea parties for different group settings. The service was nice and friendly. * Short Rib Benny 5/5 - This was very tasty. The poached eggs were cooked to perfection. The short rib was good. I got the hollandaise sauce on the side since it can be hit and miss at other places. It was really tasty here. The breakfast potatoes were not bad. * Coconut Ube Pancake - My friends got these and they were okay. Kinda dry. Not sure if the waffle version would have tasted better. * Strawberry Thai Basil Mimosa 3/5 - This was the sweetest mimosa under Specialty Mimosas and it tasted pretty average and wasn't very sweet either.

Great spot on the 2nd level of the Anaheim Packing District. Friendly bartenders, but they have…read moreseating around all sides, so they might take a little while to get you your drink. They were playing some great 90s tunes and watching them make drinks, talk a little shit, and have fun was great to watch! I only had a single beer (local lager that the bartender recommended) as I was waiting for a reservation at another spot, but I'll definitely stop here again the next time I'm in the area.

It was 5 o'clock somewhere lol…read more This bar has prime real estate inside the great, Anaheim packing district. (The Anaheim packing district has private parking and it's easy to find a spot during the week. On the weekend, it's another story) You basically run right into the hammer bar when you enter from the main entrance. It's nothing fancy, gives off hipster vibes and is cool without trying to be cool. The two bartenders Josh and Xavier were amazing I came here around prime lunch time. I went and asked one of the bartenders, since they do not serve food if it was ok to bring some pastries inside and eat them with my drink. (There's a pastry place right next to the hammer bar) They said since it was a weekday and not busy I could bring something in. So I went and grabbed some food and sat there while drinking my drinks. They have bar seating and then they have hightop tables as well I asked them for some recommendations. Josh and Xavier both recommended The zombie (kept warning me that it was extremely strong. So I stayed away from that. Even though I'm confident I could handle it) The banana clip The pool noodle (I told them I needed it to be pretty / cool looking too, lol) I went with the pool noodle -Plantaray Pineapple Rum, Rhum J.M. Agricole, guava, apricot, lime and cava. AND, let me tell you, this was delicious AND looked amazing 10/10 Then I went with the banana clip- Old Forester 100 Proof Bourbon, banana, mandarine, cinnamon, pineapple and lemon. 10/10, I loved it To be honest all the drinks sounded great. If I wasn't planning on going to other places and walking around the packing district, I would have just stayed at this bar and had a few more lol. Prices were extremely reasonable as well The service that Josh and Xavier provided was phenomenal 10/10. They were friendly and knowledgeable. They answered all the questions I had They also have mocktails, beer and wine. I highly recommend coming here for a drink if you are coming to the Anaheim Packing district. Or stay here for a while. I could have definitely stayed longer and tried more. I'll definitely be back next time I am in the area (On the menu it says they offer gift cards. So it would be perfect for any friends that live by this place and appreciate a cool bar)

Ambiance This place opens at 4 and we just happened to be…read morethe first customers. Limited seating, dark setting. Place filled up fast. Customer Service Top notch. Charcuterie Pizza Just delicious with Prosciutto, salami and pepperoni and perfect crust. Salad Produce fresh, a tasty dressing did not catch the name. Raven's Wing They have some unique crafted cocktails. Cucumber mint prickly pear gin, italicus, lemon and pineapple juice, prickly pear syrup, smoke garnish. Presented by removing lid and smoke comes out.

Oh, it's a small and perfectly harmless little place--so you should definitely step inside. Don't…read moreconcern yourself with what may happen once the door closes behind you. The theming is enchanting, from the décor to the beautifully crafted potions they call "drinks." The bartenders clearly possess forbidden knowledge, and you can taste the care, research, and perhaps a little sorcery poured into every glass. Yes, the prices carry the usual Disney curse, but the drinks are strong, the presentation is superb, and the experience is wickedly delightful. I highly recommend stopping in. Come inside, have a drink, and stay for a spell. I promise you'll have a wonderful time--and witches never lie.