My spouse and I dined at Bridges and Bourbon for a late
dinner on a Saturday night in late August 2019. Bridges and Bourbon is open Tuesdays
through Sundays for happy hour, dinner, drinks, and late night (closed on
Mondays). The restaurant accepts reservations by phone or email for larger
parties only. (In the past, the property used the Yelp Waitlist feature, but it
no longer seems available.) We arrived as walk-ins, as did many others.
Bridges and Bourbon opened in summer 2019 on Downtown’s Penn
Avenue in the space previously occupied by Seviche. The long L-shaped bar is
the focal point of the room (it seats about 18 patrons on its backless
leather-topped stools), surrounded by stand-alone tables (with marble tops and
comfortable padded armchairs) and a few semi-circular padded leather booths. A
few tables outdoors on the sidewalk are available seasonally, and the front
window of the restaurant can be opened to join the two spaces. Indoor décor
features leather, mirrors, and metal finishes for a chic look.
When we visited, the bar/restaurant served a concise but
eclectic menu (the menu has since been expanded). We shared the chip (singular)
and dip, which is a giant rice chip served with avocado puree topped with roe.
(Other starters/small plates include truffle popcorn, wings, dumplings,
tartare, and tempura). For our main courses, we shared a burger (deliciously
simple with just cheese, sauteed onions, and pickles); only two additional
large plates (swordfish and a rice dish) are offered. We shared the sweet corn
cheesecake for dessert (a fruity tapioca pudding and chocolate mousse are also
available). Although craft cocktails are the bar’s specialty, a full liquor
license, wine, and beer are also available. We couldn’t resist ordering the
tableside preparation of the cocktail called “Kakigori”, featuring shaved yuzu
ice, layered with condensed milk, blueberries, and matcha; the diner adds the
vodka afterwards. (We have eaten/drank at Chef Grant Achatz’s The Aviary at the
Mandarin Oriental in NYC, and this drink rivals their most theatrical
offerings.)
We enjoyed our time at Bridges and Bourbon, and we will
return to try some of their other interesting drinks.
