A quick post about how much I love East Side Showroom, a place I love in spite of myself. Why didn’t I want to like it? Mostly, because of it’s popularity with the hipsters, higher prices, long waits, and smoky interior (due to ventilation issues in the kitchen that may now be resolved).

However, when Adam and I joined our friend Jon for dinner and drinks on a recent Monday night, we all felt it lived up to the hype. I’ve been thinking about it ever since and am going back tonight — just three weeks later.

Here’s a recent cocktail menu since I couldn’t find one online (first rule of food blogging is….take pictures of the menu!)

I believe this one is Manuel’s Swizzle:

Maybe the Corpse Reviver #4?

Fried Chicken! Only available on Monday nights and absolutely delicious. They use Dewberry Hills birds and serve them with honey, sweet potato mash, and purple cabbage slaw. Also, the fried chicken comes with a side of local honey. Are you kidding me with this deliciousness? Yum!

Another entree that really floated our boat was the Axis Venison and Bacon with spicy molasses BBQ and hand cut frites. Oh mi god it was wonderful! I was all prepared to be disappointed by the house made ketchup (I’m a Heintz girl) but that was fantastic too!

Prices aren’t low here (as I mentioned before) – the Axis entree was $32 and the drinks were in the $10 range. However, Eastside Showroom uses local, high quality ingredients, makes everything with love, is gorgeously decorated, and if you drink enough, you’ll be totally happy and fine with the bill (we recommend sharing entrees – they are large).

OK I believe the above drink was the violet translation but I’m not really sure because at that point, I told them to bring me whatever they wanted (nice heavy drink pours here — no need for more than one or two to have a very good time).

Also on Mondays, the musical entertainment is Mazel Tov Cocktail Hour — a Yiddish and Klezmer Carnival Band. They’re really fun and added more to the specialness of the evening.

Finally, the chef is a woman. Something you don’t see all the time. Props to you, Sonya Cote….and to the beautiful human being responsible for that fried chx!