Nitro Tales — Restaurant in Huntsville

I was initially excited to try Nitro Tales. The concept sounded unique, combining New York energy with Eastern influences in a cozy Huntsville setting. The ambiance is undeniably unlike anything else in the area – a stylish fusion of bold, gold accents and eclectic decor. If it were executed better, this could easily be a place I’d visit time and time again. Unfortunately, based on my experience, I won’t be returning – and I encourage you not to either.

From the moment we walked in, the service was a huge letdown. We were greeted by a woman, who we later learned is the owner, with an attitude that felt more like she was doing us a favor than offering a service. She handed us a vase, pointed to a QR code, and offered no further explanation of the menu. When we asked about recommendations, she vaguely said there were 18 drinks on tap and 15 menu items, but offered no excitement, suggestions, or even a friendly smile. It’s hard to believe this is how an owner, or anyone in hospitality, expects to build customer loyalty. The lack of personal engagement made us feel like we weren’t wanted, which—frankly—is the biggest killer for any bar or restaurant.

The drinks? Underwhelming at best. I ordered a signature cocktail that looked impressive but tasted watered-down. It’s one thing to have a flashy drink; it’s another to offer something that falls flat in flavor. At $15 a drink, it’s especially disappointing when the execution doesn’t match the hype. We also tried a couple of “Japas” small plates, but again – mediocre at best. No major flaws, just a disappointing lack of attention to detail that made everything feel like an afterthought.

What stood out most was the total lack of management oversight. I did a quick scan of online reviews and found a consistent theme: complaints about the service and no responses from the owner. It seems like the place is running on autopilot with little interest in improving or acknowledging feedback. In fact, when I recognized the owner from a previous visit to the cigar bar at Bridge Street and asked if she worked there, she turned and abruptly said, “We own that too.” That’s the level of engagement we got. Not a “Yes, I worked there,” or “Thanks for recognizing me,” just a cold, dismissive reply. The attitude at both places was strikingly similar, and I’ll save my thoughts on the cigar bar for another review.

Nitro Tales could be something special, but it’s clearly suffering from a lack of direction and leadership. If the owner doesn’t take a long hard look at how they’re engaging with customers – and with their reviews – this place will continue to fade. I can’t imagine it lasting much longer if things don’t change. In my opinion, if Nitro Tales continues on this path, it will shrink to a “decorative ghost town” within six months. Huntsville deserves a place that actually appreciates its patrons, and right now, this isn’t it.

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What Needs to Change: • Staff Engagement: Make customers feel welcomed, valued, and listened to. A little enthusiasm goes a long way. • Drinks & Menu: Perfect the drinks and food, making sure they live up to the concept. • Owner Involvement: Start engaging with reviews and taking feedback seriously. Show...

Nitro Tales can be a bit misleading from the outside. I have personally walked past the place many times when in Providence, and thought it was basically a coffee bar. A GF suggested we go over there for dinner, and I was surprised to see they have a notable food menu, offering what they referred to as “Japas,” for Japanese tapas. Another interesting aspect is that what at first appeared to me to be a wall-mounted rack of beer taps is actually a dispenser for multiple different types of pre-mixed cocktails, which was an interesting concept!

We tried a few different cocktails, to include their take on an Aperol Spritz (“Alkamist”), an Asian inspired margarita (the “Hana Rita”), and the “Chai Curious,” which gave me a pleasant Indian vibes. If you can’t decide what you want as a full-sized libation, they have an option to get a flight of cocktails, where you get three smaller versions so that you can calibrate what you like. Pretty cool.

As to the food, as the term Japas implies, there is a distinct Japanese focus, while a number of other dishes are Asian influenced. We ordered a couple to start, beginning with the edamame hummus, which had a nice flavor and texture, served with rice crackers to scoop up the mixture. Next up was the “grilled cheese sando,” which was basically a grilled cheese sandwich made with a chocolate waffle and presented with a blueberry compote on the side. This came out as too sweet for me, even sans the blueberry jam, largely owing to the moderately sweet chocolate waffle which formed the bread. Creative, for sure, but to me really more of a breakfast or brunch concept than part of a dinner. Maybe a more assertive cheese like a Gruyère or aged gouda would give a bit of contrast, as opposed to the very mild cheese teaming up with the chocolate waffle to make something which was unexpectedly sweet? Finally, we got two of their hand-held Onigirazu; one each in crab and shrimp varieties. We both liked the shrimp a bit more because it seemed more flavorful. The crab version was still tasty though. I think both would have benefited from a small side of homemade Ponzu sauce that would have offered a little bit of zing to compliment the umami of the Onigirazu, or maybe a mild kimchi slaw on the side?

I noticed as we left they had a sandwich board sign in front announcing a happy hour and other specials. I believe they have only been open since November 2024, so they are likely still trying to find an audience, but this place is worth checking out, if for no other reason than they are daring to try something different, with pretty tasty options. On my next trip I am going to try one or two other food offerings and cocktails.

Our server told me they also had a regular bar in the event you want more conventional drink, which is good to know if you are less adventurous with...

*Update: Second time trying this place, the food was amazing. I was actually impressed. We went there for brunch and had an Onsen Egg Bowl, Egg Sando, & a Matcha waffle for the starter. The egg bowl was absolutely delicious; all of it was actually. They have these pandan mimosas that are addictive & I’m not even a true mimosa- girl. The black sesame mini donut is very satisfying.

The staff was much friendlier this time. They are still a little stuck up but much more approachable than last time. I would never come here and sit at the bar. It was actually empty most of the time we were there. They don’t have true bartenders so it would be hard to make the bar into an inviting place to sit. The cocktail prices went down a couple bucks I believe so that is an improvement. It’s still hard to justify ordering a cocktail on tap for that price. It would be like paying premium prices for a microwaved meal to me.

I do wish the music wasn’t so loud. Pollen allergies have my voice strained already. The DJ was great but I got tired of shouting & saying “what” often.

They have definitely improved the service since last time we were there. Previous below for reference.

Original review…. This place definitely has potential, even if it does feel a little too L.A-esque. The food we order was surprisingly delicious: ube waffle sandwich & one other small sandwich (katsu something or other). Those were great.

My only two complaints are that none of the $16-$18 cocktails on the menu are made fresh. They are on tap. Because of this, they all taste flat like punch. The flavors are pretty good though. I would probably $10 for a cocktail on tap. If you are going to have the most expensive cocktails in the city as this place does, they need to be made fresh, shaken or stirred.

My other complaint is that the service is disinterested. We tried to be friendly and nobody really wanted to engage. It was very...