Next of Kin — Restaurant in Philadelphia

I’ve only managed to make it to this place twice, the first time mid-June after getting off work early from Brooklyn Bowl just down the street, and the second a few hours before writing this review. Even after getting a hair cut between my first and second visit, Kyle and Josiah immediately recognized me just as I walked in. Despite its small size with the only food in the place being available from a vending machine (Primarily chips and a few other snacks.), the range of drinks was wonderful, with my two choices in particular being the pisco sour (a little rich, very juicy, and the chocolate shavings complementing those characteristics pleasantly), and the Smoke And Barrels (A Manhattan combining the classic rye element with mezcal and an amaro, wonderfully balanced with the smoky and spirit-forward aspects, a little tart from the cherry, easily one of my favorite ever riffs on a classic). Apart from the aforementioned cocktails, I also had a couple shots of the rum blend which was phenomenal, straight juicy and bright. I’d be happy to try it again.

The drinks are only part of the fun. As I had already stated, Kyle and Josiah IMMEDIATELY recognized my face as I walked in, despite the massive haircut, and they were just as awesome from my prior visit months ago. Even better, I gifted a tiki bottle opener that my coworker gave me a couple years ago over the holidays, and it is still there, evidently standing strong as ever, if you’re interested in asking them. Moving forward from that, I had some wonderful conversations with some fellow patrons. One of them was particularly buzzed, and even then our conversation wasn’t hampered by that. The compact, intimate feel to this place is wonderful, especially if you’re having a night out with friends or on a date for just drinks.

It’s largely focused on vibes, bringing new faces together, and just overall having a wonderful time without getting messed up. Believe me, this is the type of place you come to for wonderful drinks and splendid vibes, and staff who don’t just know what they’re doing, but know they can, and WILL have fun committing themselves to their craft. That’s what has truly made me come back, and it will remain that way. I’m looking forward to my next stop here, the next drinks, and my next wonderful conversations. Cheers to all who see this, and happy sailing!

A short, final note: Be prepared to drink lots of water. The staff are all in the mindset of hydrating everyone regardless of how busy it is. The second your glass of water is on the verge, it will be refilled before you can say anything. Something I love seeing in bars and...

Update: visited again a few months later and it was just as good as the first visit. These guys are doing great stuff!

Original Review: I have to say that I was very impressed for our first visit here. They were doing everything just about right, and this will definitely be a regular stop for us when we're in the neighborhood. One thing in particular stood out for us: The door guy! We where there on a busy Saturday night, and he was without a doubt the best door guy we've ever encountered at a bar. He really made the experience. First of all, he functions more like a host. He was very friendly, gave us options of seating etc. and accurate wait times, including giving us a heads up that the bartenders just got crushed with orders so it might be a couple of extra minutes. All of it was very much appreciated. Once inside the vibe was very cool, and the rest of the staff were also very much on top of it and super friendly. They all gave the place a great and fun vibe. We planned on just stopping in for a quick one, but ended up hanging out for a couple of drinks, mainly because of the bartenders. The drinks we had were really good, and the bartenders really knew what they were doing. We ordered a kind of deeper cut classic that wasn't on the menu, and they had no problem with it. They have a small but well curated and unique spirits selection. All in all, great job from start to finish, and we'll be...

I stumbled upon this place during a vist in fishtown, and I am glad that I did.

First off, the staff was very friendly and welcoming, as I was warmly greeted immediately upon entry. The ambiance of the establishment is very cool and chic. The mood is set as such, with the soft glow from the lamps on the bar and the amber colored lighting throughout the rest of the place. I also took great appreciation with the disco ball and velvet lining of skulls within the restroom.

Yet, most importantly, the cocktails were absolutely delightful. I tried several, and each were very well balanced in flavor and aromatic. Furthermore, you could get a quality taste of the alcohol while still experiencing each the flavors described within the menu.

While the drinks were a touch pricey, they nonetheless felt competive compared to prices from other bars within the area. Additionally, you can certainly taste the meticulous detail that went within each mixed drink.

If you are in the fishtown area, I highly recommend that you patronize this business, as nothing will beat a bar designed for converstion and delicious libations. I was able to experience both on a random Thursday afternoon, sharing a pleasant conversation with one of the...