Cuisine:

• Others
• Californian
• Soul Food
• Bistro

Alembic Description:
An atmosphere of gritty, bluesy cool pervades this intimate, rough-hewn yet sophisticated bar and small-plates restaurant, where a person can get a bourbon old-fashioned and a slow-braised oxtail sandwich. The unique bar is roomy where it counts---behind the counter, so the hard-working bartenders can move around---and fashioned from recycled Kezar Stadium bleachers; the whole room smells of roasted malt and old wood, and features a tin ceiling and soft, bare-bulb droplights against dust-colored walls. The drink list is filled with the brown stuff---Manhattans, Sazeracs, and a turn-of-the-century rye whiskey concoction known as The Bone---perfect for gambling types and transients in vintage fedoras. Beers hail from lauded sister venue Magnolia Pub down the street, with a rotating guest selection of local draughts, such as Speakeasy and Death and Taxes. Food is strong, slow-cooked or fried and served sizzling in small, cast-iron pots and skillets, including blackened whole young squid, goat cheese fritters, crawdaddy gumbo, and a somewhat soupy pudding of grits, barbecued pork belly and deviled duck eggs ("bacon, eggs & grits"). Service is warm, adult and accommodating. After 9 p.m. the small space fills with livelier revelers.


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