Bristol Bar
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As you may or may not know, we are getting ready to relaunch Bristol Bar and would like to ask the people of Columbus Underground, what do you look for in bars/nightlife?
What do you think is missing?
If you had unlimited funds (not that we do!), what would you open and where?
Just looking to start conversation on where you minds are, that's all.
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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Bristol Bar wrote >>
As you may or may not know, we are getting ready to relaunch Bristol Bar and would like to ask the people of Columbus Underground, what do you look for in bars/nightlife?
What do you think is missing?
If you had unlimited funds (not that we do!), what would you open and where?
Just looking to start conversation on where you minds are, that's all.
My answer won't really reflect the majority of what's out there, but here goes:
I don't do the bar thing too often, so I can't comment on what's missing. I have a handful of places that I can go to that are just right for me and give me what I want.
Things I like:
Bartenders that know what they are doing. I usually drink pretty simple stuff, but now and then I want something a little different. And I drink like an old man. I don't think it's too hard to ask bartenders know how to make some of the classics.
Good beer selection. Usually I can get my first choice when I order a beer. I ended up at Park Street Patio for my friend's birthday and struck out twice on my beer selection. First I asked for a Bass. No go, which I can understand being an import. So I asked for an MGD. Nope. That has been one of the first times in a while I had to go through the beer list with the bar tender to find something. Having a balance between some of the good macros, imports and micros is a good thing.
Cheap drinks. I appreciate a place wanting to make a profit, but 4.50 for a measly plastic cup full of Guiness is not going to bring me back. If you're going to charge high it better be worth it.
Bristol Bar
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I completely understand. So, a trained, knowledgeable staff, who can recommend? And when you say balance, are you saying having the "standards" such as Miller Lite, Corona, ect...As well as others you might like, but have never tried?
For example, I was at Bob's Bar, and asked for the bartenders favorite, giving a little nudge (NO BLUEBERRY OR CHERRY OR ANY FRUIT BEER) and loved what I was poured.
Is this what you are saying?
By the way, for you and everyone else, how many times do you go out?
Per week, Per Month, Per Year, or gasp, Per Day?
And when you do, how do you decide?
Now, let's just leave out price for the first part of this discussion. Believe me, I know it's extremely important, and cannot be ignored. But I'm not wanting that to drive this.
michaelcoyote
!seabus
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I definitely like some classic cocktails, but I also understand that good cocktails take time and are hard to do right when you have 20 people waiting for a drink..
...which is why I go for whisky when I'm.. I can count a few times when I've drank your bar out of whisky.. It's one reason I quit going.. try to keep some around.. a bottle of Bushmills and a bottle of Bulleit are perfectly good and shouldn't break the bank of any bar..
On the other hand a few quick classics might be good.. I was shocked and pleasantly surprised when the bartender at Apt. in Manhattan poured me a succession of perfectly made Negronis, Manhattans and Old Fashoneds. He definitely won me over that night.. (note: pouring classics well requires a bit of measurement or LOTS of practice and a great eye)..
Up to date cocktail and drink lists... again... i'd gotten tired of "we haven't had any in for months"
I would love a club with a bit more of an adult vibe at least some of the time.. I'm not sure you could pull this off in Columbus but it's been nice on recent visits to NYC to go to a club and hear something like Kerri Chandler and seeing people over 30 dressed up and dancing.. Tall order for Columbus, but just a thought..
Other than that, congratulations on the relaunch.. I do like your club and i think it's a good spot with a good aesthetic.. I look forward to coming down and checking out the club..
catnfiddle
Giant Corncob District
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I'd love one room where the music is NOT piped in, or at least it is fairly low. Call that the Conversation Pit or whatever. I'm married to a soft-spoken man and hate seeing him frustrated when we can't communicate.
Looking forward to a relaunch. Bristol was one of the first places I visited when I moved to Ohio and I have been trying to get back there.
michaelcoyote
!seabus
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Bristol Bar wrote >>
I completely understand. So, a trained, knowledgeable staff, who can recommend? And when you say balance, are you saying having the "standards" such as Miller Lite, Corona, ect...As well as others you might like, but have never tried?
For example, I was at Bob's Bar, and asked for the bartenders favorite, giving a little nudge (NO BLUEBERRY OR CHERRY OR ANY FRUIT BEER) and loved what I was poured.
Is this what you are saying?
I love the classic cocktails at Details.. What a great cocktail list..
Imagine what you could do with their cocktail and beer selection at Bristol..
As an aside the best bar I've visited in recent memory was the Velvet Tango Room inCleveland.. Classics well made.. I had three of the best drinks I've ever had over the course of a happy hour(and a half).. The environment is 20s nightclub.. The staff is great..
Bristol Bar wrote >> By the way, for you and everyone else, how many times do you go out?
Per week, Per Month, Per Year, or gasp, Per Day?
And when you do, how do you decide?
I go out "haphazardly" to say the least.. sometimes I find myself out every night, other nights I'm a big homebody.. not sure why, it's just how I've always been..
Lately I've found myself at home more often, but that's because I've been enjoying the company of my home bar and/or wine cellar...
Bristol Bar wrote >> Now, let's just leave out price for the first part of this discussion. Believe me, I know it's extremely important, and cannot be ignored. But I'm not wanting that to drive this.
I care more about value than price.. The cocktails at the VTR were very spendy, but I took my time to savor every drop and they were worth every penny..
mrsgeedeck
Castle of Lions
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catnfiddle wrote >>
I'd love one room where the music is NOT piped in, or at least it is fairly low. Call that the Conversation Pit or whatever. I'm married to a soft-spoken man and hate seeing him frustrated when we can't communicate.
This would lead to my question on weather its a bar or a night club. Nightclubs I expect a nice dance floor and loud music, bars I expect someplace with nice comfortable furniture, ambient music, a well versed bar staff and good mix between signature drinks, classics and beer at a wide variety of price points.
My husband and I would frequent Bristol mainly during Happy Hour (and really enjoyed remix Monday or whatever that night was) mainly because we found it too loud to enjoy on weekends.
Columbusite
Minneapolis
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A mixed-crowd is great and is one aspect of Bristol that really stood out to me. Attracting a good cross-section of people who all seemed to get along whether it be yuppies, hipsters, hip-hoppers, etc. Aside from that I have a hard time imagining what else I'd want without visiting first.
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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catnfiddle wrote >>
I'd love one room where the music is NOT piped in, or at least it is fairly low. Call that the Conversation Pit or whatever. I'm married to a soft-spoken man and hate seeing him frustrated when we can't communicate.
Looking forward to a relaunch. Bristol was one of the first places I visited when I moved to Ohio and I have been trying to get back there.
Yeah I hate loud music.
@ Bristol
I guess I was just really taken back by the fact that a pretty major brand or whatever wasn't available. That I think was the first time I had ever run into that. I know a few bars in Columbus have had success with online polls and surveys to get an idea of what would sell and be popular. I think that's what you are attempting on a broader level here. I think it would be worth your time and effort to consider setting something up to direct people on specific things like drink selection.
As to the bartenders, I think Michaelcoyote captured it best:
On the other hand a few quick classics might be good.. I was shocked and pleasantly surprised when the bartender at Apt. in Manhattan poured me a succession of perfectly made Negronis, Manhattans and Old Fashoneds. He definitely won me over that night.. (note: pouring classics well requires a bit of measurement or LOTS of practice and a great eye)..
I'm not going to be the asshole who walks up to the bar when it's 6 deep and in the weeds and order some high maintenance drink. But it is an absolute selling point when I can hit it up during the slow hours and get exactly what I want without a second glance from the bartender.
And if you are looking for a way to generate some business and find a unique niche, there has been some talk here of getting a classic cocktail night going. I think with some publicity here
on CU, you could do very well with a Vintage theme night slinging some classics and playing some old school jazz once or twice a month.
CMH Gourmand
(King of) the (Clinton)ville
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I like a wide variety of music - strangely - I have found Club 185 to have a great variety of music at the right sound level - I can enjoy the music and a conversation at the same time.
Volume - when I am at a bar where I can't hear the people I am with I leave.
Cocktails - you don't need an extensive list of cocktails as long as you pick about 10 and do them right. I have yet to find a mojito to my satisfaction in Columbus.
Games - a game night on an off night is a great way to get people to hang around and get people to meet each other.
Hmm - looking at the above I guess it would be called the Nerd Bar.
Bristol Bar
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Ok, so Nerd Bar almost made me spit my drink out of my nose! (Sorry, grouse, huh?) But, love it.
So, when I hear Classics, like a Tom Collins, with a modern twist?
Or a Manhattan that doesn't make your eyebrows fall out?
The cross section is exactly what I like to hear. I've always felt that and it's good to hear others feel the same way too.
Now, let's address live music, because that's hard. Do you mean a Dick Den type? Poetic and soft?
As for the music level, I can't agree with you more, loud enough to talk, not yell.
But, on the weekends, a little bit louder, or no?
JonMyers
HCMC ✈
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I really miss Bristol. Anyhow, here goes a brain dump.
- Make women feel safe without being cheesy.
- Take care of the staff and it will show.
- Product first. Decor second.
- Good, fresh bar fruit that is cut on the spot for the cocktails.
- Tactful placement of valet stand. The first thing you see and interact with at a lot of places is something that is out of your control. Valets.
- Lighting is everything. Especially in the spaces of interaction. The right low light for the appropriate interaction - conversation, dance, chill.. Etc.. In the bathroom don't bathe me in bright, yellow light and remind me of how ungracefully I'm aging.
- Exclusivity without pretentiousness. I think this can be accomplished with a speakeasy like entrance. How about making the front of the place look like a Churches chicken that went out of business? Board it up outside and put up a phone booth that you have to enter through? A pager stand gone awry? Hmm, that conflicts with an earlier suggestion and might scare some people, but hey - lol - I'm not kidding.
- Ditch modern design altogether. Seriously, Columbus needs another bar/ lounge with more stainless steel, fake Manhattan chairs, FLOR carpet tiles and ambient yellow light like we need a hole in the head. We're at capacity. Antiquity is more interesting and ages way more gracefully than fake Danish furniture made in China.
- More art. No big flat screens at all.
- I shouldn't be able to brush shoulders with the dude next to me at the urinal.
- No gimmicky, fancy German waterfall faucets at the bathroom sinks that need an instruction booklet. A solid, basic faucet is fine. I promise we won't think less of you.
- No fake plant life.
- No guest list. Everyone is a VIP.
Bristol Bar
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Love the dump; and can't agree with you more I too miss Bristol, hence the downtime and polish we are taking. I'm calling it an exfoliation, not a Dr 90210.
Love the boarded up Churches Chicken idea. Where the hell were you 4 weeks ago! Oh well, next time.
So let's expound on the fresh cut fruit...Would people be willing to wait for this. I would, but what does everyone think?
michaelcoyote
!seabus
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Bristol Bar wrote >>
Ok, so Nerd Bar almost made me spit my drink out of my nose! (Sorry, grouse, huh?) But, love it.
So, when I hear Classics, like a Tom Collins, with a modern twist?
Or a Manhattan that doesn't make your eyebrows fall out?
In the way of research, I suggest you go to Details have Chris make you a Manhattan.. if you hate it it's not the drink for you.. While you're at it, try an Aviation, a Sidecar and a Basil Hayden Old-Fashioned..
I'm generally suspicious of classics made "with a modern twist" btw.. I'd rather have them made by the book.. then again, this would be good fodder for a classic cocktail night geeks :-)
If you need a guide, I'd be more than happy to go drinking with you (especially if this is who I think it is).
Bristol Bar wrote >>
The cross section is exactly what I like to hear. I've always felt that and it's good to hear others feel the same way too.
Now, let's address live music, because that's hard. Do you mean a Dick Den type? Poetic and soft?
oh this is tough for me.. I have pretty specific likes and dislikes.. I'd say avoid anything cheesy, but people around here seem to enjoy what i like to call "cheeseball crap". :-p
You'd need music for different nights I'd think.. For the mellow nights, classic jazz is good... Perhaps some (ahem) "downtempo" music.. aside: Does anyone listen to DJ Krush in public anymore? Buy me some phat pants and take me back to 1997! :-p
For "party" nights, house could be nice.. Players like Moodyman, Kerri Chandler and Metro Area play packed houses in NYC, Detroit and elsewhere so you may not get them here on a random Thursday night, but there used to be talented DJ's that played great house sets in Columbus (often at your bar) all the time.. maybe call one o' them? Again, perhaps a tall order..
I've been in there on slow nights when you've had indie kids dj and it can be good too..
Bristol Bar wrote >> As for the music level, I can't agree with you more, loud enough to talk, not yell.
But, on the weekends, a little bit louder, or no?
Sure.. I think having the music a bit louder on weekends is fine.. You can also turn the music up as it gets later if there's enough of a crowd...
osulew
My house...in the middle of my street
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MMMMMMMM...If my Manhattan doesn't make my eyebrows fall out...someone did it wrong. :)
If my Manhattan makes me fall down...Mercurius must've made it. ;)
This is a great thread, and I used to love popping in for happy hour at Bristol now and again. I moved recently and can nearly see it from my front door. I'm gonna play suggestion box tomorrow morning as soon as I can open my sleepy peepers again!
hanley.35
Little bit of everywhere...
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Would a classic list of cocktails made to exact specifications of the classic recipes be a "good" drink menu or would you rather have the classics tweaked a bit to make them a bristol version? If they were tweaked by an individual who is very versed on the classic recipes and how they are to be made, then you could have the best of both worlds; either the true "classic" recipe or side by side with the tweaked/inventive take on the classic.
I can assure you bristol will have a very knowledge based staff who will take the time to deliver great cocktails the way they were meant to be as long as people are willing to wait the extra few steps it takes to properly prepare a true cocktail.
Im getting so far that brown is the way to go for many favorites;yet, what about gin and a few other original mixes such as the martinez and london buck/fizz?
How would the masses feel about a menu based on the classics yet made into a bristol creation following the same classic guidelines with a few classics side by side to them on the menu and a bar staff that can always keep it old skool if you simply want a "classic" the way it was meant to be?
hanley.35
Little bit of everywhere...
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michaelcoyote;
It is sad that they have quit making Crème Yvette and the subtle substitution of Creme de Violette and, Bolz brand, Parfait d’Amour; has been dropped from distribution in ohio as well. I will say though; should you come by this potent ingredient please do tell where and we will make sure to have some ready for the Aviation Cocktail as well as many tasty concoctions for which this liqueur can be used!
thank you very much for the feedback!
columbusfoodie
West Side
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I'm not a bar gal, myself (although I was in my younger days), but here's what I look for in a bar:
- Welcoming to everyone. If you've got a doorman, or a line, forget it. If my mid-30's self is the oldest person there, forget it. I don't fit the description of a person who gets past the rope at clubs. I don't like rejection. If I can't go in there in jeans and sneakers, forget it. If it's primarily an OSU crowd, I'm steering clear.
- Comfortable seating. I can't stress this one enough. But in the same sense, have the seating be non-porous enough that if someone spills a drink or god forbid gets body fluids on the seating, it can be cleaned/sanitized and not festering away in the cushions.
- Safe for women. Bartenders/staff that will keep an eye out for trouble.
- Good strong drinks. No cheap mixers that you get at Restaurant Depot - i.e. if you're going to make pina coladas go about it the right way with cream of coconut and pineapple juice. If I have a drink in your establishment, I don't expect to get smashed, but I expect to feel *something*. And drink specials/a nice happy hour doesn't hurt.
- A killer juke box. With lots of classic rock/metal. I can spend hours in a bar with good music. And a pool table is a plus.
- Bar food. Doesn't need to be gourmet fare, but have it be something more than chicken nuggets or wings.
I've yet to find a bar that fits all of the above, if anyone knows of one, I'm open to suggestions.
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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Good strong drinks. No cheap mixers that you get at Restaurant Depot - i.e. if you're going to make pina coladas go about it the right way with cream of coconut and pineapple juice. If I have a drink in your establishment, I don't expect to get smashed, but I expect to feel *something*. And drink specials/a nice happy hour doesn't hurt.
Glad you brought that up. Probably one of my best experiences was a whisky sour at Cap City Diner. Real sour mix, not the HFCS crap in a bottle. When it comes to drink prices and value, going this extra step is something I will gladly pay for.
- Bar food. Doesn't need to be gourmet fare, but have it be something more than chicken nuggets or wings.
If you do happen to serve bar food, keep the kitchen open to close. Nothing ticks me off more than waiting at a table for an hour for a staff member when the place is so busy to find out the kitchen just closed.
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