Food & Drink

Bar Review: The Bungalow Kitchen, Tiburon, California

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One doesn’t usually anticipate DJs and bottle service within the sleepy city of Tiburon, proper throughout the water from San Francisco, however that’s what’s on faucet after hours at this luxe restaurant and bar, launched by SF scene-maker Michael Mina.

The Bungalow Kitchen invited Drinkhacker to pattern its wares on a current pre-summer night, and whereas we usually discover ourselves tasting a couple of dishes and sipping on a couple of cocktails on nights like this, I used to be ill-prepared for the gustatory expertise that adopted.

Let’s speak in regards to the cocktails first. There’s a menu with a set of unique and basic cocktails — all $18 or $19 — however you’re finest suggested to let head bartender Chris Penn take the reins and whip you up one thing of his personal creation. The 2 bespoke cocktails pictured right here didn’t have names however have been practically inconceivable to place down — one a blackberry and bourbon riff, the opposite a mixture of apricot, lemon, and Sagamore Rye, the lattermost a surprisingly apt ingredient. Penn later blended up a Vieux Carre in addition to the Shallow Aloe (cucumber infused vodka, ginger, lemon, aloe) from the usual checklist, however neither in comparison with the originals he served. Bungalow additionally has an intensive and really high-end wine checklist, for these with extra decadent tastes.

Talking of which, when you didn’t have decadent tastes you wouldn’t be visiting right here. The restaurant rapidly whisked away our menus after we have been seated and introduced forth a gradual stream of things from the dinner menu, starting with the insanely nice caviar parfait, whish is served on a potato cake together with smoked salmon, egg mimosa, and creme fraiche. From there, tuna tartare — blended tableside — and truffled yellowtail sashimi solely elevated the bacchanalian madness of the meal.

Thoughts you, that was all served forward of a bevy of facet dishes — the Grand Marnier-glazed duck wings are a crispy-sweet standout — adopted by two of Bungalow’s signature entrees — a gorgeously ready bone-in rib eye and Mina’s signature dish, a lobster pot pie (pictured intact) that’s de- and re-constructed tableside. I had hassle selecting a favourite among the many two, however finally gravitated to the steak, classically fired and calmly smoky. On the entire, there’s a lot richness on the menu that one cries for a giant glass of wine to chop by means of all of the butter, cream, and fats, however whiskey additionally does the trick in a pinch.

After the dinner hour, the second story of the Bungalow turns right into a membership of types, with a DJ in a single nook and room for dancing, not less than a little bit bit, close to the station. We didn’t see an entire lot of dance motion on that entrance, however the bars remained bustling upstairs and down on a Saturday evening. That stated, given the type of meals you’re going to be placing down, busting out a transfer or two upstairs won’t be a horrible concept.

5 Fundamental St., Tiburon, CA
Dinner Wed-Solar, 5-10pm; Late Evening Fri-Sat, 10pm-2am; Brunch Sat-Solar, 11am-2:30pm
bungalowkitchen.com

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