Foodies, I’m no expert when it comes to advanced drinks. But you don’t have to be to enjoy the offerings at the Holland House, a new epicurean restaurant and cocktail lounge in East Nashville. In case you know the new brick and mortar locale of Mas Tacos, Holland House is right across the street.
Unlike most of our reviews, where we concentrate on a single visit and experience, we’ve had the opportunity to try several of the offerings at the Holland House. The house itself is well decorated, planned, and inviting. Victorian-era chandeliers hang from the ceiling and an early 20th century sofa is stationed in front of the fire place. Entry sets you dead-center in the action, able to see all sides of the square bar which encompasses most of the front room. Your bartenders will be clad in striped dress shirts and suspenders, and playing in the background will be music of the same era – around the 20′s or 30′s – highlighting the speakeasy feel. We were lucky to run into the wonderful Beth from Eat. Drink. Smile. on our way out one night – so you know this place is worth a visit.
Holland House served us a fantastic meal in the back room for a private party. Right from the start we enjoyed the fare, with most of us having an exquisite meal. The real reason you will flock to the Holland House, however, is for the artistry of the drinks.
For serious connoseurs of the alcoholic beverage, you have met your match. I dare you to find a bartender who doesn’t know three times as much about what they are doing than other local establishments. Each time we’ve been here, one of our party has expressed an interest in a drink that they don’t see on the menu, and each time the bartender has risen to the occasion.
For casual drinkers, leave your preconceptions about cocktails at the door. The first time I looked at the four-page wine, cocktail, and other alcoholic beverage list – I actually said outloud “I am unworthy of this menu.” Here’s what you do, if you’ve got average experience like me…ask the waiter/bartender for something you’re in the mood for and immediately agree to whatever suggestion comes along. We have had a collective total of about twenty drinks at Holland House and we’ve yet to be disappointed with any selection. In fact, they each tend to blow us away. Another strategy – pick the selection with the most words that you have no idea what they mean. Then relax and enjoy the result.
Here are a few of our favorites… the Mai Tai, The Hot Toddie, Continental de Oro, Blood and Sand, and the Malaysian Sour. Our favorite flair came with the Blood and Sand, which finishes with the burnt oils ignited off of a flamed orange peel. If you’re looking for a conversation starter, the Blood and Sand is your ticket.
Due to Wes’s infatuation with Corsair Pumpkin Spice Moonshine, he inquired if the bartender would mix up a special off-the-menu drink containing the seasonal spicy spirits. Whether it was improvised, or out of his private recipe books, the definitely satisfied enlightened Wes of a new way to use the PSM.
I’ve been thinking for a long time that this would be a great place to hang out if I were a single man. The clientelle here seems to be a collection of outgoing yuppies, and who aren’t of the same ilk that has your stomache queezing from the obvious pretense. Our favorite moment was enjoying the flapper-headband on one attractive bar-goer, because it matched the decor of the Holland House speakeasy setting.
The ice-cubes are fantastic. Two important factors keep the cubes from melting and diluting your drink: 1)The are frozen at zero degrees Fahrenheit. 2)The water is filtered before freezing. All the minerals dissolved in water lowers the melting point, making it melt at a lower temperature. Filtering is another way to prevent premature melting. Therefore, these distilled cubes never melt in your drink, preventing a watered-down finish to a glass that would be an unthinkable inhibition on the experience given the time, thought, talent, and artistry that this team puts into their work.
And now they have, as of this week, added to their offerings with a beer license. They take pride in offering local products, featuring several Corsair selections, for example, and are on top of who are up-and-coming distillers in the area. Our bartender deemed this year, 2010, as the most important year in Tennessee for distilleries since Jack Daniels opened its doors. Coming soon are several talented teams, one of which, Jackalope Brewing Company, will share their Nashville story on this blog soon. The proprietor also looks at the blog scene and will be well-versed in Nashville food if you happen to strike up a conversation.
Finally, they are promoting their New Year’s reservation-only event right now, so if you jump on it, you might score a great night for your lucky friends. (Facebook linkhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Holland-House-Bar-and-refuge/376835029849).
So here’s what we know about the Holland House – they are very good at what they do, and it represents the top place in Nashville to enjoy a relaxing evening and a drink. We believe it deserves the rave reviews it has been receiving, and adds to the spirit of East Nashville. They won Best New Bar in 2010 for a reason. The owner and senior bartender we spoke with have always been peerless in discussions about the food and artistic creations inherent in each drink, and take a down-to-earth approach that made us feel comfortable asking the simplest of questions.
Check it out very soon with friends, visitors, or family.
Holland House
935 W Eastland Ave
Nashville, TN 27206
