Sable Kitchen in Chicago
When the bartender’s goal is to melt the enamel off my teeth with bitterness, I know I’m in the right spot. When they start pulling Malort (a wormwood and grapefruit liqueur) off of the shelves, I’m even more reassured. But, nothing is better than when two bartenders hear the brown, bitter, and stirred order and fight over who gets to make the cocktail. The two contestants in the bartender smackdown were Freddie Sarkis and Greg Buttera. These guys were attentive, enthusiastic, and simply make great drinks.
Some of you may know Freddie from Embury in Pittsburgh and all of you lucky NYCers will get a chance to say hi at the Japanese Bartending Seminar coming up next week. He was first up and dropped a grapefruit bomb, which remained unnamed. It might be the meanest cocktail I’ve had in a while, which is exactly what I asked for. At first, it shocked my palate. The flavors were so huge that I drank it a little slower than I normally do. But, after sip three, I was in love. 
Apparently, the guys took my slow drinking as a sign that I did not like the cocktail, and they both made me something else. Freddie’s second was another huge drink, but nuttier and more mellow than the first. It wasn’t after my enamel, but it tasted good. Greg put together a beautiful balanced tequila cocktail with an Amaro Nonino rinse. It was delicate and bright but still had the gravity of a brown, bitter, stirred drink.
Overall, the space is gorgeous with big black marble bars, soft warm lighting, and surprisingly comfortable stools. Some of you might not like that there is a conspicuously placed tv at the front, but I loved it. Any place I can get a great drink and watch hockey, I’m sold.
So, yet again, Imbibe you were right. Thanks for the suggestion.*
*Both John the Bastard and John Eason also encouraged my outing. Thanks guys!
505 North State Street
Chicago, IL
