Plum Bar--Oakland (Bar & Bar Food)

For innovative and classic cocktails, snacks and heartier fare, Plum Bar, located at 2216 Broadway, has everything needed for a happy time during happy hour. Look for and ask about the house made bitters in huge jugs at the end of the bar. Their barrel-aged cocktail offerings are also an interesting way to serve a mixed drink that creates a smooth beverage with additional flavor, depth and aroma.

Happy hour is from 4pm-6pm Monday through Friday and 10pm-11pm Sunday through Thursday.

http://plumbaroakland.com/

Here are some of the things I've enjoyed.

Old Fashioned (with High West Whiskey). Nicely balanced with a hint of peat. Very well made.

Sazerac (with Old Overholt). One of my favorites. Depending on who's making it, sometimes this drink can have a little too much absinthe and may not have been diluted enough, but this one was just right.

Gimlet (with Blade Gin). Perfectly tart and mildly sweet and easy on the taste buds.

Barrel-Aged Manhattan. Some of Plum Bar's specialties are their house-aged cocktails. This one was aged for 1.5 months and is comprised of a rye whiskey, vermouth and Plum Bar's house-made aromatic bitters. Very complex and smooth with notes of caramel and fruit.

Barrel-Aged Negroni. I've never had any type of barrel-aged gin before and now I'm wondering why. Gin has a very characteristic taste that a lot of people don't care for. I personally love Gin, and this drink was extra smooth and almost buttery. Aged for 2.5 months and made with sweet vermouth and malort, even my non-Gin-loving companion enjoyed it.

Barrel-Aged Ember. Aged for 1.5 months, this drink was made with bourbon, Campari, calisaya, sweet vermouth and Plum Bar's house-made sassafras bitters. Delicious. Slightly sweet, perfectly balanced and smooth as silk.

Smoked Paprika Fries. Some of the best fries I've had. Every millimeter of every fry was crispy on the outside and evenly coated with smoked paprika. No ketchup required.

Onion Rings. Also a nice and crispy fried snack that came with a house made dipping sauce.

Fried Chicken Sandwich. A nice piece of expertly fried chicken. It was crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside. To put this sandwich through the stratosphere, it was topped with a fried egg that had a slightly runny yolk. This was served with two pieces of house-made Texas toast that was buttered, toasted and slathered with a smoked ranch sauce and some of their sweet house-made pickles. Finger-linking good.

1/2 lb. Burger. A good burger for burger fans. Served with house-made pickles, lettuce, cheddar cheese, caramelized onions and a "special" sauce.

Definitely a great place for after-work drinks and snacks.

For a slightly more sophisticated menu, Plum Restaurant, which is right next door to Plum Bar, has a little something wonderful for everyone.
http://www.plumoakland.com/