Birch Bar

Slow service. Didn’t really seem to be prepared to serve food even though we were there at 6pm. I’d love to review their cocktails (the menu looked good) but they were out of 2 ingredients that were in the majority of their speciality drinks. Instead I paid $ 15 for a Grey Goose and club soda.

A friend and I came across Birch Bar purely on accident. We had plans to meet at City Bar to grab a drink, but ended up noticing the great patio area and took at seat at Birch Bar. It took a while for our server to take notice of us, but when he did, he couldn’t have been nicer.
We were lucky to come on a night that had some kind of $ 4 deal going on so we had a big carafe of sangria and some food for just $ 4 each. My lobster quiche had tons of flavor and I could really taste the lobster in it. My gazpacho was FANTASTIC and I immediately went home to try to replicate it. The prices of the regular meals were a bit high for my taste, but nothing that isn’t standard for hotel lounge type places.
After our meals we were treated to some complimentary cupcakes that were more than stellar.
The Birch Bar is a great addition to the neighborhood. Thanks goodness for the patio though or it would have just the feeling of a lounge bar inside.

I finally had a chance to check out this bar last night and it is a great addition to the neighborhood. (Unlike the other reviewer, we sat in the lounge area of the bar) There were about 10 – 15 of us who straggled through after work coming and going during the night. The prices were as expected and drink selection good.
However, the food choices were much to be desired. Very few choices of snacks that could be shared, shrimp cocktail with only 3 shrimp? We were not the kind of group to worry about price, but really 3 shrimp? It seemed odd to have to order 5 shrimp cocktails, and not have enough space on the table for all of our drinks and snacks…(On a positive note, biggest shrimp ever!) The calamari was eh… cheese dish was superb, one of the best ever. The service was adequate but not great, clearly we were the largest table and we were ordering a lot, but the service could have been better, quicker and more timely.
The décor was very modern, loved the curved wooden ceiling but the bar area is brand new and already looking worn. The chairs were an odd choice, to say the least. And there were too many different types of wood, very distracting. (Full disclosure: we were a group of architects, this is all we talk about everyday, and now add alcohol… :) If they got a new decorator in there to re-​work the furniture (get rid of the maroon detailing and cheap gold upholstered chairs, ugh), this place could be totally swank.
I liked the fact that the bar was in the lobby but felt separate from the hotel guests, it was large and open (complete antithesis to Lucky’s, down the street)
We as a group will probably keep going here, it is a nice alternative to LTK and Lucky’s and with a few adjustments this bar could own the neighborhood.

the birch bar is more of a plush waiting area than a lounge or bar. the bar itself is almost hidden underneath the stairs with only about four feet of space between the backs of the stools and the glass that faces out into the turnaround where taxis drop you off. just grab a seat in one of the low chairs or oversized ottomans. the waitstaff was relatively attentive, but I was dismayed by the dining. it was about 10.30pm when i arrived and I hadn’t eaten, so i ordered the 3 sliders for 18. bad choice, they were made without artistry, or an excess of fillings. those three small morsels and the two sam adams (i was in boston after all) came to 30. that seemed a bit steep to me, but i haven’t been dining in hotels that much recently. it beats drinking alone in your room, but there’s no wifi, so you can’t surf in public unless you pay the hotel.