Oliver’s Twist

Pardon my verbosity but I’m about to go overboard in an attempt to convince you to give this place a try. I get it… you’re sitting there with your iPhone in your hand scrolling through the options in this neck of the woods and you’re just not sure if that guy from a year ago that hated it can be trusted. Well, I’ve been coming here on an almost-​weekly basis for a year and I can tell you that the good ratings are legit and the petty 1-​stars are well, petty.
Why should you trust my rating? I write a lot of reviews, I was Unilocal Elite for 4 years, for whatever that’s worth, and I eat and drink like it’s my job. I’ve been fortunate to meet some amazing chefs and bartenders in this city and Oliver’s Twist (including the Phinney Ridge location) is respected and enjoyed by many who know what they’re doing. You can see lots of industry types in here enjoying some amazing small plates of food and expertly crafted cocktails just as easily as you can see the staff connecting with the patrons in a sincere and focused way. If you want to belly up to the bar and throw out an open-​ended request like «something with gin that’s not citrus-​y but is a little sweet», they’ve got you covered. If you’re less adventurous, they’ve got a beautifully curated cocktail menu that will help you step safely out of your comfort zone (seriously, leave your rum and coke’s at home). If you just want a beer or a glass of wine while your adventurous friend has a blast, they’ve got you covered there too. Heck, one night I just didn’t feel like drinking but love being there so I asked for a mocktail and I’ll be damned if it wasn’t the best non-​alcoholic drink I’ve ever paid for. The drinks are simply expert level, creative, and thoughtfully crafted and the bartenders are so talented that it doesn’t seem fair to call them bartenders. No, I think from here on I’m going to refer to them as cocktail artists.
If you were lucky enough to visit Oliver’s Twist when Jen was around, you will remember her uncanny ability to quickly get to know her patrons and like some magical bartending Pandora station, she could line up a series of drinks that would make anyone say «that’s the best _​_​_​_​_​_​I’ve ever had». If you’ve been more recently and had a chance to get to know Nikki, you’ve probably had one of the most relaxing nights of fancy but accessible rum creations, conversation like she’s your best friend from years ago, and maybe even a few slow jams. I treat high-​end cocktail consumption in the same way that my peers treat visiting an art museum. I slowly and mindfully observe and consume the unique art that each of these endlessly talented cocktail artists serve me. I don’t mind the prices because I understand the care and dedication it takes to make something beautiful. If I only wanted an old fashioned I could make that myself. If i want a drink that can transport me to a place I’ve never been, I come to Oliver’s Twist.
I am largely motivated to visit by the fantastic drinks at Oliver’s Twist, but I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t also come here for the food. Like others have pointed out, the menu is small but this isn’t a restaurant as much as it is a hidden cocktail gem with a menu full of criminally underrated food creations by one of the most talented, humble, and exciting chefs in the entire Seattle area. The food here isn’t a bunch of onion rings and queso (though there’s certainly nothing wrong with that). The food here is almost tapas style, highly inventive, and somewhere between high-​cuisine and down home. You can get chicken wings but they’ve been confit’d in duck fat and served over several house-​made special sauces of mint and pickled roasted peppers and light cheeses. You can get a grilled cheese but it’s pressed beautifully in a panini press and served with frothed homemade tomato soup (called a cappucino for it’s presentation). You can even sometimes order some very fancy special items like last night’s roasted squash with a homemade gochujang sauce, picked watermelon rind, and kimchi. Please don’t try to act like those don’t sound like the absolute best thing to nosh on when you’re sipping on a beautiful cocktail named after a yacht club in Bermuda. I’ve literally tasted everything on the menu and I certainly have my go-to’s, but frankly the entire menu offers patrons a glimpse into the expertly honed craft of Dan Braun’s culinary career. Unassuming and humble, Dan isn’t flashy and worried about being on the front page of the local rag. He spends that time experimenting and creating some of the most exciting foods we’ve ever eaten, and we’re the kind of millennials that blow their money on vacations focused entirely on overindulging in ridiculous foods in any city we land in. He’ll be famous soon, just wait.
When people visit us in Seattle, we always come here. When we need a date night, we usually come here. When we’re just ready to unwind after a long week and catch up like we’re in our own personal Cheer’s bar, we come here.

Cool place, great cocktails. The Bartender was a very informative guy. I liked the space too. It’s in Magnolia – you had better have a reason to be there.

Excellent cocktails. Very knowledgable and friendly staff. Great music. Very clean bathroom. Delicious food. I’d highly recommend the chicken wings/​pork sliders/​potatoes cooked in duck fat and the olives.
Don’t know what you want to drink? Just ask and the staff will create something for you.
There’s no TV but I like that.

Oliver’s Twist is the coolest little cocktail bar in Magnolia.
It has a great vibe, would be a great place to take a date to before dinner for a cocktail, and I’ve always been impressed with their really creative list of cocktails. If you dig bourbon or mescal or gin (read: the strong stuff) — they have some super interesting concoctions on the menu.
Food menu is limited– but the small plates we’ve had have been excellent. I love the chicken liver mousse and the warm Castelventrano Olives. Yum!
Lots of street parking nearby. I would recommend this place to anyone in a heartbeat. It’s excellent.

Oliver’s Twist in Magnolia, the smaller sibling to their counterpart on Phinney Ridge, offers delicious small-​plates & expertly crafted cocktails which are served by a friendly, talented crew who are passionate about this place and the experience it offers. Really, what more do you want out of a local watering hole, unless you’re in search of a dive, which OT is not.
The ambiance is funky and dark in the way a cocktail bar should be, and the music is upbeat & sets just the right mood to keep the locals & visitors imbibing throughout the night.
Favorite cocktail: Old Cuban — Their take on this new-​classic is the best I’ve encountered anywhere. I always intend on switching it up, but it’s apparently got me in its clutch!

Come here if you want to enjoy craft cocktails made with good ingredients. It’s not cheap, but you get what you pay for. The drink menu has many set options, but if you have a general idea for a flavor or drink style, let them create a custom cocktail for you. For Ian, Nila and the others, trust them, they know their craft and will get you set up. Love the Last Word with Tequila, the New Pal, something barrel aged on site or whatever seasonal drink might be on the chalkboard. For food, my favorite is the Chicken Wing Confit, in moroccan spiced butter, mint feta and pickled chiles. Owner Dan even pickles his own fruits and veggies served with food dishes. Yes, this place is worthy of high praise. Contrary to someone’s prior post, they do take American Express.

This place smelled so bad we had to leave. Maybe it was just that night but by the time the bartender got us two waters we were our the door due to the stench. Wished it didn’t smell so unbearable since it looks like it had good reviews. Maybe I’ll try out the Greenwood location.

Excellent service, great interesting cocktails, and amazing food! Happy hour was a great deal too!

My French 75 was PERFECT, and the food, albeit small portions for the $$ in my opinion, was delicious :)

Loved this place. Excellent service, food & drink! Went in with friends on a rainy Thursday during happy hour. Able to move to a better table at our server’s suggestion. Cozy. Had amazingly great lemon drop (not so sweet), and a fabulous violet martini (they even shared the recipe for free). The other drinks were reported as delicious. The pâté appetizer was better than I had in Paris FR. Highly recommended!

Love the staff, love the drinks, love the atmosphere! Thanks to Jen and Ariel, have had a few awesome evenings here so far! Wish there were more food options, but that’s what Tanglewood Supreme is for before you get over here!

Absolutely love this little gem! I’ve always been a fan of the Phinney Ridge location and so I was thrilled to see them open up in Magnolia Village. The service is great and they’re very friendly. The space is small and nice with an intimate atmosphere. The drinks and food are fantastic. Things are not done large-​scale but they definitely do it right!
The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is simply because I’d love to see them offer a bit more options on their menu. It would be nice to be able to go into OT and have a complete meal w/​options… but I feel like I can only do that now if I ordered everything on the menu. Otherwise… fantastic and I’ll keep coming!

Oh my effing G! Go HERE!!!
We stumbled in yesterday afternoon for the first time and seriously felt like we were having cocktails at a friend’s house! We were served by Jen who is incredibly smart and fun to talk to. She knows her way around the bar and her recommendations are off the hook!
Because we were having cocktails, we wanted some snacks. Get the mutha effin’ popcorn! I never thought that popcorn could be elevated to gourmet status. Because that was so good we tried the paté (just say ‘whoa!’). Then came the sliders.
We had a blast and I seriously can’t wait to go back!

Best bartenders, every single one. Welcoming friendly and they make great cocktails! So glad you’ve opened in Magnolia.

I love this place! What a welcome addition to Magnolia! I would recommend it to anyone. The staff is great and very accommodating. The food is excellent! Especially if you fancy yourself a Francophile. I really hope it does well!

OK, someone has to be the first — so, here goes.
We were regulars at the prior establishment (Nook) — not spectacular, but dependable.
We’ve visited OT twice — there are few items on the menu that sound appetizing, and we tried them all.
Very disappointing!
Alas, for many reasons (you don’t accept AMEX?), and the food, we are no longer regulars
But, on the positive note, the service is very good!
Form you own opinion.

The vibe in here is excellent! Cozy bar, great friendly service, amazing cocktails (my current favorite is the «Old Cuban») and great food (GET THE GRILLED CORN!!!). I plan on being a regular.