All the cool kids know the bar at Lazy Betty is the seat to snag. The abridged tasting menu keeps you planted, and the banter with the bartenders is half the fun. Beverage director Conrad Helms fixes a mean martini, while bartender Austin McEwen (formerly at Vesper) encourages you to Bury the Hatchet with a bourbon and amaro cocktail. It’s an intimate affair, whether you arrive with a date or end up making one at the bar.
What to order
- The most expensive martini on the menu ($50) is the Aristocrat. It’s made with truffle oil-washed vodka or gin, and topped with three giant olives and caviar. It’s a snazzy drink to hold if you’re looking to impress at the bar.
- The bar’s four-course tasting menu ($185) currently offers a rare, uber-luxurious add-on: olive-fed Japanese wagyu beef. Ridiculously silky, it eats more like toro than steak, and comes with its own certificate.
- If you’re lingering (and you will), pastry chef Lindsey Davis’ dessert tasting menu ($110) is a seasonal treat. The deconstructed sweet potato pie with toasted meringue takes a comfort classic and puts it on a pedestal.
The vibe
The one-Michelin-starred place by Ron Hsu and Aaron Phillips nails hospitality. The staff is warm and two steps ahead of diners’ needs. Guests are whisked to their seats in the dimly lit dining room without ever noticing their coats have already been hung. Wine director Gracie Barwick pours rare pairings of Burgundy, enthusiastically zipping through the room with trophy bottles (hi, IWA Sake). The bar comes alive with conversation. Strangers will clink delicate Josephine Hütte glasses, as bartender Emma Morris jokes she’ll let you in on the secret of where to sit if you’re single. The people working here make this restaurant a must-visit.
Insider tip
Ask to see McEwen’s apron pins and spot the Costco hot dog. You might win a prize, no promises.
