Bespoke has a menu, but I highly recommend you ignore it.
The bartenders at this little bar near Oberkampf make good on the promise of its name: just rattle off a list of things you like (and things you don’t), and the bartenders will surprise you with something perfectly crafted for your palate.
Of course, the bar snacks are nothing to sniff at either.
On a recent visit, the very first of the season’s tomatoes were paired with feta and hoisin sauce.
The fried cuttlefish rings were super crisp – a rarity, I’ve found – with just the right amount of salt and herbs, not to mention a lemon wedge to squeeze all over. (We also dipped the rings in what was left of the tomato juice-hoisin mélange, and that was super tasty too.)
This truly killer BBQ quesadilla came with all the trimmings, including a really delicious fresh salad that was bordering on pico de gallo.
All of the food on the menu is designed to pair well with cocktails, each of which is a unique creation. While there were definitely some intriguing options on the menu, including one featuring cherry tomatoes and balsamic vinegar, both my sister and I decided to give the bartender just a few indications of what we liked and see what he served us.
For this round, she said she liked gin, wanted a tall drink, and didn’t like things to be too sweet. I said I liked mezcal and spice. The resulting drinks were both phenomenal; mine featured a chili vodka as well as the mezcal, and hers had gin and a myriad of other ingredients including coconut, and while it managed to be fun, flirty, and pink, it wasn’t too sweet, as cocktails often can be.
If you’re a cocktail fan – and you like dinner theater – stop by at Bespoke. And be sure to grab a spot at the bar; that’s where this place really shines.
Bespoke – 3, rue Oberkampf, 75011