Roaring Social; A Basement Speakeasy
Fun back bar design sets the stage for this dark speakeasy in the basement of The Hamilton
AUTHOR: ARTSY CHOW ROAMER
Roaring Social
A BASEMENT SPEAKEASY
On a wet and rainy afternoon my husband and I decided to flee the mountains and go for an overnight stay at The Hamilton in Alpharetta. You may have read my review of the property. An architect friend of mine had mentioned he thought it was a nice little boutique hotel that we would enjoy and he told me to make sure we went to the speakeasy in the basement.
So we checked in and stowed our stuff and I made a quick call down to the place to make an early reservation not knowing what to expect on a wet Thursday evening. After some lovely signature cocktails at Carrie’s in the hotel, we made our way down to the basement where we tried to figure out exactly where the entrance was. It took someone leaving for us to find the right door (which was kind of a hoot). 🤭
Set up to look like a visit to a clothing workshop, Roaring Social looms behind the mirrored door
After a dark stair descent, it looks and feels like an entry to a clothing workshop. You see doors on your right, a door to a back area and a mirrored door. Open the shiny one and viola! You’re in Roaring Social, a bona fide secret bar with all the trappings. A hostess came out of nowhere to seat us at a table in front of the stage which was already set up for the piano playing music that would start for happy hour at 5:00.
SIGNATURE COCKTAILS
It’s a pretty lengthy drink menu as you might expect for a bar. White, red and rose wines are listed by the glass and bottle with eight choices or so in each priced from $10-18 a glass. Beer is offered on draft, in cans and bottles with a range of selections from Guinness Stout and White Wheat to a couple of local IPA’s.
Creative drinks with Dorothy Parker quotes-what’s not to like?
a Tasty creative signatures set you back $12-14 per (I sometimes forget how expensive it is to drink in and around Atlanta these days) but it could be worse! We stuck with Tanqueray Ten gin and tonics and white wine with dinner ourselves but you could have classics like the Real McCoy, Mint Julep, Aviation or Sazerac. There were even some very tasty non-alcoholic recipes that weren’t just juice and soda if you know what I mean. 😉 More and more of these mocktails are showing up on menus everywhere as people take on the sober lifestyle.
MAKE IT A FLATBREAD PLEASE
The food menu is bar food small plates for the most part but they are all sized for sharing so you can try several different things-especially if out with a big group of friends. The choices run the gambit from herb fries at $6 to Caesar Salad and Crispy Brussel Sprouts at $10 and Lump Crab Stuffed Mushrooms or Shrimp and Asiago Cheese Dip at $15. Braised Short Rib Poutine was served with potato scoops, cheese curds and gravy.
Lovely flatbread pizza with pesto, tomatoes, garlic and mozzarella cheese
There are a couple of different sandwiches offered along with chicken and steak skewers and flatbread pizzas which is what we decided to share with our drinks. Served with a crispy crust, nice pesto, fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, garlic and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar, we couldn’t offer much criticism beyond a little heavy pour on the rich pesto.
If you have a sweet tooth they do offer some nice after dinner drinks and wines which was enough for us. You can order different kinds of tarlets, cannoli and a nuts and berries number that came with two different kinds of gelato. Nice!
GOT A MUSICAL REQUEST?
You can see the event calendar on the website to know what’s in store for you on any given night you might choose to visit. The night we were there a big voiced Broadway type was offering classics on the piano from artists such as Billy Joel, Elton John and Don McLean.
Some were his own choice but he asked patrons to write down anything they wanted to hear and drop in a bowl. He fished around and selected many to perform with lots of sing along fun from the audience. The calendar shows live band Karaoke on Wednesday nights for all you would be singers, big dance bands and funky Used Groove trio for the best blend of pop, rock and soul coming up as well. Get your music on!
A little Don McLean for you
BOUTIQUE BOWLING
Before the music started up I walked to the back of the bar where the boutique bowling is set up. There are four lanes about half as long as the real thing with balls that are smaller too. The tables are set up well for groups to drink and eat food while playing on each lane. While we didn’t actually bowl ourselves, I did hang out for awhile with a fun group of Gen Z’s who meet once a week for a couple of games and those smoky bourbons with rosemary.
I stayed to watch them in action and chat about what was involved. They said it costs $25 to rent the lane for an hour but certain days the bar offers one free if you buy one hour yourself. They had some great looking small plates scattered amongst their tables and were pretty gosh darn good at knocking down the pins! The scores were kept automatically above the big screen TV’s that were playing sports news. It was a loud boisterous place but obviously very fun and competition between lanes.
ATMOSPHERE
You know because my background is in interior design I am always interested in the atmosphere and theme of the places I review and speak to it in my posts. This bar is a fun concept with the colorful accessories and large black and white prohibition photographs that are probably from the archives somewhere.
There’s a little Art Deco in wallcoverings and light fixture choices while the seating offers a variety of different types from regular tables and chairs to low slung deep comfy lounge and sofa types around coffee tables. High tops in the center and bar seating round out the choices you’ve got.
Fun black and white prohibition photos and comfy deep seating chairs and sofas
The lighting is kept very low and creates drama for the music people to shine on stage. While the hard surfaces make for a louder atmosphere than some boomers might want, it does make it feel festive, busy and fun. I can see why it has already become a popular local hangout for those in the know. Once again it seems the more you try to keep something a secret-the more it spreads!
A short tour for you
CONCLUSION
I think you can see why our friend told us not to miss the fun in the basement. It’s funky and feels very now and then at the same time. To have the options of so many different entertainments under one roof is a big plus. How many places can you drink, eat, listen to music, sing, dance and bowl? You should grab up some pals, make a reservation and grab a lane for yourselves. Knock down some pins and a few cocktails as well. Your welcome!
If you enjoyed what you read, you might also enjoy other posts under Edible Fare. There you will find restaurant reviews, recipes, foodie tips and best spots to eat in a variety of cities. I also put emphasis on food experiences in my travel posts under Explore the World. Look soon for an upcoming post from a new travel guru pal on a trip he took to Iceland. Until then…
Cheers!
ArtsyChowRoamer
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