Punch Bowl Social
Punch Bowl Social
The Jessica Rabbit is a dull orange juice consisting of carrot, ginger, and apple.
By Krista Simpson
Robert Thomas, CEO of Punch Bowl Social, and his mixologist, Patrick, recognize a gap in beverage options for non-drinkers and unlucky designated drivers. Wanting to fill that gap, Punch Bowl Social focuses on the food and beverage portion of its business—more particularly, on the non-alcoholic drinks.
I expected the full bar in the center of Punch Bowl Social to serve what one would typically expect a bar to serve: all things alcohol. Imagine my astonishment when I was learned the pride of the bar is non-alcoholic drinks, including juices, milkshakes, house-made sodas, and non-alcoholic cocktails.
The Palm Tree Shade, for instance, mixes pineapple, coconut water infused with tropical spice, mint syrup, fresh lemon juice, and aquafaba. After taking a sip, I was certain the other mixed non-alcoholic drinks would taste just as excellent. It was like taking a drink out of the Caribbean itself, and I was all for it.
When Patrick handed me the Jessica Rabbit, a dull orange juice consisting of carrot, ginger, and apple, I was skeptical. I mean, who truly wants a healthy juice from a bar? But once that first sip flowed from the bamboo straw, I was pleasantly surprised with the sweetness and the lack of “healthy taste” of the juice.
“We take a cocktail approach to the juices—we want them to be balanced like a cocktail would be,” Patrick says. Sure, I could definitely still taste the carrot in the juice, but it was just the right blend of sweet that offset the knowledge that I, a lover of things non-healthy, was drinking something with actual nutrients to it.
Of course, the bar still offers alcoholic drinks for those who are feeling a bit feistier. Featuring local Texas craft beers and wine by the can, Punch Bowl Social is a great spot for anyone who wants to indulge in alcohol.
After tasting a few other drinks from Patrick, none of which I disliked, I chowed down on food handmade by the head chef himself, Sheamus Feely. A board of hummus with peta bread and vegetables, a Mediterranean salad, the Knockoff Burger, and a plate of chicken and waffles was placed in front of me. I was already salivating at the mere sight of them.
Feeley went into detail on each dish as I dug in. To be short, all the dishes at Punch Bowl Social are carefully curated and made from scratch. My favorite dish had to be the Mediterranean salad, a bowl consisting of crispy falafel, marinated feta and cabbage, romesco, hummus, tzatziki, sumac and mixed lettuces, all topped off with a drizzle of lemon vinaigrette.
Naturally, such good food and beverage must be accompanied by an environment to match.
Punch Bowl Social not only satisfied my taste pallet, but appealed to my fun-seeking side. Games include magnetic Scrabble taking up an entire wall, giant Jenga, eight mini-bowling lanes, a karaoke room and several ‘80s arcade games. Punch Bowl Social was nothing short of a good time.
With the whimsical ambiance of the restaurant comes inspiration from the history of its location. Robins featured on some of the decor and a speckled-blue wall pays tribute to Bobby Day, the famous singer of “Rockin’ Robin” and Fort Worth native. Some French nods also pay tribute to General Ferdinand Foch, Thomas says in regard to some other historically inspired features within the restaurant.
All in all, I would highly recommend Punch Bowl social to my girlfriends for a girls’ night out. Twenty-one or not, it’s a fun place to party with everyone.
Punch Bowl Social
Location: 1100 Foch St.
For Info: 817.769.8109, punchbowlsocial.com
Grand Opening:
From 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 27.
Tickets for $20 each include two hours of food, craft beverages, gaming and live art installation, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to PFLAG Fort Worth.
Get them here: https://bit.ly/32QojGm.
