Hop Sing Laundromat

The following is written in my phone's notepad:

Bourbon
Licor43
GFJuice
Lime
Eggg White

Mary me leee.

I was trying to tell myself something.  But what?  That I must return for this drink, this amazingly wonderful magnificently magical drink.  I wasn't allowed to take a picture of the menu, so this was the only way I could document it.  I knew that type-A bartenders frequently change the names of their drinks, so I wouldn't be able to go by the name alone.

Lee came to us periodically.  He created a violent whirpool in the shaker in front of me without lifting it from the bartop.  He then poured the rest into my glass, lifted it up, wiped beneath it with a cloth, and briskly walked to his next type-A activity.  I fell into deep libationary love and practically melted into the bar covered in nickels.

The whole shtick with waiting at the doorbell, sitting in the waiting room and listening to the rules, fine.  Meh.  I'll put up with it for drinks like this one.

Last time I was in Philadelphia, I went to The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co. (another speakeasy) and I liked that experience more.

At Franklin Mortgage, there was a guy in a trench coat outside that conspicuously asks you how many are in your party. Then he walks down a flight of steps to an unmarked door, disappears for a few minutes, then returns to escort you to a table. You're then surrounded by people dressed in Prohibition era outfits and antiques from that time decorate the walls. The drinks were classic and strong.

So, I was delighted when my friends told me about Hop Sing Laundromat which they said was similar. When we walked there from my friend's condo, there was a guy dressed up, but not in 1920's gear, and asked us how many were in our party. Then we followed him into the foyer area where we were sat down and briefed about the rules which were basically don't be loud and no pictures. For some reason, to me, it just felt like they were trying too hard with the picture thing. I mean, who had a camera in the 1920's? They're just being secretive about nothing.

To be fair, I guess I don't know the main goal of this place. Is it to emulate a real 1920's speakeasy, or is it just a speakeasy for the sake of being a speakeasy. I mean, those are cool too and I've been to an awesome one in San Diego (Noble Experiment) where at the back of some restaurant you push a fake wall open (it looks like stacked kegs). So since I was comparing to Franklin Mortgage, I was slightly disappointed since I was expecting it to  be more old fashioned where I can actually feel like I was in the 1920's and drinking illegally. I think thinking the goal of this place is just to be secretive for fun, not to emulate a true prohibition era joint.

At any rate, this place is extremely well-decorated, the staff is professional/nice, and the drinks are tasty/strong. The extensive menu is attractive and salivation-inducing. I had a great time here chatting with my friends and I like feeling all proper in a drinking establishment with rules. I should mention, I think they can only accommodate groups of 2, 4 or 6, and you need to be "presentably dressed."

I'd come back here for sure to try out more drinks and to sulk in the atmosphere.

Great place to catch up with friends and sip a few cocktails. Everything on the menu is fabulous. The Thai cocktail was incredibly spicy, which I loved and the waiter made sure we understood that in advance. Even odd combinations work well at Hop Sing and I was happy to try a few bourbon-and-cream combinations.

Getting in is a bit of ceremony, but it's an easy dress code. My friend chatted up the bouncer while she waited for means he let us in as soon as I arrived. We waited about five minutes in the anteroom, which is decorated impeccably with wooden benches and great wall art. Also, the bathrooms are cool.

No food at all on the menu, but that's part of the place's charm. Have a few drinks, pretend to be part of the elite world of another era and enjoy the splurge. It's worth every second.