like a secret hideaway. i don't do the bar scene, but we really enjoyed the bitter alibi tonight--it's charmingly in a basement without being gross. it's comfortably small and has a great beer selection. i really like the crispin pear cider and a brown ale i had, both on tap, and the sandwiches are pretty decent. i got the roasted broccoli, which i won't do again, and the el hambre sandwich of shaved chicken with mexican spices, pepper jack cheese and spinach. there was supposed to be some pico de gallo in there, but i could have done with a lot more. chips are nothing special, though you can get some bbq sauce to go with them. i shoulda tried the beans and corn side that was suggested. i was looking forward to a chickpea salad i saw on the website, but that wasn't on the menu i received and i forgot to ask.
i had a hard time walking in the right door--there's an open sign in the house above the bar, but you don't go in that door, you go down the alley and underneath the back stairs into the big black door with a great chalk-like design on it. it was a great cozyplacewith no smoke, i will totally be going back!