Chic bar, creative menu makes an impression.
I had the opportunity to go to the Hammered Lamb in Orlando with some friends on Thursday night. I was slightly apprehensive at first, but I eventually agreed to go. Needless to say, it was a great decision.
My first impression of the bar was the chic outdoor patio. Indoors is a modern sport bar kind of vibe, but the outside section is relaxing and casual, with just a dash of hipster. It’s a nice balance. It was comfortably warm out, and I liked the patio vibe, so I spent most of my time outside. Even if you don’t drink, the atmosphere of the bar is fun and laid back, and there is a full kitchen, so you can order food.
The service was wonderful, and the bartenders were really friendly. The drink menu was surprisingly good too, especially the cider selection. The imported beer list was respectable, except for the fact that a few of the beers came in cans, such as the Guinness and Stella Artois. There were plenty of craft beers, and the selection varied. Both the craft and draft beers included seasonal options, including a personal favorite, Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale. The domestic beer list was standard, and included typical staples such as Budweiser and Coors Light.
The cocktail menu was very creative, which can (and did) indicate the quality of bartending skills and interest in customer satisfaction. Since I am a big fan of gin, I ended up having “The Lawless” – a combination of Hendrick’s Gin and San Pelligrino Blood Orange with cucumber to garnish. It was amazing! It was refreshing, fruity, and crisp. There were other delicious, interesting-looking cocktail creations on the menu such as “The Harper” (Three Olives Vanilla Vodka, 44 North Rainier Cherry Vodka, and McCormick’s Irish Cream) and “The Tyler Martini” (Grey Goose La Poire Vodka, ginger infused peaches and Three Olives Whipped Vodka with a graham cracker rim).
Pricing of the drinks was surprisingly fair. I ordered one of the more expensive cocktails ($10 for The Lawless – Hendricks can be pricey), but I also had two craft beers in addition to my cocktail, and my final bill came out to around $16.
The best part of the Hammered Lamb experience was the Train Shot. The shot is a seasonal berry-infused 44 North Huckleberry Vodka priced at $4…but when the train goes by, it’s free. Who can turn down a tasty, free shot?
The cocktail menu was very creative, which can indicate the quality of bartending skills and interest in customer satisfaction.
There were two downsides to the bar: the limited amount of parking, and the noise from the trains passing by. I did eventually find a parking spot since it was 8:30pm on a Thursday, but I can imagine that parking might be difficult to find in the afternoon or later in the night on the weekend when it’s more crowded. The bar isn’t too far from Rollins (N. Orange Ave), so a cab ride would probably be cheap and would eliminate the parking issue. And to be completely honest, I stopped caring about the noise from the passing trains when I realized that I was going to keep getting free shots every time one passed.
The Hammered Lamb is a fantastic place to check out. Talk about a successful night out. I was in good company, drank some delicious craft beers, had a scrumptious gin cocktail, and got free shots – all in one night. It was well worth my time and money. I would definitely go back again.
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