BAR l’étranger

So I have to start off this review by saying my experience was nothing like the experiences of others who’ve been here, and much more like something out of a scary movie.
It was about 9 pm on Friday when a friend and I left another bar to try BAR L’etranger. There was no valet parking to be seen so we parked down the road and when we walked up to it we weren’t sure if it was open or not. There were only two people inside, one was a bartender and the other was a weird older guy who sat alone in the corner of the room with all the couches. The air conditioner wasn’t on so it was way too hot to be comfortable, and we ended up sitting near the bar which had an open door.
When we asked the bartender if they had any food that went along with the drinks he said no, they didn’t, because Friday night was the last night they’d be open. The bar had been sold and he didn’t know what it was going to be turned into. It was super awkward.
Except it shouldn’t have been, because apparently they aren’t closing!
So we have a few theories:
1. We wandered into The Twilight Zone
2. The bartender lied because he wanted a bigger tip.
3. The real bartender was dead and stuffed in a trunk somewhere and the guy who helped us was an axe murderer.
Either way, it was really freaking weird.
Our drinks were good, cold and refreshingly sweet, but there’s absolutely no way I’d go back.

I can’t lie, I really love this place. Is it expensive? Yes. Is it a bit on the tame, quiet, and sometimes hipster-​friendly side? Yes, yes, and yes.
But taking all that into consideration, I still can’t help but want to spend my evenings there. The drinks are all top notch. You may be paying a little more for them, but that’s because they use high quality ingredients that most bars don’t even dream of carrying. And, I must embarrassingly admit, just one or two of those delicious Lemongrass cocktails gets me feeling pretty tipsy and they truly hit the spot. The food I have tried is just great and the perfect compliment to the cocktails at this lounge style bar. The décor is fun and exotic feeling and I really love the couches and comfy chairs and pillows that make up the bulk of the seating — so much more inviting that stiff stools or standing only options at other local establishments.
Is this the place you go for dancing, people watching, and trying to find your weekend hook-​up? Heck no. But why not stop in here for a drink or two earlier in the evening with a few friends before heading out to the more dance club and scene oriented bars in the area?

Raise your hand if you like chilled out vibes, strong classic cocktails (served with local spirits), a DJ spinning the likes of Daft Punk and Chromeo, free valet, and knowledgeable and über-​competent bartenders! *raises hand*
Raise your hand if you don’t give two shits about the personal vendettas of two or three overly dramatic Unilocalers and are sick of reading about it! *raises hand as high as possible*
Just go to this bar and enjoy. If you put stock in a couple people’s opinions on here and are too much of a sheep to check it out for yourself, I feel sorry for you.

Yeah, that’s right. I erased my original re-​review because guess what? Guess who ISN’T representing Bar L’Etranger now (Cbus Unilocal,I give you three guesses and the first two don’t count)? This is like that time that Sadam Hussain got assassinated, and Iraqis gave American soldiers candy! Bar L’Etranger has just moved from Chris Isaak (guilty pleasure) to Britney Spears (love of my life). While having a secret affair is fun and I will miss it, it’s much more awesome to tell everyone you’re in love and be all public about it.
Alright, so here we go. All the reasons you will LOVE Bar L’Etranger:
First of all, the patio is now open and set up. Located out back in the walled-​off alley between two buildings, it is now strung up with carnival lights and features little bars and benches to put drinks on and sit. Last time Susie and I were here, we loved the unfinished patio so much that we sat out there in the dark anyway — but with the new improvements, I cannot WAIT to be out there in the summer when it’s nice. It feels so sassy and European.
Bryant M. and I were here yesterday afternoon, and we were the only people in the bar for about three hours. Daydrinking is my favourite, and especially daydrinking custom and classic cocktails when you have the most talented and attentive bartender all to yourself. Shout out to Dave, who will blow your mind with his ability to take three ingredients that you name and make a delicious, bubbly, champagne cocktail. He made Bryant an amazing almond beverage with the last of the bar’s OYO honey vanilla vodka, some almond bitters (I think), and champagne. Im. Pressed. I stuck with the classics, and I have to say, you must try the Pom Bluet, the French 75 (forever my favourite classic cocktail) and above all, the Boardwalk Manhattan — hands down the best Manhattan I’ve Ever Had. Oh and since it was happy hour, the French 75s (and a bunch of other drinks) were FIVE DOLLARS. Omg, Columbus, you guys are missing out by not taking advantage of this one!
What I really love about Strange Bar, as my friends call it (and then make fun of me for pronouncing L’Etranger all guttural and French!) is the fact that I have prolly been in maybe 6 times since January — so a little over once a month — and Dave and Pixie, the cocktail waitress, are ALWAYS incredible to me and my friends. I am sooooo excited that the old PR régime has been toppled, because these two deserve all the props and word-​of-​mouth love that I will now give to Bar L’Etranger on the regular. They’re just really down to earth and cool — which makes the bar even more French to me, because while most people think the French are snobby, they’re actually just… French. Meaning that they’re awesome if you get to know them — really very down to earth. And Dave and Pixie are totally perfect for this bar. They also mentioned that there are some amazing DJ nights I wanna check out, including a vinyl-​only night and an all-​French music night (they were playing French music when we were there… crush!)
Oh and one final thought — I still do NOT think that being in Strange Bar is like stepping outside of Columbus. That notion, overheard at my very first night at L’Etranger, is completely absurd and fairly insulting. No, Bar L’Etranger is more like one of the best things Columbus has to offer. And now I’m gonna go on 10TV and ask it to marry me!
Hey, en francais, it even rhymes! M’epouser, l’etranger! Je t’aaaaaime!

Having been a frequent visitor of the previous bar in the same location, Bristol, I was itching to try out the newly remodled concept of Bar l’etranger. I liked it! I came for my 24^th birthday bar hop, and totally loved the redecorated atmosphere of the joint. I’m a texture freak… I loved the mismatched french/​victorian chairs and pillows, and the wire bird cage i the corner with an open door and a pile of feathers inside. And of course, the SWINGING BENCH (which I inhabited all night)!
The crowd there was demure, always a surprise to me since the bar isn’t located in the best part of town. The menu was simple, with elegant mixed drinks and sweet champagne. I could seriously chill here every night of the week.
The downside happens to be the prices. Or rather, this could be the upside. It was pricy. Enough to be out of my range except for birthdays. This could potentially work to their advantage though, because of the example laid out by the previous bar. My thoughts on why Bristol didnt make it is because it became so popular of an underground bar, that it wasn’t indie anymore, thus ruining the illusion. With prices kept high, this might weed out the strange ones… (sorry I had to help myself to the pun)

I love this space. I really do. It’s such a hidden gem. That being said, the décor and ambiance just felt… forced. Sure it’s lovely, but it just feels put on. I was amused by the swing though. Great seating idea! :)
Cocktails were a bit pricey, but great quality. My Bulleit Manhattan was deeeelicious. The bartender was extremely helpful in explaining the differences in the drinks on the menu.
So all in all, it’s a slightly pretentious concept with above average cocktails. I can’t say it will be in my top 5 bars in Columbus, but I would probably go back if someone else wanted to go.

After going to BAR l’etranger, I missed Bristol Bar a little bit. Ok, I think I missed Bristol Bar a lot! I enjoyed how BAR l’etrager was low key and more intimate, but I felt like the French theme was too fake and felt forced. I think they need to drop the French theme and just keep it decorated as is. It doesn’t look ‘French’. What does French even look like, really? The idea of them trying to be French is kind of a joke.
I often find ok or mediocre venues elevated by great staff! This is what I found at BAR l’etranger! The bar tender rocked and really made me a fan! He also makes an amazing French Martini, rivaling that of Mouton. Not like they’re in competition or anything. While the bar tender exclaimed he thinks he makes the best French martini in the city (he actually may, I’ll have to investigate) he gave respectful props to Mouton and their drink crafting skills. Classy guy! FYI: Most drinks are $ 9-​$ 10.
I was at BAR l’etranger with Bryant M. so, I’d like to refer you to his review for the details as I totally agree with him. An additional note to his review is that the bathroom lighting makes you look beautiful. Be sure to make a pit stop while you’re there.
Overall, I’d return, but the main reason would be because of the bar tender.

This place kinda has split personalities…
BAR l’étranger is in an interesting neighborhood, and I really like that. The décor is beautiful and eclectic: candle-​lit windows, floor-​length drapes at the entrance, a lovely wooden-​panel wall, dark, red lights, mis-​matched chairs, intricate wall paper, and lovely wooden floors.
There was a private party going on the night we were there, so my friends and I sat in the bar area to drink. We really had a great time — it wasn’t crowded, we could easily have conversation, and the bartender was friendly, down-​to-​earth, and passionate about drinks.
I had two OYO Manhattans, and they were beyond delicious. I was practically gulping them down — that’s how smooth they were. I also tried a friend’s French Martini, and it was super tasty for anyone looking for a sweeter drink.
My experience in the bar area kinda reminded me of Mouton — with its low-​keyness, well-​crafted drinks, and passionate bartender.
But then the other side of BAR l’étranger came out. Around 10:30 pm, these glam-​girls and quasi-​douches started to show up. And the comfort factor from earlier was totally gone. The crowd was very «rich college kids who think they are upscale». Ew. These kids were just trying to be seen rather than coming to enjoy the company of good friends and have good drinks.
I would probably go back to BAR l’étranger on a weeknight, but I’ll leave the weekends to that other crowd. Besides, they’ll find somewhere «cooler» soon enough.

BAR l’étranger recently replaced Bristol Bar, the previous occupant of this location in a «transitional» neighborhood. Unfortunately, they seem to be following a pretty similar business model to Bristol: expensive drinks (all of the cocktails AND BEERS were $ 9 and up) and an «upscale» atmosphere. I’m pretty sure this is why Bristol went out of business: they placed a fancy bar in a neighborhood in which only dive bars seem to thrive. The problem is mostly the neighborhood: it’s not exactly ghetto, as it’s only two blocks away from the fun and hip Short North area, but those two blocks make a big difference. I think that if the neighborhood was revitalized — with more nice bars/​restaurants, boutiques, and apartment buildings — then a bar like this would fit in much better. As it is, though, the bar is out of place. Not only that… the drinks are not in the same price range than the places I like to hang out in the Short North, like Bodega, Press Grill, Barrel 44, etc. So combine the less-​than-​desirable surroundings with the high prices… it’s not an ideal situation.
True, they do have tasty drinks (my «lemongrass martini» had citrus vodka, lemongrass syrup, ginger syrup, and fresh squeezed lemon, and they also have a nice selection of Belgian beers and expensive wines). Their décor is also really nice — think elegant eclectic, a la Urban Outfitters. But when compared to the other options just a couple of blocks away, it’s just too expensive. When every drink is priced about $ 2 more than any other place, it’s not the place you decide to go if you know you’ll be spending a few hours and having a few drinks. Most of the wines by the bottle were $ 90 and up!
I do think BAR l’étranger has potential, I really do. They have a nice atmosphere and the bartenders are cool. There’s even a DJ. And I’d love to try some of their menu options (something Bristol lacked) like the cheese platter or the bleu crab salad. But I think if they want to stay in business for a long time to come, they need to rethink their drink prices and perhaps expand their menu and specials to stay competitive. As it is, this bar just feels out of place: overly fancy in a decidedly unfancy neighborhood… and right next to a host of other nice but less expensive places to spend one’s evening.

This is, in many ways, an ideal bar for me. It has good classy drinks at a price point that isn’t ridiculous, they carry OYO vodka, and they have an interesting setup with couches and two bars. And the DJ was one of the best I’ve heard in awhile– no awkward transitions, creative mixes, and very little shitty pop music. And it wasn’t so loud that I couldn’t hear myself think.
The location is a little strange, because it is in the «bad neighborhood» which I’ve come to realize is racists of Columbus’s way of saying «there are other ethnicities that live in this neighborhood.» seriously Columbus, grow up. Anyway, presumably because of the location, it wasn’t crowded despite being 10:30pm on New Year’s Eve.
The Drinks: I had a great concoction called the ElderFall (or something along those lines) which was apple brandy, St. Germaine, apple cider, and lemon juice. it was delicious! definitely creative. unfortunately, the cloying sweetness of the drink got to be about halfway, but it was still a very well thought out girly drink. at midnight I decided I needed something a bit stronger, so I ordered a Old Fashioned with my favorite bourbon, Woodford Reserve. It was good, but not as good as the one at Mouton. but then again, it’s Mouton. you really can’t beat them for vintage cocktails.
The Feel of the Place: There’s a standard bar side, which is cool, then a lounge area with several interesting couches and another small bar. I really liked the layout. it was relaxed, conducive for actually meeting people. a lot of people at the bar seemed to know each other, which gave it a cool sense of community but also a weird clique-​ish vibe. but I really liked that it was social, unlike Mouton or Bodega, where you’re kind of isolated at your own table area. The music was amazing, but there was very little dancing. There was also a little burlesque show, which was not actually what I would call burlesque because the girls dancing did not seem to have any real dancing talent. I mean, they were cute and all, but burlesque dancers are supposed to be teases, do tricks with chairs, and actually dance. oh well– I still appreciate the effort to have something interesting going on.

First impressions coming here (as with the previous inhabitant of this space, Bristol) Bar is that the neighborhood is a bit shady, but as another Unilocaler pointed out last night that this bar would thrive in an area like the Short North, I remarked that part of its… charm… is that it’s a little off the beaten path. I guess.
I parked in front of the security place across the street, and in later conversation learned from the valet guy (valet is free, BTW) that is where he parks the cars anyway, so protip, if you also don’t like other people driving your car, especially an absurd 20 feet, then just park there yourself.
Walking inside, I liked the ambiance and décor of the bar area, though unlike Mel B, the DJ in the corner behind the bar just made me roll my eyes.
I was digging the drink menu, which listed around 8 cocktails, 10 or so craft and import beers (a few of which I had never heard of! which never happens to me!) and then a decent looking wine list — though I really know nothing of wine lists, so I guess I’m remarking on the font, lol. Drinks are a little on the pricey side, ($ 6 for Brooklyn Brown when a 12 pack runs $ 12? Ok.) but I guess that’s what you expect in a place like this. Only negative here — the cocktails don’t include what’s IN the drinks, which bugs the crap out of me «Yes, I’ll have this mystery word drink, please.»
Due to Mel B.‘s recco, though, I discovered a new favorite cocktail — French 75. Wantwantwant.
After our party peaked at around 10 people, we attempted to venture over to the other side of the bar, which is decked out with couches, small tables and… a palm tree? Nothing says «french» like palm! Anyway, despite an abundance of seating over here, the furniture is grouped in such a way that no more than 3 or 4 people can actually sit together, which was… really weird.
So, good cocktails with some offsetting elements, but a place I’ll probably revisit. Eventually. Maybe.

I love that there is a swing in the middle of the secondary area of L’etranger. It’s funny how the name has become in the pronunciation of many of my friends «Let ranger» which makes it sound stranger than the natural French pronunciation. «Ley tranj eh», ah but the drinks are fabulous, priced to make you feel like you’re just a step above the regular romps of the short north, and yet the flavors are fantastic. I will say the detail to the atmosphere and layout has solidified well.
My recent experience was peppered with references from friends to the initial opening when less décor was finalized. The current state is apparently an improvement, and one I enjoyed extremely well. The seating layout draws one to actually sit, and make the mingling atmosphere pleasant and energizing. There are the awkward aspects to such abundant seating, one such thing being the eternal «bumping into someone» when getting out and going to the restroom. Another is the constant need to scan for feet when returning to or departing from a given location.
The bar area has a wonderful feel, where I can imagine the bartenders actually might enjoy their space, and have room to work. The rooms feel warm and inviting, not too dark, not too bright. L’etranger is warm in a living room sort of way. A Parisian living room for your relaxation and socializing needs.

I prefer Bristol, but all of the other many ‘hoods in Columbus would be better off with French, existentialist bars. The ambiance is what you’re going here for. Minus one star for generic house music. Hello, no classic French music in a French themed bar? They could have at least had an Agnes Varda film playing on some old TVs to make up for that. $ 9 Oyo vodka martinis? Yes. $ 9 pints of Dortmunder Gold? Absolutely not: minus another star. There’s certainly potential here if they go all the way with the French theme and lower some beer prices. I have (very occasionally) bought $ 9 beers, but only when they’re not commonly available and not available at half the price at other bars. I do have to mention that the bar still attracts a wide cross-​section of patrons from hipsters to yuppies to locals from the hood; not an easy feat. I’ll have to go back and see what it’s like now that they’ve been open for more than a week.

Brand new joint! Super chill French wine bar/​lounge with old school and new school hand crafted cocktails.