It has been a while since our last experience in the back room at Strong Water Anaheim that is called the Captains Quarters and features a separate bartender and a more intimate environment. The section is themed to the inside of a marooned ship, including faux night sky above and Victorian era decor, though the music in this section varied from this strict theme. We included dinner in our experience including some shell-on garlic shrimp, sweet chili salmon, and grilled chicken, all wonderful and a good value given the quality and quantity.
I started the cocktail experience with a Bitter Mai Tai, a riff featuring Campari but still really great. Next, I challenged the bartender with an off-menu order for a Planter’s Punch, a drink that can vary depending on where you get it and how they make in. In this case, it leaned fruity and featured Hamilton 86 Demerara rum and even though it didn’t lean spicy or with Jamaican rum I still loved it.
Meanwhile Mrs. Mai Tai revisited the complex flavors of the Tales from the Black Lagoon, an outstanding Strong Water original that includes butterscotch and banana notes. Next she tried Velvet Banana that is an inspired riff on the Espresso Martini. Since we were seated at the bar we got to see the cocktail preparation including the smokey Cannon Fire that inspired us to order it ourselves. This Old Fashioned style cocktail has bourbon and allspice, wonderful in this format.
We continue to be impressed by the quality of the food and drinks at Strong Water, along with high quality service as well. The Captains Quarters concept is available in other venues but few are executed as completely as it is at Strong Water.
