Hello loves and happy Friday! Welcome back to our third installment of Eat Like a Dentonite, and this week’s stop is a local hot spot I love to take my out of town friends on their last night in the city! It’s the ultimate relaxing, but still have a good time vibe that I love. It’s Paschall Upstairs bar, Denton’s ONLY speakeasy! This little joint is tucked away above Andy’s Bar, nestled neatly on the corner of the square on the West Oak St. side. Trust me, this place has the drinks, the atmosphere, and the vibes of Denton just oozing from every bookshelf pilled high with vintage table books and old timey novels
I like large parties. They’re so intimate. At small parties there isn’t any privacy.”
-The Great Gatsby, Scott Fitzgerald
The Lineup
My husband and I caught drinks after our dinner at Komodo Loco, just down the street in a back alley right off East Oak St., and walked up to Paschall. We tried some of their popular drinks like the 3 Piece Bikini and Harvest Pear. The 3 Piece Bikini is one of their popular Tiki Drinks, which if you want a cute drink photo, trade your ID for an adorable tiki glass! The harvest pair gets a sprinkle of sugar crystals that are torched at the end to create a sweet glaze at the top!
The contents of the 3 Piece Bikini are Rum, Lime, and house made Hibiscus syrup. My favorite part about this drink is the Hibiscus syrup that is equal parts sweet, and equal parts beach feels. While I am a fan of the more traditional drinks of an old fashioned, whiskey neats, or French 75’s. After a filling dinner of savory sushi and Poke Bowl, I was feeling the sweetness of a beachy drink!
The Harvest Pear is a fun drink, because it has so many parts to the process! This drink has Rye Whiskey, Pear Liqueur, Lemon, Honey, Egg White, Angostura Bitters, and my favorite part, the blowtorch. According to our bartender, this drink is the most fun to make and really compliments the speakeasy vibes of Paschall. It is a little longer of a process, because there is whipping the egg whites, there’s the mixing, there’s sprinkling, then there’s a fire element. So all in all, there’s quite a bit going on. But if you like pretty drinks, that also taste like the sweet crisp of fall, you’ll definitely want to wait for this drink.
For The Adventurous
We did try one more, kinda out there drink on the menu. The only reason I say out there is because it has a snap pea for a garnish! The Farmer was a mix of Topo Chico, Vodka, and a mix of a refreshing summertime mixer! Garnished with a snap pea, this will make any adventurous mixologist happy! It was like sipping a lime Topo Chico from the bottle. Definitely could see this drink featured at a summer soiree or patio side.
The Verdict
Overall, if you’ve been on the hunt for a different type of bar, Paschall Upstairs bar is your place. From live jazz every Sunday night, to a bar environment that doesn’t feel gross and sticky, Paschall Upstairs bar has it. The speakeasy vibes translate from the decor down the the drinks, they even have a whole absinthe part of the menu! Complete with a pool table in the back, a shelf full of board games, and a dart board area to rival all bars in Denton. You’re bound to have a good time, and a good drink, here at Paschall Upstairs Bar.
XOXO, D.W.
