ATLReview
photo credit: Andrew Thomas Lee
Kimball House
When you think about time travel, there are always a few elements that don’t get brought up, like how most dinosaurs would try to eat you, or if you contracted the bubonic plague on a trip to the Middle Ages, there would be no CVS for you to buy antibiotics. For a risk-free time travel experience where the only thing you’ll have to worry about is what cocktail to order, just go to Kimball House.
Located inside an old train station, Kimball House takes you back to the 1920s and 30s, first through the steak, caviar, and oyster-focused menu, and also through the space itself, which is inspired by an old hotel. Between the antique furniture, crystal glassware that looks straight out of the Gatsby universe, and the old-timey ceiling fans running on an ancient conveyor belt, this place feels like it’s from a different time entirely and we really like it.
photo credit: Andrew Thomas Lee
In terms of food, the first thing you’ll want to order at Kimball House is a lot of oysters. There’s a wide variety of them, and they’re always great. You’ll especially want to eat them during the weeknight Happy Hour, when all of those oysters are discounted. If you’re staying for a full dinner, expect an appropriately old school menu of dishes like shrimp cocktail, caviar, and a selection of “Steak Dinners.”
While Kimball House is certainly worth coming to just for the food, it’s also a great spot to start a night out with a few drinks. They serve some of the best cocktails in the city, with a rotating menu that includes everything from a classic French 75 to some great originals.
Whether you want to sit down for a full meal, or just stop by for a few cocktails and oysters, Kimball House is a great option for either. And while the food is probably better than whatever was actually being served during the era that inspired this place, that’s one inaccuracy that we’re more than fine with