spiked bubble tea? CHECK.

Told you I had to have it.

Look how happy I am. Note how easy it is to make me happy. In one hand, spiked green tea bubble tea. And flanking me? Husband and Wife. Sigh. Happiness.


Wife, as pictured with her effervescent and refreshing "Filipino spritzer." ("Ehh ... psst, psst!")

Husband, as pictured with his distrust of fancy places plain on his face. Also, the edge of his water glass. Not pictured? His two sidecars. Yumm.

All in all, an enjoyable experience. We had Kumamoto oysters, hamachi, and kanpachi, with delicious dipping sauces. We had fatty pork belly, kimchee, and daikon in soft steamed buns. We had the Q cocktail, the Filipino Spritzer, the spiked bubble tea, and sidecars. We had tea-smoked chicken, sticky rice with smoked sausage and edamame, korean style baby back ribs, and grilled eggplant. We had chocolate-cardamom-star anise ice cream and lychee black tea sorbet and peanut butter and chocolate tartlett. We had all these things and then we waddled joyfully home.

Bar Q is still quite new, which became evident from the still-zealous and attentive staff and the still-sparkly bathrooms, not to mention a photographer scurrying around outside, surreptitiously taking pictures of the restaurant through the window that read "Bar Q." Though accidental, it did end up being sort of fun being in a place that was so new. I felt special. I felt like I should eavesdrop on people's conversations for the potential of learning something about the kind of people that make it their business to try the new all the time.

Finally--and I hate to be the one to say it--it was a fine experience, and one I'm glad I had, but not particularly remarkable. The drinks and food were good . . . but our lives were not changed. Our lives went on as they had before the fancy barbecue and delicate and miniature ice cream scoops.

But the next time we drop nearly $200 on dinner, I hope it's for life-changing food.