There are numerous cocktail bars here in Minnesota but this particular establishment is curiously missing one of the things commonly found in most other bars and restaurants.
Even though it's been open over a year now, I have yet to check out this watering hole in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, though I DO hope to get there soon. While the Minnesota cocktail bar, Public Domain, has drinks, spirits, mixers, and glasses, it's missing the one thing most of us look for right away when we first arrive at a bar or restaurant: a menu.
That's right, Public Domain, which is located in Minneapolis (at 119 Washington Avenue North, in the trendy North Loop area) and opened last November, will whip up a custom-made cocktail for you, but you won't be able to order off the menu-- because they don't have one.
According to this Axios Twin Cities story, Public Domain bills itself as a 'verbal-only bar.' You won't find any printed drink lists or menus. And, if you're like me, and don't know quite how a 'verbal-only' bar operates, here's how you go about ordering a drink there:
Instead of a written cocktail list, patrons at Public Domain describe what they're in the mood for, and the bartenders take it from there.
That sounds kind of cool if you ask me! Say you're a fan of a classic martini or gin and tonic. Or maybe the Old Fashioned is more your speed. When you get to Public Domain, you mention that you like those drinks to the bartender and curate something new just for you that perhaps you haven't tried before.
I think it's a great way to expand your cocktail horizon and to try a libation you possibly didn't even know existed. One warning, though: you're out of luck if you're a big vodka fan. You won't find any at Public Domain because "it's a 'flavorless spirit' that can be easily replaced by a better one," Axios Twin Cities noted.