By Chloe Rhoden
Halloween may only be one night a year, but personally I start decorating my house in September to enjoy the ambiance for as long as possible. But fear not, you won’t have to do all of that work too, for there are restaurants that take All Hallows Day as seriously as I do. Visit Gwinnett’s pop-up bars this fall to see what I mean!
Starting with Over the Top Burger Bar in Buford, bring your boo to enjoy some scary good burgers, a retro arcade lounge and moody lighting that breaks through the festive spider webs over the bar. Not to mention the droolworthy boozy milkshakes with an amount of toppings that can only be described as, well, over the top.
Rreal Tacos is perhaps the most ambitious of pop-up bars in Gwinnett. Each location gets fully decorated for Halloween with a food and cocktail menu to match. My Prickly Pear Margarita with a black salt rim arrived in a smoke-filled treasure chest and my Halloween Birria Ramen came with black ramen noodles in a mouthwatering consomé broth. Every inch of the restaurant, from the bar to the bathrooms, was decorated to the max; not a single surface was spared from the Halloween takeover. So beware, dear reader, Rreal Tacos is no place for those easily spooked! Seriously, though, it’s definitely worth all of the hype. Did I mention their bartenders wear costumes every day to work during October?
Speaking of spirits, the bartenders over at Local Republic in Lawrenceville have curated a terrifyingly tempting Halloween craft cocktail list for the month of October. Featured drinks include the Grim and Tonic, a refreshing basil gin and tonic with a ghoulish green hue. The boulevardier riff, aptly named the Boolevardier, is a harmonious concoction of bourbon, fall spices and red vermouth for whiskey lovers like myself. Though whiskey has my heart, the Cold Brew Martini riff might be my favorite. It’s a luscious mix of vodka, cold brew and pumpkin spice with a cinnamon jack-o’-lantern image sitting atop the foam. It’s the perfect after-dinner cocktail to complement or even replace your dessert. I won’t spoil the rest of the menu for you; you’ll just have to come see for yourself!