A visit to Rococo Steak in downtown St. Pete rewards diners with a genuine cocktail experience. But that experience, turns out, isn't listed on the restaurant's beverage menu. You see, the secret House-Infused Gin & Tonic for Two is only available at the bar, and you've got to ask nicely for it.
Follow these steps and you'll score a gin and tonic unlike any other in Tampa Bay.
Your spirited quest begins at the modern St. Pete steakhouse that is Rococo, located inside a converted 1920s manse. Settle in (remember, at the bar), then make friends with your bartender, the gatekeeper of the restaurant's special G&T.
On a recent visit, I discover the House-Infused Gin & Tonic begins with a handful of ingredients and a dash of science. Coriander, juniper berries, white peppercorns, rosemary, thyme and the zest of three citrus fruits are used to infuse a neutral spirit (nope, not actual gin) over an open flame — Bunsen burner and all. This process transports you back to chemistry class; the cocktail's preparation is a sight to behold.
"I wanted to call it bathtub gin," says Dave Madera, director of operations for Rococo. "It's a Prohibition term that means house-made gin that used to be made in steel bathtubs when gin was in high demand."
Madera then pauses to tend to the tower of bubbling booze, turning down the heat to allow the concoction to cool. Next, he drops one large tonic water ice cube into a pair of rocks glasses (both frozen blocks have a corkscrewed twist of lime suspended in the middle). At last, after adding dry ice to the newly infused gin, Madera pours the final mixture over the tonic cubes as a fragrant fog drifts from each glass.
And just like that, your G&T is ready for sipping.
"I want them to have fun [and] want them to take pictures," Madera says of the restaurant's guests.
The cocktail philosophy at Rococo isn't all show, though. How the drinks taste going down is as important as what goes into their presentation. Good taste, after all, equals good times.
Upon sampling a glass of the House-Infused Gin & Tonic, I find pronounced hints of citrus, plus nice herbal notes from the juniper berries and coriander. The cocktail's botanicals have good balance, which results in an unmistakeable gin flavor, and there's also the right amount of sweetness emanating from the tonic cube.
While the G&T is an ambitious, off-the-menu selection, the regular cocktail lineup is equally impressive. Try the watermelon spritz featuring Cappelletti Aperitivo-infused frozen melon, or the Cucumber Roe that's beautifully finished with cucumber caviar and black sea salt. Another solid choice is the St. Pete Fog, a tiki-inspired sensory cocktail accompanied by an aromatic fog.
And, seriously, make no mistake — Rococo's secret cocktail is a thoughtfully crafted gin and tonic with delicious depth. Oh, and do bring a pal along. Unless you plan to down both servings of the one-of-a-kind sipper yourself.
This article appears in Jun 28 – Jul 5, 2018.