The Clover Club is a cocktail made from gin, egg whites, lemon juice, and raspberry syrup. It’s a pre-prohibition sipper, which originated in a Philadelphia bar, also called Clover Club, that was founded in 1896. It was considered a “masculine” drink at the time, even if in 1934 Esquire had some not-so-nice things to say about it. (Don’t worry, they’ve since come around.)
Eddie “Lucky” Campbell—notable Dallas barman of Parliament fame—is eager to share this information, along with fun-facts about 200-year-old bar El Floridita in Havana, Cuba, and Beau Nash at the Hotel Crescent Court. Do you remember Beau Nash?
It’s mid-afternoon and Campbell is seated at a table in the dining room of Coal Vines in Uptown. He’s joined by Brad Woy, Hunter Sullivan, Anthony Van Camp, and Chad Helton. This is the team behind Clover Club, which will open in the old Nikkei space next door at 2404 Cedar Springs Rd.
“This is a destination for people 35 and up to drink and have a good time,” says Woy, who also co-owns The Standard Pour with Campbell. The duo purchased the Uptown cocktail bar in January 2018. “It’s a 1950s and 1960s restaurant and lounge with live music four to five nights a week.”
Surely, they can’t enforce this. It’s not literal. Just the kind of crowd they’re seeking.
The space is under construction. But there will be black benches and a clunky wooden bar. Expect ostentatious crystal chandeliers, gold walls, a dance floor, and a 250-square-foot stage. There’s a casual rooftop patio and bar.
They’ll have live music four to five nights a week, Campbell hopes. The lineup is orchestrated by singer and bandleader Hunter Sullivan. Sullivan has been actively performing and booking shows in Dallas for more than 25 years. There will be Motown night and Big Band Fridays and Latin Sundays.
The menu isn’t finished, but chef Anthony Van Camp (Al Biernat’s, SĒR) is behind the food. Clover Club will open at 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, with dinner service starting at 7:30 p.m. Cocktails are whiskey and gin-forward. But all spirits will be offered. Campbell explains that there will be a time period element to the cocktails, which is appropriate. And yes, you can get a Clover Club.
They’re aiming to open on June 1. We’ll absolutely be checking it out.
