Since opening in July, Darling in Central Square has been a popular spot for creative, delicious cocktails and sophisticated ambiance. The name is inspired by the phrase “kill your darlings,” and Darling does that in a menu that evolves daily. Some drinks I looked at had been available for only a few days, and one was slated to leave the next day – all this is to say, it feels impossible to be exactly on time for Darling. You can’t get attached to anything, and I can’t confirm that everything I noticed, read about and sampled will be on the menu by the time this is published. Darling beckons a revisit, and then another, and another.
My first drink absolutely had to be the whiskey highball titled Hypocrite Critic, a carbonated blend of Toki Japanese whiskey, Asian pear, Hiso Junmai Daiginjo and yuja peel. I found it absolutely dazzling, refreshing and bubbly, with a tangy yuzu flavor and delicate (and not overpowering) sweetness.
For my second drink, I had Darling’s current top seller, Hope I Packed a Parachute. It’s a milk punch drink, frothy and sweet with Teeling Irish whiskey, shochu, matcha, red bean amazake, cacao and taro foam. It’s a true dessert, rich and luxurious. The flavors pair so nicely, particularly the red bean and taro foam, creating something original and so unexpectedly delicious you can’t even taste the whiskey.
Before I left, I had a few sips of the Holy Trinity – not on the menu anymore – that I was told exhibits the evolution of the friendship between the head bartender and the owner. It riffs on the classic Gibson with gin washed in ginger, scallion, garlic, along with a little bit of MSG. It was strong, spicy, and delightfully garlicky, garnished with a pickled scallion.
Darling also offers a dim sum-inspired food menu (the $8 cucumber was genuinely worth the price), and the decor and the drinks have a strong Hong Kong influence. The walls are adorned with stills from Wong Kar-Wai films, and the coasters feature illustrations of dim sum dishes.
Darling invokes its cultures in a brilliant, unique way, with a stylish, warm ambiance, and the service is extremely friendly and welcoming; the bartenders gave really useful recommendations, and answered all of my menu questions. Darling is the perfect bar for a date, a birthday, a night out with friends or even just as an opportunity to try something both new and familiar.
Darling, 464 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge
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