Welcome to encore
encore is the newest and most unique experience in Columbus! The word encore means a return, or a request to repeat a pleasurable experience. There have been bars in this space upstairs from Handke's Cuisine before, but never like this one — a pleasure to revisit again and again. With an atmosphere that recalls Prohibition-era speakeasies, and a menu that’s all fast-forward, encore offers the best of both worlds if you're seeking an upscale alternative to the usual Brewery District pub grub.
Behind the 40-foot mahogany bar at encore, expert mixologists serve up signature cocktails with names out of the Roaring 20s—the Prohibition, the Great Gatsby—but with ingredients concocted for today’s tastes. There’s a full complement of flavored martinis, many named for jazz greats, and regular Martini Night events will feature special pricing. The beer menu includes everything from Pabst Blue Ribbon in the can to imports, microbrews and premium ales, and a changing selection of fine wines from Handke’s cellar is offered by the glass.
The bar menu at encore also offers a cutting-edge twist on retro classics. In the hands of Handke’s Executive Chef Asa Rodriguez, French fries become Truffled Frites, hand-cut potatoes dressed with white truffle oil, with red bell pepper ketchup for dunking. A miniature lamb burger with caramelized onions and Fontino cheese is the encore version of a slider. From comfort food to small-plate versions of some classic Handke’s entrees, the bar menu at encore gives grownup taste buds an extra reason to go drinking.
The encore ambience promotes comfortable time travel, with period furnishings and engravings on the walls of this historic Schlee building recalling the Brewery District’s storied past, while plasma screens feature today’s big games and classic movies. encore is a welcome back to where Columbus belongs!