We recently checked out the newest establishment located right in the heart of downtown Martinsburg, and it truly was an entire experience! From the start, you feel like you are transported into a different era. The first thing I noticed was the fancy attire of the bartenders. They were dressed in maroon blazers with black bow ties. The décor, which included a lot of greenery and neon lights, made the vibe even more chic. Finally, the loud jazz music completed the scene. Once we sat down at the bar, I was excited to try some drinks and small bites.
Price 💲💲💲💲 out of 5
Being a martini bar, let’s talk about the price of the drinks first. Most drinks were between $15 and $17 dollars, although there may have been some exceptions. Although this is more expensive than what you may pay at other places, I truly believe you are paying for a higher quality drink here. This is a specialty bar, so I think it’s reasonable to expect to pay higher prices.
Regarding food, we tried several items. The food prices are high, but again, the quality of each item is high as well.
Ambience 🧑🍳 🧑🍳 🧑🍳 🧑🍳 out of 5
The Young American is a vibe! You can really tell each piece of décor and detail was well thought out and intentional. It all works well together, and like I stated before, you may forget you are in 2024 in downtown Martinsburg. Before you walk in, the menu is displayed in a lit-up encasement. It gives off old Hollywood vibes to me, especially paired with the fancy bartenders and neon lights! The building is rather interesting, it is a long, skinny building, so there is no room for tables or other seating areas. So, when you go in, just expect a chic bar. It’s also only open from 5pm to midnight each day.
Drinks 🍸🍸🍸🍸 out of 5
We tried the Carrie Bradshaw, which was recommended by our knowledgeable bartender Wes as one of the most popular drinks, and the Manhattan. Both drinks were tasty and high quality. The Carrie Bradshaw includes cranberry juice, club soda, vodka, simple syrup, lime juice, bitters, gin, and orange curacao, while the Manhattan is a bourbon-based drink.
The drink menu is extensive, and many of the drinks sounded good, so you may want to peek at the menu ahead of time to get an idea of what you may want! It would take a long time to get through them all! One drink I did want to try was the Bikini Martini, which has pineapple juice, vodka, and coconut rum. That is on my list for next time!
Food 🥩🥩🥩 out of 5
We tried the stuffed pepper trio, shrimp cocktail, deviled eggs, steak sashimi, and the seared lamb chops. My biggest takeaways were the freshness of the food and the different flavor pairings. Each item was so different from one another, but each item worked well and had great flavor profiles!
The food was solid, but remember, this is a martini bar first. The food menu is limited, so just keep that in mind when visiting.
Experience ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5
Overall, The Young American is an excellent addition to downtown Martinsburg!! It’s so refreshing to see the area be revitalized with new and unique dining establishments. We went on a Sunday evening, and it was packed, so we are so glad that the community is embracing these new places. So, if you are interested in trying something new and different or just want a really great martini, check out The Young American and let us know what you think!