You can’t miss it. At one end of the lounge, right next to the bar, is a painting of Canadian pop star The Weeknd, wearing a jacket with the XO logo. This lounge uses Vietnamese cuisine as its inspiration, but judging by the rows and rows of Hennessy in the back of the bar, this is a place to enjoy snacks and cocktails. Check out XO’s take on the Old Fashioned with a strong Mandarin orange presence.
The snacks, meant for sharing, are takes on pub classics that have been given a little Vietnamese flair. The highlight is the Oxtail Fries. Served with a fried egg on top, the oxtail makes a rich, decadent topping for the fries. It’s absolutely fantastic. Panko bread crumbs add crunch to the baked bone marrow, and the XO take on beef carpaccio is loaded with chili peppers. It raises the temperature, for sure. After a few of these, you’ll be feeling like a Starboy.
10236 103 St., 780-761-9696, xobistrobar.com
