Clever Koi, an award-winning pan-Asian restaurant and lounge with locations in Central Phoenix and Downtown Gilbert, is introducing a one-of-a-kind cocktail experience with its newly launched comic book-style drink menu. Featuring 66 inventive and exotically-inspired cocktails, this colorful menu combines vibrant illustrations with a manga-style mini graphic novel.
The cocktail menu introduces a variety of fresh, bold drinks, such as the Stoppage Time, a kiwi-apple-infused cocktail with smooth organic Junmai Ginjo Nigori sake, and Kanagawa’s Great Wave, a towering, fluffy Ramos fizz variant with yuzu lime and crystal cordial.
For non-alcoholic options, the Thank You Berry Much offers an alcohol-free whiskey accented with Portuguese sour-cherry liqueur and savory salt butter syrup. Clever Koi has also debuted House Boiler Makers, featuring unique pairings like Kanpai, which combines Kiku sake, Harland Japanese lager, and yuzu salt cucumber, and Low Key Toki, a blend of Thai tea-infused Japanese whiskey and Hazy IPA.
Clever Koi’s updated food menus highlight richer, flavorful broths for their signature house-made ramen and noodle dishes. New entrees include duck ramen, an Asian-Italian kimchee carbonara, and the fan-favorite kimcheese burger. To keep things exciting, the restaurant has incorporated a QR code on the menu, linking guests directly to features and specials, allowing the kitchen to experiment with new flavors and dishes more frequently.
The expanded menus come from co-owners Joshua James and Nicholas Campisano, along with contributions from Mike Lopez of their sister restaurant, Across The Pond. James, a winner of the Last Slinger Standing cocktail competition, notes that the new drink menu offers not only eye-catching graphics and an engaging story but also innovative flavor combinations, such as the Thai Berry Soda, a mix of gin, Thai basil syrup, sesame shochu, and acid-adjusted strawberry.
“Acid adjusting allows us to use non-acidic fruits like strawberry, orange, or pineapple but still achieve the crisp balance you’d typically get from lemon or lime juice,” James said.
Another notable creation is the Golden Myth, a cornflake-flavored twist on a clarified punch, spiced with cinnamon and infused with red banana rum. While each cocktail features hand-prepared ingredients and complex techniques, the menu is designed for quick service, with the heavy lifting done in advance so that bartenders can serve drinks efficiently and consistently.
Clever Koi’s is located at 4236 N. Central Ave. in Phoenix and 384 N. Gilbert Road in Gilbert. For more information, follow them @cleverkoi or visit thecleverkoi.com.
