Za’atar is hands down one of my favorite spices. So, I was pretty excited to give the Bloody Miriam from Reunion a shot. This Williamsburg spot was highly recommended by friend of mine and has solid ratings online, so I had high hopes not only for the Bloody, but also for the food. Thankfully, it did not disappoint.

Reunion is an Israeli restaurant that call itself a “love letter to Tel Aviv.” While I was there, I ordered the hummus, Lahma’ajun, and Jerusalem bagel. Each food item was a solid 10/10. But we’re not here to talk about the food… we’re here to talk about the Bloody Miriam. 

Key Takeaways

The Bloody Miriam is served in a standard highball glass with a za’atar salt rim, bar olives, and a lemon slice full of za’atar. Overall, I would say this cocktail had a smooth texture (no chunks) and a nice spice balance, but was a little heavy handed on the black pepper. The cost for this is $14, which feels pretty average for the city. 

The one thing I’d ding them for is the inconsistency. The first time I had the Bloody Miriam, I genuinely said, “wow” and “damn” outloud. But the second time I went, it was more of a “meh” reaction. The third time was better, but didn’t still hit the same level as the first time I went. This was a bit of a let down because after the first time I had this cocktail, I thought this was going to be a regular spot for me to go when I was craving a Bloody. But not knowing if I’d get the “wow” version or the “meh” version isn’t ideal, especially when I know there are other spots I can go to and count on to deliver exactly what I’m looking for. 

Rating: 6.5/10

• Garnish – 7
• Originality – 6
• Spice/Flavor – 7
• Presentation – 7
• Texture – 9
• Value – 7

I’d rate this one higher if the consistency were there, but that brought it down a little bit in my opinion. All this said, it’s still a good cocktail and is worth trying if you’re at the restaurant. I appreciate the pronounced za’atar and spice punch this one packs.