Alexander and Sarah Hult were at a Los Gatos restaurant a few years back and undecided on what kind of margarita to order. They were interested in trying more than one but didn’t want to drink too much. Why didn’t restaurants offer flights of cocktails the way they did wine or beer, the Hults wondered.
And that’s how the idea behind Flights, the Hults’ new restaurant and bar in downtown Campbell, was born. The couple, who also own Hult’s in Los Gatos, opened Flights in late June in the Campbell Avenue corner spot that used to be the Socialight.
Everything at Flights is served in threes, from the food to drinks. You can get a trio of margaritas — classic, strawberry and pineapple — or a set of three tropical drinks, with a mai tai to go with a frozen piña colada and a frozen strawberry daiquiri. The menu features variations of mojitos, martinis, cosmopolitans and even old-fashioneds — all served in smaller glasses on a metal tray. The cocktails are either $18 or $19 for the flight.
For those not into the concept, or who have a hankering for something specific, you can still order a drink from the full bar — though, really, that’s not as fun.
Flights has been bringing in about 300 customers a night, which isn’t surprising given the hot dining scene on Campbell Avenue. The website touts it as a good place for a girls’ night out, a date night or a family roaming around downtown, and that lines up well with the crowds who have filled the tables both inside and lining the sidewalk. It’s really not a great place to go alone, as the menu is built to be shared.
Naturally, beers and wines also are given the flight treatment in a traditional way, with cards that describe each variety. Draft beers are separated into four groups of three 9-ounce servings — wheat, pilsners, dark and IPA — for $13 each. The wine flights are separated into chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, rosé, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir and sparkling. The prices range from $17 to $18 for three 4-ounce glasses. You can also opt for a pint of any of the beers for $7 or a glass of wine for $11.
Spirits are also available in flights, too, so you can sample a trio of tequilas ($18), rye whiskey ($17), bourbon ($19) or Scotch ($22). Designated drivers and families with kids aren’t left out — there’s a flight of mocktails featuring a Shirley Temple, a vanilla-flavored Orange Crush and a Grapefruit Smash, for $7.
The staff — servers are dressed in stylish black flight attendant or pilot outfits — certainly have their work cut out for them keeping up with everything being in triplicate. To keep things moving, the bartenders prep the glasses with the ingredients that make them distinctive, like strawberry puree or orange bitters, and then add the base mixture, which is made in batches and served up from taps.
If you like a little variety, Flights could be just the place. But remember to bring some friends.
Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday and Tuesday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.