Reviewed by Steven Frith

My Ultra Lounge Standard – The Park (Sacramento)

Visited: Saturday, April 5, 2008
Location: 1200 K St., Sacramento, CA 95814 (map) (site)
Phone: 916-878-8344

Much like its newer sister club, Dream, Cabana is a fun, stylistic lounge/dance club that is satisfying if you get there early enough.

Deeper Insights:

While offering a younger crowd than Dream with a similarly cramped setting, Cabana still pulls off a fun night. I attended this lounge for my birthday and while there were some issues getting everybody in because of the long wait outside, once all of that was taken care of, our entire group had a good night. The overall atmosphere created by the staff and the décor of the lounge were inviting, and the drinks were strong yet didn’t require long waits.

I do have trouble categorizing Cabana as an ultra-lounge even though they call themselves that. I would say that it is more of a small dance club as there is an area where you can get drinks, an area where you dance, and a roped off, VIP, curtained cabana area - but that’s it. I think of an ultra-lounge as somewhere that has areas to “hang out” as an option, and Cabana only has this if you have VIP privileges. There are some benches along the dance floor with tables that may or may not have been VIP, but it was so pushed up against the dance floor, it wouldn’t be a place to “lounge” and talk – but more a place to rest for a second before the people dancing around you have a chance to fall or trip on you.

In the VIP area, there are supposedly video game systems available for people to play on the plasma TVs. As cool as that sounds, I don’t know how I feel about paying so much for drinks and the VIP area to play some Madden though – I can get a 6-pack, wear shorts and do that at home.

Overall, it is a good place to go to have a fun night out. It isn’t horrible in terms of a meat market mentality (both guys and girls) of people trying to hook up, but people are dressed well and the bouncers and doormen do a good job of not allowing the inside to become too packed.

Breakdown:

Attire: Normal club-wear. No tennis shoes! They won’t let you in. Cabana has a slightly more up-scale environment compared to most Sacramento nightspots.

Attitude: A place for early to mid-twenty-somethings to congregate, dress up, drink, and dance, but feel more sophisticated while they do it.

Bar/Bartenders: One bar immediately to the left when you enter. Another smaller bar with just beer and select hard-alcohol outside on the front patio. Three male bartenders manned the inside bar and were friendly and very efficient. Was able to get drinks very quickly.

Bathrooms: Located in the rear of the club, the bathrooms were not the easiest to get to. There was a stall and a urinal in the guys’ bathroom (may have been two stalls, having trouble remembering now). Was small and nothing special about it. There was, of course, a line for the ladies’ room, but only a 2-3 minute wait for the guys.

Bathroom Attendant: There was none on the night we were there. Space would make me wonder if having one would even work.

Bottle Service: You can go to the website ahead of time to reserve a Cabana in their VIP section where bottle service is available. Special packages exist for celebrations. With the limited VIP space, I doubt you could pay to get in VIP once you get there.

Cover: $10

Crowd: A younger crowd than Dream. Wasn’t too bad though. For the most part, it was made up of people aiming to look nice and spend some money. The guy-to-girl ratio was actually fairly close to 50/50.

Dance Floor: The entire open area in the back of the facility was the dance floor. There was a raised DJ booth that overlooked the area. Not huge, but big enough for the crowd they allowed in.

Décor: Trying to go for an intimate and secluded feel. The “cabanas,” reds and other dark colors and lighting give it a very warm, seductive feel.

Drinks: Your normal over-priced bar drink variety. Not too much over the top, but no $2 well drinks either.

Hours: Thursday-Saturday 9:00 PM – 2:00 AM

Line: Almost none if you get there before 10:30, but if you get there after 10:45, it can get long. Once one-in-one-out starts, you might as well find somewhere else if you aren’t among the first 15 people or so.

Music: Varies by night, check the website to see what kind of music is there that night. We had your normal top-40 dance music with your average number of “classics” thrown in.

Parking: Street Parking along J St. or L St. You can't park on K St. though (where Cabana is located), as it is blocked off as part of K Street Mall. Park close to 12th Street on either side though.

People Watching: Many good-looking people were there and a few were very scantily dressed.

Seating: Not much in terms of seating. I think you needed to be part of VIP to be able to sit anywhere.

Smoking: I think you could smoke on the front patio, but with no in-and-out privilege, that was your only option if you do.

Water (Free): Yes

Reviewed by Steven Frith

Visited: Saturday, March 29, 2008
Location: 1804 J St., Sacramento, CA 95814(map)(site)
Alternate Location: 649 East Bidwell St., Folsom, CA 95630(map)

My Bar Standard – **Streets of London** New Standard

Without ever having been to England, I imagine that this fun, low-key bar is the closest to the feel of a real English Pub you can get in Sacramento, but thankfully, without the warm beer.

Deeper Insights:

With all of the ultra-lounges and dance clubs popping up in Sacramento (trying to give Sacramentans the illusion that this is actually LA or Vegas), it is getting harder to find a fun place (forget the tiny dives) to go to have a beer and just chat it up with your friends. Streets of London is there to fulfill that need. I must admit that I am biased toward the pub, as I will always have the good memories of having a nightcap there on my first date with my soon-to-be wife. But in a way, it shows exactly why I like it. We had a good time at dinner and wanted to be able to talk some more, and “Streets” gave us that opportunity.

Streets has a vast selection of both American and, if you are feeling adventurous, British beers to try. But once it gets busy, you will probably be waiting a while to get your drink as the service can be slow as the bartenders are overwhelmed with orders at some points of the night.

Streets has a sister location up in Folsom that I spent a lot of time in as a restaurant worker when I lived up there. Both locations are popular places amongst locals that want to have a few too many beers and just hang out and be able to sit at one of the many round wood tables and/or play some darts while listening to the all-British jukebox. In Folsom, pool and foosball are also available. Oh yeah, and it is a great place to watch some football…err, I mean soccer.

Categories:

Attire: Come as you are.

Attitude: Most people just want to relax, have some fun, and are very friendly. There is no certain way you need to act to fit in.

Bar/Bartenders: 1 bar inside, most people drink beer, although other full-bar choices are available. 4-5 bartenders/bar backs were behind the bar. Depending on your timing, drinks took from a couple minutes up to 10-15 minutes. Service can be slow.

Bathrooms: There are two bathrooms in between the back patio area and the inside area. One is for each sex. It is a single room (slightly dirty as you would imagine in a pub) that has a lock that may or may not work. There is usually a line for each though, so most of the time you are safe from someone just walking in. Girls commonly try to get in the guys bathroom as the line is usually shorter (yea, I know, shocker). A couple people from our group (after a few beers) decided to by-pass the line and just get their hand stamped and find somewhere outside to relieve themselves. Not recommended however…

Bathroom Attendant: Never. If someone claims to be, you might be filing a police report later.

Bottle Service: Unless you mean a bottle/pitcher of beer, nope.

Cover: I don’t believe there is ever cover. (Someone feel free to correct me if I am wrong)

Crowd: Mostly early to mid-20’s. I’d say 65/35 guy to girl ratio. And single guys: It appeared most of the girls there were with guys, so don’t go there expecting to find your long-lost love…but hey, I guess miracles happen.

Dance Floor: None

Décor: Old English Pub decorations, a lot of wood. Several plasma TV’s grace the walls to watch sports though.

Drinks: I don’t have exact prices for you, but very reasonable. You aren’t going to pay $10 for a beer or anything. There is a vast selection of both American and European beers.

Extras: Every Sunday evening is “Trivia Night” (as they call it, “pub quiz”). There are also parties, DJ Nights, and other events held occasionally. It (as you would imagine) is a great place to watch World Cup Soccer Matches. The location in Folsom also occasionally has live music. A favorite of mine that plays there is called “The BBC”, a fantastic Beatles tribute band that has a large following. (Here’s a plug for them…they even dress the part: wigs, costumes, accents, and the guy that plays McCartney learned to play guitar left-handed. Yeah, and as what is most important, the music is right on for the most part. You should check them out if you are at all a fan of The Beatles.)

Food: If you get there early enough (before 10:30 pm), British food is available for you. When’s the last time you’ve had Bangers and Mash ($5.80 lunch, $7.95 dinner), Steak and Mushroom Pie ($6.65 lunch, $8.95 dinner), Fish and Chips ($6.70 lunch, $8.95 dinner), or a Corned Beef Sandwich($7.95)? It is all very tasty too.

Happy Hour: There may or may not be happy hour, I went at night. You should call to check. They do have Pint Nights at 6 PM on every Wednesday. You pay $5 for your first brew (the specific brew changes every Wednesday, check the website for details), and you keep the glass and pay $4 for any refill.

Hours: Opens at 11 am everyday. The bar closes at 2 on Fridays/Saturdays, at 1 Monday-Thursdays and at midnight on Sundays.

Line: There is occasionally a short line on weekend nights, however most of the time you can get right in.

Music: An all-British jukebox plays the Brits’ hits. This includes the British invasion era stuff with The Beatles, Stones, Who, etc, but also more modern stuff like Oasis. Live music occasionally takes over the Folsom location (more groups then just the previously mentioned “BBC”). There are also occasional DJ nights at both locations.

Parking: Street parking.

People Watching: There are some interesting characters and a lot of college kids to find entertainment in, but there won’t be many “revealing outfits” if that is what you are looking for. At least this America, therefore most of the patrons will have good teeth…(bad stereotype joke, sorry).

Seating: If you get there early, it isn’t much trouble, but as things pick up you have to hover around tables/seats when it looks like people are leaving. There is seating on the patio, as well, if you head outside and want to deal with cigarette smoke (or smoke yourself).

Smoking: Outside in the back patio or out front.

Water (Free): Yeah, they’ll give you free water if you want to wait for it.

Reviewed by Jeff Walker

My Bar Standard – Busby’s West (Santa Monica)

Visited: Friday night – April 11, 2008. Have also been here a half dozen times over the past year.

Location: 50A Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 (on Hermosa pier)(map)(link)
Phone: 310-798-9762

Patrick Molloy’s offers a solid mix (patio, dancing, drink specials) and good value for the Hermosa pier, even if it is overly cramped at times and lacks a unique or must-see quality.

Deeper Insights:

With an array of choices near the Hermosa pier, Patrick Molloy’s is a good in-between place. It is larger than Blue 32 and The Shore, cheaper than Sangria and Dragon, and a livelier nightspot than Lighthouse or Hennessey’s. There’s nothing in particular that stands out about Molloy’s, but they do offer good drink specials and dancing amidst the laid-back atmosphere you come to expect in Hermosa.

If anything, the remodel done last year could have been more extensive. Some cosmetic changes were made, but the dance floor is still small and the bar area gets crammed with people on Fridays and Saturdays. There usually is room to sit in the table section, but most prefer to stand where space is limited and the walkway moves at a snail’s pace . Even the patio is subject to capacity issues as bouncers will often force those standing to find a seat or go inside.

Patrick Molloy’s attracts a young, attractive crowd of personable people. There is a good mix of ethnicities, lifestyle, and attitude, even if the age tends to stay below 30 on Friday and Saturday nights. In addition, the vibe is laid-back as many come in shorts and the dress code is lax. Molloy’s doesn’t try to be a club or ultra lounge, which is nice, considering it is the Hermosa Beach pier after all.

Although there is nothing distinctive about Patrick Molloy’s, it is a solid spot to go if you can’t decide where to go and don’t want to wait in lines, but are still seeking a fun night out.

Breakdown:

Attire: Varies widely between T-shirts, shorts and flip-flops to casual collared shirts and jeans. Dress any better than that and you’ll likely feel overdressed. Casual for girls.

Attitude: Casual Irish bar that likes to let loose with great drink specials and dancing.

Bar/Bartenders: 1 bar with 3 to 4 bartenders. The area around the bar jams with people, so it can be an effort just to get up to the bar. Expect an average of 5 minutes for a drink.

Bathrooms: Back left side down the hall past the bar. Men’s room has one stall and two urinals.

Bathroom Attendant: No attendant

Bottle Service: Starts at $150 per bottle, with most bottles $175-225 each. Tax and 20% gratuity added. Includes two mixers (energy drinks not included).

Cover: $5 after 10 pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

Crowd: Local beach bums looking to converse, dance, and have fun without having to dress up and spend a lot of money. Tends to get very packed on Friday and Saturday nights around 11 pm. 60/40 guy-to-girl ratio.

Dance floor: Small rectangular area raised up from the rest of the place. It can fit maybe two dozen and tends to spill out into the surrounding area.

Tip: Make sure you feel comfortable having people see you dance, as the dance floor is right by the front windows, thus people on the patio can easily watch.

Décor: Lots of dark wood, exposed brick, and dim lights. At times, the dozen or so plasma TVs seem to be the only source of light. Patio in the front, dance floor to the right when entering, long bar with a divider in the middle, separating the walkway from the seated section.

Drinks:
Beer: 14 different beers on draft, 19 different bottled beers. $4 for cheaper domestics (Bud, Coors, Miller), $4.50 for other beer.
Liquor: $4.50 for well, $5.50 for call (Absolut, Bacardi, Jack), $6.50 for premium (Crown Royal, Ketel One), $8 for super-premium (Grey Goose, Patron), $8.50 for energy drink bombs.
Wine: $6-8 per glass

Drink Specials: Monday, 9 pm – close: Beer Pong and $6 pitchers
Tuesday, all day: 2 for 1 on well/call tequila, $2 tacos, $2 burgers,
$2 domestic pints
Wednesday, all day: 2 for 1 on well/call whiskey
Thursday, 9 pm – close: $3 Pyramid, $3 domestic drafts, $4 well
drinks, $5 martinis
Friday, all day: Any 4 well/call shots for $20
Saturday, 4 pm – 9 pm: $4 pizza, $15 bucket of domestic beer, $20
bucket of imported beer, $15 Stop Light Shots (Scooby Snack,
Kamikaze, Washington Apple)
Sunday, 4 pm – 9 pm: $4 pizza, $15 bucket of domestic beer, $20
bucket of imported beer. 9 pm – close: ½ price on all bombs
Saturday & Sunday, until 2 pm: $2 mimosas, $12 champagne bottles.
Until 4 pm: $4 Bloody Mary & Screwdriver pitchers

Happy Hour: Monday: 3 pm – close; Tuesday through Friday: 3 pm – 7 pm
Food Specials and 2 for 1 drinks (must be same drink and does not include
top shelf, bottled beer, pitchers, martinis, frozen drinks).

Hours: 12 pm – 1:30 am

Line: On Friday and Saturday nights, it can be up to 10 minutes, depending on capacity. Expect 5 minutes normally, but often you get in immediately.

Music: DJs spin the usual mix of hip-hop and Top 40. DJs on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Live bands on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Parking: Free parking (after meters stop) along Pier or Hermosa. Paid lot on Hermosa (usually $6-8 on Fridays and Saturdays).

Payment: Cash and all major credit cards.

Patio: Outdoor patio with tables and chairs in the front. At times, they restrict the number of people on the patio, so if you don’t have a chair, you have to go back into the bar.

People Watching: If you’re looking for tanned, possibly out of work surfer-types, you’re in luck. People here tend to be unpretentious, but still look good, especially on the female front.

Seating: Patio, bar stools, several stools along the middle divider between the bar area and the seated section, about a dozen tables with chairs.

Smoking: On the patio.

TVs: A dozen or so flat-screen TVs scattered throughout the bar. Usually have sports on, but often will have surfing or random designs later on in the night.

Water (free): Yes.

Related Links (Check the Categories in the Right Column for More):

NightSpot Review – The Garter
NightSpot Review - Busby's West
NightSpot Review - The Parlor

Reviewed by Jeff Walker

My Bar Standard – Busby’s (Santa Monica)

Visited: Saturday night – April 19, 2008

Location: 2536 Lincoln Blvd., Venice, CA 90291 (map)(link)
Phone: 310-577-3741

With DJs, attractive crowds, and an upscale, if small location, The Garter continues the Westside renaissance towards a more sophisticated nightlife that still manages to avoid the hassles and costs of Hollywood.

Deeper Insights:

Unless you know where you are going, it is easy to drive past The Garter. There is no sign and the place is only distinguished by a small red carpet leading through a metallic corrugated fence into a non-descript building. Once inside, you may think you are on the set of David Lynch’s newest film. Red walls are adorned with pin-up pics and dim, antique-style lights, creating an almost seedy, speakeasy feel.

The Garter is essentially one large room with a bar, pool table, limited seating, and small dance floor. It feels cozy, but a bit over-crowded past 11 pm. This is only made worse by the main walkway forcing you to walk through crowds (shades of LAX – Vegas), dancers spilling into the bar area, and the slow bathroom line snaking out to the bar. Still, the compact environment is conducive to socializing with attractive Westsiders whether on the dance floor, by the bar, or on the patio.

Overall, The Garter is a good in-between place when compared to nearby nightspots. It is nicer and more lounge-like than Sports Harbor or Brennan’s, has the dancing that Beechwood lacks, and is cheaper than Air Conditioned, while still featuring the same funk and old school hip-hop music.

Breakdown:

Attire: Casual, but stylish – collared shirts, nicer T-shirts, chic hoodies, jeans. Ladies just have to look nice and you won’t feel out of place or underdressed.

Attitude: Aims for a laid-back Westside lounge, but the DJ, bottle service, and some full-on-themselves people bring a club vibe.

Bar/Bartenders: 1 bar with four bartenders at peak hours. Two guy bartenders and two girl bartenders who were attractive, friendly, and served quickly. A lot of people crowd around the bar, so if you can make your way through, expect 3-5 minutes to get your drink.

Bathrooms: Head straight back to the left and there are three bathrooms. One co-ed, one for men, and one for the ladies. Each only fits one at a time. The men’s bathroom is stylish – lots of black and red – and has a toilet (with a seat that refuses to stay up) and a lock that takes a certain touch to get it to work. When crowded, expect at least 5 minutes to use the bathroom, especially since girls will often try to use the guy’s bathroom.

Bathroom Attendant: None

Bottle Service: Yes – starts at $225/bottle (Jager, Jack, Bacardi). 20% gratuity added.

Cover: None

Crowd: Given the old school hip-hop and funk, The Garter is less ethnically diverse than one would expect. Lots of attractive Westsiders in their twenties and thirties, but some have an air of superiority that feels out of place. Older patrons probably wouldn’t feel out of place, with the music and vibe of the place. Fairly even guy-to-girl ratio.

Dance Floor: Small square dance floor that fits a couple of dozen people. Can feel cramped at times and the lack of specific boundaries on the dance floor leads dancers to flow into the bar area.

Décor: Feels like a classic speakeasy or house of burlesque. Dim, antique-style lights, red walls and pictures of classic pin-ups.

Drinks: $5 for domestic beer (Bud, Coors, Miller), $6 for imported beer, $8 for mixed drinks (Jack and Coke), $10 for Patron shots. Mixed drinks were of average strength.

Extras: One pool table.
Sunday nights – Wii Bowling
Monday night – Wii Rock Band
Tuesday nights – Ladies night – DJ, $2 champagne, $4 martinis
Wednesday nights – DJ, $3 beer and $5 shot specials

Hours: 6 pm – 2 am Daily

Line: None

Music: Old school funk and hip-hop that veered into more modern hip-hop hits as the night progressed. Digital jukebox available when DJs not spinning.

Parking: Street parking. Valet parking available Wednesday through Saturday.

Payment: Cash, MasterCard, Visa.

Patio: Narrow patio at front entrance with seating. Tends to get crowded.

People Watching: It’s a bit dark near the dance floor, but on the whole most patrons are attractive and friendly enough to go for a spin on the dance floor.

Seating: Stools available at bar, scattered seats and benches by the pool table and dance floor, plush chairs and couches off one side of the dance floor. Private area upstairs for parties and special events.

Smoking: On the patio.

Water (free): Yes.

Related Links (for more, see Categories on the right):

Busby's West (Santa Monica)
Busby's East (Hollywood)
The Parlor (Santa Monica)

Reviewed by Jeff Walker

**My Bar Standard**

Visited: Friday, March 28th, 2008 (and at least a dozen or so other Fridays and Saturdays within past year)

Location: 3110 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90025 (map)(Link)
Phone: 310-828-4567

Busby’s (My Bar Standard) offers a little of everything (dancing, drinking, games) in a friendly environment that is perfect for anyone in search of fun.

Deeper Insights:

Take a few of the things that make going out fun – music, dancing, games, strong drinks, cheap cover, short lines, attractive crowd – and put them into a large, rustic space separated into smaller, comfortable areas, and you have Busby’s West. It may not be perfect for the raver or club-hopper, but Busby’s offers a little something for everyone else, making it ideal for groups who look for a variety of things to do in their nightspots.

Simply put, it’s tough to not have a good time here. The crowd is almost always out-going and friendly, and even if you’re not feeling it or not having much luck with the ladies, head to the back rooms and play some games. Foosball, Pop-a-Shot basketball, two pool tables, and often times even a ping-pong table create a lively atmosphere (even the girls get in on the action) that is unique to most nightspots, especially one that features dancing.

On that note, if one thing could be changed, it would be the small dance floor that tightly hugs the DJ booth. Once it gets going (just two to three dozen people fill it up), there is little room to shake your thang and it can be tough to find space. However, because the dance floor is so small and the aisle runs alongside the dance floor, girls will find fewer creepers lingering nearby.

Busby’s has a unique identity that is comfortable and welcoming. The place itself has unusual touches, like a fireplace and a private bathroom partially hidden up the back stairs. The personality extends to the bartenders as well, who are all really cool and seem to care about more than just a tip. You’ll feel like fast friends and want to come back to this place where everyone really can know your name.

A quick story – A few weeks ago, some friends and I were trying to go to a club in Santa Monica. After waiting in line for an hour (and refusing to pay the promoter $30 for instant entry), we attempted to salvage our night by heading elsewhere. It was already midnight, and The Parlor had a mass of people out front, The Room was likely full, and other places were dicey at best. So, we headed to ol’ reliable – Busby’s – even though we had been there the previous night. We paid our $5 cover, didn’t wait in line, got our drinks immediately, played some Pop-a-Shot, had good conversation, danced for awhile, and basically made the most of our limited time prior to last call. Our plans changed, but Busby’s still gave us the fun Saturday night we were seeking without some of the crap that comes with other places.

Breakdown:

Attire: After 10 p.m., hats, jerseys, open shoes, and loose clothing are not allowed. Go with collared shirts, nice T-shirts, jeans, and slacks. Ladies just need to look cute.

Attitude: Laid-back comfort bar that gives you a fun time through dancing, drinking, games, or meeting cool people.

Bar/Bartenders: 2 bars – 1 in the front (right of the entrance), the other in the back. Front bar has 3 bartenders (normally guys), while the back has 2 (usually girls). Wait on drinks can be as short as a couple minutes or as long as 15 at peak times. There also are several servers in each bar area if you don’t want to fight your way to the actual bar.
Tip: The bartenders are really friendly and it is worth it to get to know them. Joel and Brad are the best. And if you’re an Ohio St. fan, make sure you mention it to Brad.

Bathrooms: Main bathrooms are left of the entrance. Men’s room has two urinals and one stall with a lock. There is also a single bathroom if you head to the back bar and go up the stairs. This bathroom has its own toilet, sink, and even a shower! Warning: This bathroom closes at 12:45 a.m.

Tip: Had Chipotle and looking for privacy that rivals your bathroom at home? Spend all your money on games and have no singles to tip the bathroom attendant? Head to the “secret” back bathroom. You may have to wait a few minutes, but you get your own bathroom and avoid the awkwardness of stiffing the bathroom attendant.

Bathroom Attendant: Yes.

Bottle Service: You can reserve tables and probably arrange for bottle service, but it’s unnecessary. There is also a lounge with couches up the stairs near the back bathroom, but it is away from everything else and may be too quiet and kick-back.

Cover: $5 after 10 p.m.

Crowd: Fun, friendly, and attractive Westsiders ranging from twenty-somethings still in college to those in their thirties looking to settle down or let loose for a night. Usually about a 55/45 guy-to-girl ratio.

Dance Floor: Small one that fills up and gets pretty crowded. Girls can dance on a small elevated area if they desire.

Décor: Busby’s has several different rooms that have a classic, almost Victorian feel that is offset by numerous flat-screen TVs. Dark woods and reds with matching leather booths adorn the front bar, classic lamps with shades provide soft light, while rustic wallpaper and exposed brick make it feel like an antique-filled home.

Drinks: $5 for draft beer (9 beers on tap), $6 for well drinks, $9 for Red Bull-infused drinks. Mixed drinks are usually quite strong.

Extras: Two pool tables, trivia machine at the front bar, ping-pong, game room – Golden Tee, Skee Ball, Pac-Man, foosball, pinball, Pop-a-Shot, and more.
Sunday nights – Rock Band
Monday nights – karaoke

Food: Full menu available with most entrees ranging from $10-20 (burgers, sandwiches, pastas, chicken, steak). Bar menu is also available and includes Chicken Tenders ($8), Nachos Grande with steak or chicken ($10), and the Heart-Clogger Combo (wings, tenders, mozzarella, calamari, and fries for $12).

Hours: Weeknights: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Weekends: 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. It should be noted that last call is around 1:20 and they attempt to have everyone cleared out by 1:45 a.m.

Line: Go before 10 p.m. and avoid both the line and the cover. I have only seen an extensive line once (about 15 people) and we were in within 20 minutes. If you go from 10:30 to 11 p.m, you’ll increase your odds of encountering a line.

Music: The usual, with bits of experimentation here and there – hip-hop with brief stretches of popular Old School, rock and techno.

Parking: Valet parking is available, but you can always find street parking on Santa Monica or on side streets.

Patio: Yes.

People Watching: Good-looking crowd of both men and women that tend to be friendly and open to openers.

Seating: Bar stools, booths, and tables throughout, with plush couches in the back room. There isn’t a multitude of seating, but if you want to sit, you can usually find a spot.

Smoking: On the patio.

Water (Free): You can get free ice water, but you may have to first decline offers of bottled Voss water.

Reviewed by Danny Walker

My Fine Dining Standard – Avec (Chicago) *New Standard*

Visited: Late Saturday Night (3/16/2008)

Location:  615 W. Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60606 (Map)(Link)
Phone: 312-377-2002

Fine dining goes late night with a unique menu of small and large plates offering options for everyone at a lower cost than most fine dining restaurants.

Deeper Insights:

After flying into Chicago for a business trip, my team was looking for quality food late at night – after midnight. Avec was suggested by a local foodie website, and we were not disappointed. Upon arrival, a patron was outside for a smoke break and raved about Avec’s greatness and that it was the perfect place for late night eats.

The staff at Avec is very welcoming and accommodating – immediately upon entering, they took our coats and seated us. The menu is divided into small and large plates and is served in a tapas manner with the table sharing each item. With food that is leaps and bounds better than your typical 24-hour diner (sorry, Denny’s) and a more relaxed and wallet-friendly environment than most fine dining restaurants, Avec is a fabulous restaurant and an idea that hopefully pops up elsewhere (like L.A.).

Its sister restaurant Blackbird is located right next door and after enjoying Avec, I am eager to eat there when next in Chicago.

Breakdown:

Attitude: Laid back fine dining.

Crowd: Predominantly restaurant workers dining after work.

Décor: Sleek wood paneling and seating creates a hip environment, while not making it feel like a log cabin.

Dress: Casual hip – collared shirts, designer Ts, nicer jeans, slacks.

Drinks: Deep wine list (about 125 bottles) with samplings from Spain, Portugal, Italy and France. Various beers also available on tap and in bottle.

Hours: Monday – Thursday: 3:30 p.m. to midnight. Bar closes at 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday: 3:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Bar closes at 3am. Sunday: 3:30 p.m. to 10pm. Bar closes at midnight.

Line: After midnight, we were seated right away, but it gets pretty crowded on Friday and Saturday nights, which could cause a wait.

Music: Variety of music ranging from old school hip-hop to alternative country. Varied in genre more and more as the night went along.

Order to Service: 15 minutes, though some plates come out quicker than others.

Parking: No parking specifically for the restaurant. Most people take cabs or public transportation, as we did.

Payment Options: All major credit cards accepted.

People Watching: An older attractive crowd consisting mostly of restaurant workers.

Reservations: Does not take reservations.

Seating: Wood booths (a half dozen or so) with wood tables (and chairs facing the booths) line the length of the rectangular restaurant. There are also 8 stools at the bar.

Service: Everyone is very personable and helpful with pairing wines and recommending the more exotic beers.

Smoking: Patio smoking outside only.

Take-out: No.

TVs: No.

Water: Free.

What I Ate:

House-Marinated Mediterranean Olives (Assortment of seeded and seedless olives): Pretty straight-forward and a good amount for four of us to snack on while waiting for the rest of our meal. $5
Cider-braised Beef Short Rib (with curried carrots, golden raisins and pecan vinaigrette): This boneless short rib is so moist that it pretty much falls apart and melts in your mouth. The vinaigrette is sweet and tasty giving great flavor to the carrots. $12.50

Crispy Duckleg Confit (with sweet potato-parsnip hash, chili, pickled mushrooms and frisse): Having never had duck before, I was a little reluctant to try this, but upon tasting it, I was sold. The vegetables combined with the duck created a nice sweet flavor that you don’t often find with chicken. $12

Wood-fired Pizza (with housemade cotechino sausage, roasted garlic, oregano and parmesan): Less adventurous than other plates, but more accessible for all taste buds, this pizza tasted like a really good pizza with a fine dining flair on the ingredients. $15

House-made crispy dark and milk Chocolate: A perfect dessert for multiple people as it gives you delicious dark and milk chocolate (with crisps) in the form of thin wafers.

Reviewed by Steven Frith

My Ultra Lounge Standard – The Park (Sacramento)

Visited: Saturday Night (2/23/08)
Location: 908 15th St. Sacramento, CA 95814 (map)(link)

The owners of Cabana Nightclub and Ink Eats and Drinks combine to offer a unique and satisfying upscale experience in a space barely large enough for a “hole in the wall” bar.

Deeper Insights:

First of all, I must commend Dream for making good use of the space and never allowing in enough people where it felt over-crowded. That is saying a lot considering the small amount of inhabitable space for the patrons. Actually having elbowroom (huh - I never knew elbowroom was just one word, no dash or anything…anyways) and an opportunity to have a conversation was a breath of fresh air (no pun intended). That combined with the colored lights, couches, art, widescreen HD LCD TVs playing sports highlights, friendly staff, and fireplace somehow combined a quaint “Cheers: everybody knows your name” bar with the plush modern lounges that are so popular today.

A major drawback of Dream (because of its small size) is the fact that there is no dance floor. People seemed to make due with the space that would most mirror a dance floor, but it only marginally worked. It was a shame too because the DJ really seemed to captivate the crowd with a lot of short snippets of popular songs from the 70s to today. The combination of the desire to dance and alcohol led to a lot of people dancing wherever they saw fit, but nearby tables and people standing and talking amongst the dancers seem to be an accident waiting to happen.

Overall, I really enjoyed myself. As one of the newer nightspots in Sacramento, Dream offers a nice change of scenery from the few other “ultra-lounge” spots such as The Park. Although, those looking to get really far away from The Park are out of luck as the clientele and prices are very similar (that and Dream is only 3 blocks away).

Breakdown:

Attire: Normal club wear. Guys: Jeans (not overly baggy), dress shoes, polo shirt/collared shirt, no hats, etc. Girls: Dream is nice enough where you can take advantage of the opportunity to dress up in a dress or at least some kind of nice top with jeans.

Attitude: Since it is brand new, I still think it is trying to develop one. It’s a place that they want you to come to eat after work and enjoy happy hour, but also a place where they want you to come for a night on the town.

Bar/Bartenders: One reversed “L” shaped bar stretched most of the length of this small establishment. There were approximately three bartenders with a bar-back. All of them were friendly and made good drinks – female staff left little to the imagination. Only a minute or two wait on drinks.


Bathrooms: Had to go through the narrow aisle-way all the way to the back to use the restroom. The men’s room contained one closeable stall and one urinal, which actually seemed sufficient considering the size of the bar. At least they plugged speakers in the bathroom so you could still hear the music.

Bathroom Attendant: No (updated 3/14/08): No for men, but unconfirmed reports from two woman say that they think there was one recently on a Friday night.

Bottle Service: Yes, there were VIP booths that could be reserved, couches that could be reserved and a back VIP area. The waitresses were more then happy to assist you in taking out a loan for bottle service.

Cover: I was actually on the guest list for a birthday, but I believe it was $10. (Updated on 3/14/08, Thanks Heather!) If you join Dream's MySpace page, then you can usually be added to the guest list for free entry before 10pm.

Crowd: For the most part, the crowd looked to all be young executives, suburban twenty-somethings and midtowners. The guy to girl ratio was actually fairly even, but this was assisted by two bachelorette parties that were there. BTW – what’s with the crown and penis straws?

Dance Floor: Wherever you wanted it to be…if you could find room. There was no “dance floor” but a lot of people were making the area in front of the DJ booth one anyway. (added 3/14/08, Heather with the scoop for us) - Apparently, a new room is opening in about a month that will include a dance floor.

Décor: Upscale (for Sacramento) lounge with very modern white furniture. Lights that changed hues throughout the night and a fireplace that separated the outdoor area with inside added to the appeal.

Drinks: They were good drinks, but rather pricy. Even the wells were premium I believe. $6-7 a drink.

Food: While I didn’t get there early enough to consume any of the “eats” (I’m not going to say “American Nosh” as Dream’s website states because I had no idea what that was until I googled it) that form the restaurant part of the establishment, I hear they are very good. The unique cuisine includes items such as Lobster Melts, Buffalo Burgers, and Crispy Duck Rolls.

Hours: Restaurant from 4:30 – 10 p.m. where they serve “American Nosh” which from what I can gather is glorified finger-food appetizers. Happy Hour goes from 4:30-7:30. From 10 p.m. to “bar time 2 a.m.” (or 1:15 for your average watch) is lounge hours.



Line: Not too much of a problem. I got there at 9:45 and walked right in. The wait didn’t seem to be any longer then 5-10 minutes until 11:15 or so when Dream reached capacity. At that point, the wait time increased significantly.

Music: The DJ took a trip down a mid-twentysomething’s memory lane. It was 20-30 second clips of choruses from many popular songs from the last 30 years or so mixing into each other. Everything was played from rock, rap, R&B, country, old school, and classic rock.

Parking: No direct lot. Street parking is free after 6 if you can find it, if not there is a nearby garage you can pay to park in. (added 3/14/08, again, thanks Heather) There is also valet parking available on some nights.
TIPS: