Pub 5 Preview

I've been wanting to try the new Pub 5 downtown on 5th Ave. On Saturday, we waded through rainwater and Parrot Heads in town for the Jimmy Buffet concert to test it out. I am not sorry we did!

I will post more later, but I wanted to offer a peek inside. I'm in love with the architecture, the accessories, and the overall vibe this place evokes. As I tweeted on-location on Saturday night, it's a great atmosphere in which to drink some pretty great (craft) beer.

Inside view of Pub 5 on 5th Ave., Nashville

Memories....cue the Cats soundtrack

Places hold memories. That is not uncommon, nor unexpected really. What is unexpected is the force with which the memories can hit you when you enter a place.

I have mentioned before my affinity for The Patterson House, Nashville's homage to Prohibition-era cocktails, couture, and way of life. In this old-fashioned establishment popular with the hip-and-trendy crowd, I feel at home. The traditionalist in me loves it.

So did one of my former best friends.

Together, this was our unofficial official place for cocktails and conversation. We had some of our most deep and meaningful conversations while perched on the barstools watching James, our favorite mixologist, craft creations seemingly out of thin air.

And now we are no longer friends. But The Patterson House remains, beckoning Nashvillians who want more out of their evenings than vodka tonics and shots of Fireball. It beckoned me and a new group of friends on Saturday evening.

I was excited, because one of our group had never been before (he is new to town). I always need a good excuse to show off my favorite places to new people. I busied myself with chatter of the blue curtain, the house rules, and the Japanese ice molds.

But when I ordered a cocktail I had discovered with Former Friend, it was a lot harder than I thought it would be. I ended the evening with my signature drink, The Bacon Old Fashioned,  and instead of getting  teased for drinking such a manly drink, the guys each ordered one too, initiating me into their club.

I should've loved it. I should've savored every moment. Instead, I felt like I'd been sucker-punched. How could I enjoy something with such good memories attached with someone else? Is that part of growing up? Learning to enjoy life with different people?

Maybe. Or maybe it's just learning to savor the sweet concoctions of life with new people and new attitudes. Maybe what's old can become new again.

And maybe The Patterson House will always hold a special place in my heart, no matter whom I chose to drink with.

At the Copacabana

Those in search of a good bargain and girly gossip should pencil themselves in at Cabana on any given Wednesday night for Girls' Night Out. Every week, the cool Hillsboro Village hotspot opens its doors to gaggles of girls hoping to take advantage of $5 appetizers and $3 martinis. Yes, guys are allowed to come, but don’t suggest this as a first date; she’ll know you’re cheap!

On a recent Wednesday and sporting a sassy new hair ‘do, I met a friend for a much-needed catch-up sesh at Cabana. We were seated not in a cabana, but at one of the first cocktail tables inside the door. These tables were low to the ground and looked cute and cozy, but the oversized chairs were so oversized they were nearly impossible to sit in. Katie and I both had to sit on the very edge of our seats to even have a conversation. 

Seating situation aside, the night was fun and cheap. We sipped French martinis and munched on Cabana’s house-made chips topped with crumbles of gorgonzola and paired with a creamy cheesy dipping sauce. The drinking and the chatting caught up with us, though, so we ended up splitting a Margherita pizza. Even still, our bill was less than $20 with tip. (Note: the restaurant suggests over-tipping for the drastic price cuts. I couldn’t decide if this suggestion was necessary or not. Tacky? Or helpful? I’m leaning toward tacky... However, I did tip generously because our waitress was so good at her job. She had the right amount of balance between checking in on us and leaving us alone, which I greatly appreciated.)

The End Notes:

• For a fairly-priced and fun happy hour, head to Cabana on a Wednesday night.
• Great for a celebration of birthdays, promotions, anniversaries, or any other occasion worth celebrating. Even if you’re just excited you survived Hump Day.
• Valet parking makes navigating Hillsboro Village easier!

Some More Sambuca for your Buck

This week, I braved the snow to meet a friend for Happy Hour at Sambuca in The Gulch. It's been much too cold to think about going outside, but I had started to get a little stir crazy. What better way to cure the cold mid-week blues than cheap, delicious food and drinks?

I am a big fan of bargains. I'm an even bigger fan of establishments that offer Happy Hour specials on Fridays. Sambuca has both, plus a swanky, comfortable lounge area in which to imbibe. During "Rush Hour" as they call it, drinks and small plates and pizzas are 1/2 price from 4:30-6:30. Yes, 1/2 price! Plus their small plate menu boasts 16 different options and four varieties of pizzas. Priced anywhere from $4.50-12.50, these dishes are a steal on special. Where else can you get Shrimp & Crab Rangoon, Seared Tuna, Goat Cheese-Stuffed Artichokes, or Buca Beignets (Italian meat and cheese melted inside a sweet, flaky crust--yum yum!) for roughly $5?? I challenge you to find somewhere else that does it better.

A word of advice: arrive early. Don't dawdle after work, or you might have trouble finding a seat. No one wants to miss happy hour specials because they couldn't get a table in time, right? I will mention that in light of Arctic-tundra that has been Nashville this week, the lounge was relatively empty last night. But this meant we got our food and drinks quickly.

Last night I opted for a glass of Malbec, but once the warm weather hits I want to try some of Sambuca's creative cocktails, like the Cucumber Pineapple Crush, Call A Cab (made with Firefly Sweet Tea vodka, tequila, gin, rum, and Coke), Hibiscus Sangria, or the Double Standard (made with chocolate vodka, vanilla, and cherries). The thought of those drinks should warm anyone right up! Is it summertime yet????

The End Notes:

• Happy Hour specials from 4:30-6:30 every weekday make it easy and affordable to enjoy Sambuca's atmosphere and fare without the hefty price tag. Be thrifty in style!
• Arrive early to secure a good seat. If you ever need an excuse to leave at 5 on the nose, Sambuca's Rush Hour is a great reason to rush out of the office.
• Valet parking right outside makes it easy (and affordable) to visit The Gulch.
• I hear Sambuca's lunch specials are great too...

Two for the Price of One

Any spendthrift or savvy socialite knows the best way to get more bang out of your evening out is to hit up 2-4-1 specials. This week, I've had the chance to partake in two trendy hotspots' hot deals.

For anyone living west of the River, Tuesday night means Mafiaoza's. This 12th South staple offers BOGO pizza slices and beer all day every Tuesday  until closing time (well, the beer specials stop at 9--gotta be safe, right?). Anything you can pile on a pizza or pull from a tap can be yours for a low, low price. Well, actually the low price depends on how many toppings you choose. I had 2 slices of Mafiaoza's New York-style stone oven pizza topped with fresh basil, black olives, chopped prosciutto, and gooey mozzarella for just $5 and change. Add in a round of Blue Moon from the iconic Mason jars, and my Tuesday night was complete for less than $10. Plus, the slices were so big they took up the entire plate, and had I not had a such a lackluster lunch I could have easily saved one slice for the next day. (Wanna talk about being a spendthrift?)

I will say, the noise and crowd levels can get pretty high the closer the hour hand get to 12, so a quiet, romantic evening this is not. But if you're in the mood to hang out with some friends and get good food and beer for the same price as a meal at any chain restaurant, head on down to the bustling 12th South neighborhood for this Nashville favorite.

And when Wednesday rolls around and you are still looking for a great deal and a little less chaos, please check out Taco Mamacita, the anchor of the Edgehill Village area (between Belmont University and Music Row). Once a struggling strip of entrepreneurial ventures, Edgehill Village seems to have blossomed in the 6-8 months since Taco Mamacita took over the space formerly occupied by Rosario's. If you could classify a taco as "upscale" or "trendy" that's what you'll find here. Tacos are sold individually for about $4 each or as part a plate with your choice of side. (I'm partial to the sweet potato fries myself, but a friend recently introduced me to the Mexican street corn, which is also delicious.) Perhaps my favorite taco is the Memphis, an unexpected combination of flour tortilla, cole slaw, and pulled pork drenched in a tangy BBQ sauce. I also like Baja fish taco and the vegetarian jerk, if you're looking to complete your platter.

Unfortunately, the tacos are not twofers, but the margaritas certainly are! For $7, you get your choice of the Elvez or El Camino margaritas (pretty standard formula for the former, add a splash of OJ and you get the latter) in a 24oz. glass served over crushed ice. Yum! Also unfortunately, T.M.'s popular Skinny Margarita is not included in the special, but really, if you're gonna have pizza and beer one night and tacos and margs the next, does the skinny version really make that much difference?

Another trendy spot for the vaguely descriptive "young professionals sector", I recommend arriving early to secure both good parking and a good seat. We arrived tonight around 6 and nabbed a table outside in the shade, under a fan, and were glad to have a place to sit when the crowds started lining up down the sidewalk. On a night like this you can have as much or as little to eat or drink as you want and still come away with a bargain.

Oh, and for those of you who haven't been to Taco Mamacita in several weeks--yes, they do have their beer license now and can serve several beers on tap and many domestic and imports by the bottle. Yazoo's Dos Perros makes a nice compliment to a taco.

Next week, when you're planning your dinner menu, consider one of these Belmont-area nightspots. You won't regret it!

The End Notes:

• Good bargains are worth planning your calendar around
• Great for after-work drinks and dinner with friends, but arrive early to avoid ridiculously long wait-times.
• Anything goes as far as attire, so there should be no excuse not to visit (unless you don't like crowds and noise. Then maybe visit on another day.)

The art of drinking well

I know I have already blogged about The Patterson House, but this time was different. This time, I was the one holding the ticket to get behind that illustrious blue curtain. This time, we sat at the bar and watched with great intensity the artistry and alchemy that goes into creating each classic cocktail. (As a side note, are you aware that raw brown eggs go into many a cocktail? Am I the only one who thinks this is gross?)

Sitting at the bar allowed me to appreciate the hand-crafted, molded ice balls (created from a unique Japanese mold) that go into the double old fashioned glasses. The multitude of utensils, the many accoutrements, the fresh-cut fruit garnishes combine to make cocktails Fitzgerald would be proud of.

The quarterly menu will be changing in a couple of weeks to better reflect the flavors of the spring . As I cannot attend the Kentucky Derby this year, I do hope the next menu will offer an authentic Mint Julep. I was hoping for something reminiscent of this in the Whiskey Smash, created with Rebel Yell bourbon, lemon juice, and garnished with mint. It was good, but too lemony for my taste and not minty enough. I think it might be a better drink served on a hot summer's day and not a cool, rainy evening in early March.

One of the most unique and manly drinks on the menu is the Bacon Old Fashioned (dubbed "The Bacon" by the Patterson mixologists behind the bar). Made with their own recipe of bacon-infused whiskey and flavored with coffee and earthy maple notes, drinking this cocktail transported me into an old, dusty library with men smoking cigars and talking politics. (I felt a bit like I was recreating Anne Stanton drinking with Jack Burden in All the King's Men.)

All literary references aside, this drink tasted like a perfectly-cooked slice of thick-cut bacon coated with bits of caramelized brown sugar. My favorite part was watching the mixologist stir and sample the drink until it was just right. Who else puts that much effort into crafting your cocktail? Definitely a drink for slipping slowly, it was delicious. You must try this, regardless of your prejudices.

The End Notes:

• Patterson House is a must for Nashvillians with an adventurous spirit for creative spirits.
• If you're looking for your every day Vodka and Sprite or Jaeger Bombs, this is NOT the place for you. 
• Channel your inner flapper and head to this hidden treasure as soon as you can.

Not a place for Charlie Brown

In honor of Nashville Originals' Restaurant Week, I am catching up on missed blogging opportunities and posting about restaurants I have visited that are included in this week's fabulous specials. Really, I implore you to check them out if you are at all able to.

One of the restaurants featured this week is ChaChah, in the Belmont area. A place that prides itself on tapas, ChaChah is great if you're looking to make a dinner of small plates or share with several friends. Tucked cozily onto Belmont Boulevard, ChaChah features a variety of tapas with Latino flair. In fact, if you visit their website, the menu headings are written en espanol. Because the restaurant offers fresh, seasonal items, what is currently on the menu is not what was featured when I visited in late September. But I do know I enjoyed everything we sampled!

What you simply must try is the Black Tea Julep, made with Eagle Rare bourbon,sweetened organic tea, and mint. it made a fan out of this lover of Kentucky Derby's signature beverage. As a gin fan, I think the Cucumber White Tea-ni, made with Hendrick's, cucumber water, white tea, and soda, would also be delicious, but definitely more of a warm-weather drink.

January would probably not be the ideal time to sit on the patio, but it was quite delightful during Indian Summer. At any time of year, though, and especially during Restaurant Week, I think ChaChah is worth checking out, either with your girlfriends, on a date, or even for a casual night out with several other couples.

Buon appetito, y'all!

I know why the Russians drink Vodka

If you lived in a snowy tundra, you'd need something to keep yourself warm, too! That's why, in the middle of Winter Storm Watch 2010, it was a nice surprise to find $5 vodka cocktails that warmed my soul. Although I'm not normally a fan of vodka (I'm more of a bourbon and gin girl myself), I am a fan of a bargain. And I'd say 1/2-price signature drinks at a swanky midtown bar qualify as such.

I trekked out in the cold this week to meet a friend for the start of our new tradition of standing Happy Hour dates.We kicked it off at Virago, Midtown's Asian fushion/sushi bar. Sushi is something I don't normally eat, but the Happy Hour menu contains none of that. Much like its sister restaurant, Lime, the happy hour menu features several choices for $5 each. Unlike Lime's happiest hours, Virago's cocktail specials run from 5-7 p.m.


The menu offers several signature cocktails, some vodka-based, others anchored in champagne; a house red and white wine, and an appetizer or two. I tried the Bellinitini (like a traditional Bellini but made with Stoli Peach vodka instead of champagne) and Julie had the White Cosmo, which had the taste of a regular Cosmo, only the bartender used cranberry-flavored vodka instead of the cranberry juice. Beautiful!


If you need a little nibble with your cocktail, the tempura (flash-fried veggies) are also only $5 or $6 and are plenty enough for 2. We opted for the green beans with a soy and peanut sauce, but Virago also offers mushrooms, asparagus, and sweet potatoes (I'd have liked to try those!). So, 1 cocktail and an appetizer split down the middle can get you a nice little after-work treat for under $10. And help warm you up for the drive home in the cold car!


You don't have to be a sushi fan to find something delicious at Virago. With its low lighting, hand-painted cocktail tables, and friendly wait staff, it seems like the right choice for any number of occasions. I can't wait to go back! Anyone wanna join?


Stay warm, y'all!

Rumour has it you can speak easy here

I realized recently that as many times as I have gone out in the year-and-a-half since I moved to this town, I continue to frequent the same 5-7 places I first visited as a Nashville Newbie. I realized there are many gems that I am overlooking because I continue to stick with what I know. 

Last week, I branched out and tried somewhere new. I started the night at a place I've always wanted to try and ended in my comfort zone, one of my standard go-to guarantees for a good night out. 

When I encountered yet another wait that bordered on an hour at Whiskey Kitchen (seriously, what is it with the long waits these days?), we opted for The Patterson House, one of those paragons of Nashville nightlife that I had been dying to try for myself. And I finally made it behind that infamous blue curtain. 

While I won't try to compete with this guy's blog, I will say that it was intimate and romantic in an I-feel-like-I-belong-in-the-pages-of-great-American-literature kind of way. (Maybe that has something to do with the fantasy my brother and I have always shared that if we'd been in our early 20s during the Roarin' '20s, we would have been flappers and party-goers and our family would have been the owners of a speakeasy, or illicit alcohol at the very least...)

I will also add that my Manhattan included a flaming orange rind and was one of the smoothest drinks I've ever been served. (The Patterson House lists the cocktails on their menu in order from lightest/easiest to drink to heaviest. The Manhattan made the bottom of the bourbon list!) But the food menu left a little to be desired at this point in the evening, so we ventured to my mainstay--Rumours Wine & Art Bar. (We were craving an artisan cheese plate, and I do love the Drunken Goat that Rumours serves up!)

Tucked cozily into the 12th South neighborhood, Rumours evokes an air of trendiness without trying to hard. At least, I feel that way; others may disagree. But I always feel comfortable there, which cannot be said about every wine bar. With specials that change daily and staples that remain constant, it's easy to find any number of tempting dishes to accompany a glass or 3 from the decent-sized wine list. The prices are relatively manageable (although I have gotten myself into some trouble there before!)

In addition to the cheese, I ordered my other mainstay--the shrimp & grits. Served in a cocktail glass and topped with a balsamic dressing, it was the first meal I ordered at Rumour's East location and the only one I've ordered since. We finished with a slice of Elvis cake (banana nut cake with peanut butter and cream cheese frosting--yum!) which were compliments of the waiter for some reason I'm still unsure of but didn't question because who really wants to turn down Elvis cake?

I'm wondering why I always write these posts at night; now I am hungry but it's time for bed. Maybe I can continue to venture out this weekend or revisit another local favorite I haven't seen for awhile. I'm open to suggestions!

Buon appetito, y'all!