45 Degrees, a cool spot for cocktails

The storefront entrance of 45 Degrees Martini Lounge & Bistro belies the intimate, hip venue with cool blue undertones.

The L-shaped bar with spinning bar stools and lounge furniture makes an inviting place to sip a drink and then debate whether a nosh is a necessity. We settled in at a glass-top table since we sought food and libations. Flat-screen televisions surround the space, including the VIP rooms with black couches behind red curtains.

The seven-page menu has two offering food and five promoting martinis, specialty drinks, wine and happy hours. I could picture many a party starting at 45 Degrees and going on and on, depending on the live entertainment and the crowd. The place was quiet on our Saturday visit, but $5 happy hour martinis got our table's party started - in spite of the no-show DJ. We sipped a tart one made with watermelon and a sweet concoction made with vodka and fruit juices. The bands Evolution Soul, Blue Mike and RaJazz have performed on the lounge's stage since 45 Degrees opened in 2009. Comedy acts appear on Wednesdays.

The appetizer portion of the menu lists familiar fare such as wings, tenders and nachos. We started with more contemporary tapas. A few of the garlic shrimp ($12) were rubbery, but the dish had an appetizing sauce and crostini. Our favorite was a meaty crab cake ($13) atop crispy sweet potato fries, with sweet chili sauce and honey butter. The well-made fries compelled us to try bacon cheddar fries ($5), a highly respectable representation of casual bar fare.

A Caesar salad ($6) was fresh and flavorful, but the $3 add-on tuna was not as fresh and arrived cooked past our request of rare.

The ribeye ($12) tasted unseasoned and also arrived a disappointing well-done instead of rare, and without the menu-described shoestring onions. A restaurant staffer said the kitchen can't cook to rare because the menu lacks a disclaimer about consuming rare meats. We were not charged for the dish, and we received a 10 percent discount on our bill.

Our server was terrific. She was informative and attentive, asking if we needed another beverage before happy hour prices ended. There were some extended waits for food, but beverages were readily available.

If you would like to chill with a plethora of cunning cocktails or hope that a party is the plan for the evening, 45 Degrees can offer both.

Tammy Jaxtheimer, flavor@pilotonline.com