nic's martini lounge

so anyone who knows me well knows that i absolutely LOVE palomino's happy hour (http://www.palomino.com/). mmm.... i mean, yummy food, great drinks (for those who drink), and impeccable atmosphere. (more to come at a future date when i go back and feel like blogging about it.) and in all my time here in LA (granted, yes, w/o a car -- shut up), i've yet to find anything that beats it.

well, HALLELUJAH, peoples! there's another option!

for kim's big 3-0 (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KIM!), we all shimmied over to nic's martini lounge in beverly hills. (only the best for the best, right?) OMG. OH MY GOD. loved it. loved it. loved it.

first things first, we walk in...GREAT mood lighting. not too bright, not too dark, and i know it was just a few hours ago, but i think i remember red. we got there about 5:30, and granted it was early, but there really weren't too many people inside. not that we minded though b/c we got to take over the big booth right by the window. plus who wants to be all crowded in anyways? (the one bad thing about palomino -- *sigh*) there were about 7 of us (while i was still there) and it was perfectly cozy.

next up, the martini list. OH MY GOD. yes, another OMG. i can't/don't even drink (yes, i turn purple) and i was thinking how i'd love it if i could just get some sort of allergy shot and be able to drink all of these martinis. the tall two-page menu was absolutely ridiculous. it was the most amazing martini list i've ever seen. (and yes, i know i don't drink, but don't you think i look?) everything sounded delectable by name (i can't even pull up the list online to show you, but trust me, you can't go wrong w/anything on the menu) and even more delectable once you read the description. the special martini for the night: a grapefruit ginger martini -- grapefruit vodka and just a bit of ginger essence. (don't we love how vodka comes in a billion and one flavors now?) i had a taste of kim's and it was soooooooo good. super easy going down and the ginger was nowhere near overpowering. DEE-LISH. (AHHHHHH!! why the alcohol allergy?!?!?)

before i go on to the food, let's just say that our server was great. she was this slightly older woman w/poofy blond hair and slightly overly done make-up. but then you thought about it, and she really did fit right in w/the old school vibe. i have no idea what a martini lounge *should* look like, but this place seemed just right. the best part was when this older dude came over and said he'd sing to us! but he reneged, which totally made us sad. i thought the guy might've been nic himself, so i asked the girls what they thought, and kim decided to beckon him over and ask (thinking he might even sing to us then!). and guess what? it was nic! unfortunately, he didn't sing, but when she told him it was her birthday, he treated her to a second martini special! i mean, totally sweet, right? totally.

as for the food, happy hour specials for $7?! can't beat it. the list was RIDONCULOUS (as soon would say). our picks for the night: pommes frites w/tomato aioli, hoisin marinated skirt steak (meat on a stick as referred to by kim - go kim!), crispy potato skins (go bacon and cheese!), smoked chicken quesadilla, cured salmon w/toast points (is that what they're called?), and grilled shrimp cocktail (OH YEAH). i was off to dinner @ chaya @ 7, so i kept myself from eating too much, but DANG IT, we ordered some GOOD stuffs. too bad we didn't get to try the octopus - yes, it's chewy, but come on! who ever sees OCTOPUS on the happy hour menu?! life's short. mmm.... chewy octopus.... next time, next time....

and yeah, there better BE a next time, b/c this place is FAB.

oh! apparently i'd totally forgotten that the lovely miss giada had featured nic's on her show, even stepping w/her hubby into the infamous 'vodka room' -- which is apparently as cold as an ice chest and requires that you don a fur coat (and hat, if you think your head might get chilly) before sipping mini-vodka shots. apparently, it's the thing to do. go figure!

next time you're in the area (or maybe you need to trek out just b/c), you absolutely *must* stop by the oh-so-fabulous nic's martini lounge. i promise YOU WILL LOVE IT. mmm.... mmm.... good....

Nic's Martini Lounge
453 N Canon Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
310.550.5707

http://www.nicsbeverlyhills.com/nics_2006/home.html

p.s. look for the painting that's on the home page. it's right above the booth by the window -- no way you can miss it. ok, unless you're blind...literally.