Looking for a chill, lodge-style lounge with a touch of swank? Enter 805 NW Wall and Velvet, where 40oz PBRs are chilled in a champagne bucket or served trashy in a brown bag, and an array of homemade infused drinks left me rather whoozy. A cozy duplex setup featuring “somewhat healthy” (quoting the staff) Tapas foodstuffs – flatbread pizzas, quesadillas, caprese salad, soup and sliders – Velvet fills a void downtown, with a friendly staff (tell Jill and Nolan I said, “Howdy!), a nouveau yet rustic air, and a Happy Hour running from 5-9pm Tuesday-Saturday.
Word-of-mouth has already made Velvet a hot spot after hardly a month in biz, and the attention to detail – flat screens bordered by rough timber, velvet couches where George Costanza would be proud to place his derriere – is what makes Velvet truly unique. Consider the Beer Baller: An invention to rival the pacemaker, which Velvet partner Sky Pinnick discovered while shooting for his Rage Films in France – ice-chilled drafts with a self-serve tap, brought to your table in a quantity to satisfy a Rugby team. Drink up, eat well, and don’t miss DJ Moksha every Thursday night.
My personal recommendation is to either go alone, bring a date or a pack of thirsty friends. I know that covers the gamut, but Velvet is a modest space with immense potential. The girl/guy ratio favors facial hair, but to see sundresses swaying in the window onto Wall is simply too tempting to resist.
Where: Velvet 805 Wall street
When: Happy Hour 5-9 Tues – Sat.
Why: 40 oz. PBR’s served up in a brown paper bag and beer balls.
More: From the mind of Rage Film’s Sky Pinnick, et al. Phone N/A
This article appears in Jul 9-15, 2009.
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