Two drinks: Below Zero Lounge

Vodka mixologist Matt Pappert concocts a Metro at Below Zero Lounge on Walnut Street in Over-the-Rhine. (Credit: Amie Dworecki | Metromix)

The look: A week after we hit up Below Zero Lounge, the 2-year-old club in Over-the-Rhine known for its super-chilled vodka, I called up my friend to get his thoughts on the place. While there, we'd admired the light fixtures that called to mind other objects - ice cubes, champagne flutes, waterfalls - the plush, comfy-looking couches in the back, and the TV playing the video of the song being pumped through the room.

But his greatest memory could be summed up thusly:

"Drag queen."

He was talking about the spectacular Penny Tration, a vision of huge hair and impossibly perfect makeup who deejays at the lounge certain Fridays and will be doing so every Wednesday starting Sept. 18. The night we were there, Penny wandered through the bar in all her humongous glory, and nobody batted an eye.

Below Zero is that kind of place. Anything goes - you probably should, too.

The crowd: We were there on a Friday night, and the place started to fill as midnight approached. The crowd was mainly men, in groups and on dates, which was good for me - no line at the ladies' room. Everybody was uniformly well-dressed and friendly - one man at the bar, a regular, explained the drink menu to us and suggested a few specialties that weren't on the list.

The two drinks: Bring on the vodka. I started with the Antioxidant ($9), a mix of Stoli Blakberi vodka and PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur with a splash of 7-Up. My friend had the Peartini ($9), a blend of Grey Goose La Poire and amaretto. Mine was sweeter than his, but both were ice cold and refreshing and gone before we knew it. I chased mine with the Metro ($8), a raspberry twist on a classic Cosmopolitan with a bit of champagne to give it a nice pop in the mouth. At the suggestion of our new bar buddy, my friend got a concoction of Three Olives Bubble vodka and sour apple Pucker ($8). He said it tasted like a Blow Pop and deemed it "tasty." I think vodka that tastes like bubble gum is wrong.

The grub: Eat before you come. This is strictly drinkin'.

The verdict: Delicious, creative drinks, a chill atmosphere and bonus drag queens (Penny wasn't the only one) make this a place I'll be visiting again. A dinner at nearby Lavomatic made for a great Friday night in the Gateway Quarter - which, if you haven't checked it out lately, you really should.

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