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| - Finally made my way to the Velvet Tango Room, and I came away extremely impressed. The environment is sophisticated and classy, yet comfortable (though occasionally on the crowded side). Live jazz is played at just the right volume to provide a soothing background and not at all inhibit casual conversation. Be sure to get a drink menu: A testament to the passion that VTR has for the craft of making cocktails, the drink menu has vivid descriptions and short histories on each of the drinks that can be ordered, including a scale giving a sense of the strength of each drink and the robustness of its flavor.
As for those drinks, all of them seemed well-balanced and expertly made. I regret not being able sit at the bar to watch the cocktail-making process. I started out with the Ramos Gin Fizz, which was an entirely new concept for me. I moved on to the Widow's Kiss, which certainly lived up to its reputation being listed among the stronger drinks. Still, I was impressed that despite this drink having a lot of bang behind it, in no way was the taste--a mix of apple and spice tones--compromised or the drink as a whole feeling out of balance. I finished the night with the much lighter but equally enjoyable French 75, which I thought was even better than the related Saint 75 served as a coup de milieu at Commander's Palace in New Orleans. We also got an order of the Speck on Rye--squares of pork belly served on equally-sized squares of rye bread with mustard and pickles on the side. The food tasted great, and it was definitely a classy step up from usual bar food. And while it might not seem like a major point, I took notice that there was exactly the same number of pieces of meat as there were pieces of bread--showing that the dish wasn't just something hastily thrown together.
As for the downsides, the VTR can get crowded through the night, which appears to be a bit overwhelming for the staff at time and leads to longer wait times for service. Like the ebbs and flows of the tides, though, the crowds eventually surge out and back in. Also, as many other reviews pointed out, the drinks--costing $16 a piece--are more expensive than what people normally expect and also take a little longer to get out. Clearly, what you're paying and waiting for is the extra quality that you don't find anywhere else in Cleveland.
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