Jay’s Bistro – Fort Collins

Jay’s Bistro135 West OakFort Collins, Co 80524970-482-1867www.jaysbistro.netMon – Thu:11:00 am -9:30 pmFri: 11:00 am -10:00 pmSat: 5:00 pm – 10:00 pmSun: 5:00 pm –  8:00 pm

We stopped by this sleek old town restaurant on a weeknight and found the best kept Happy Hour secret in town. Jays Bistro’s happy hour sure beats the other “well drink and Coors Light” deals that dot the neighborhood. The new tapas menu makes it an even sweeter deal.

Atmosphere:  This colorful spot is tucked on Oak Street behind College Ave. It provides an inviting patio in front and a classy feeling when walking inside. The floors are wood and the walls are painted in colorful, warm, inviting hues decorated with impressionistic artwork. On the restaurant side there are tables and high rise booths lining the front as well as a fire place for those cold winter nights. The bar area has a small stage with a grand piano where jazz music plays 3 nights a week. The bar itself is lush and we shared the bar with only 2 or 3 other drinkers which we consider a sin.

Service:  We sat at the bar and service was perfect. Our glasses were filled and bartender explained the menu in detail. There appeared to be plenty of servers on staff to handle the crowd in the dining area.

Drinks:  Jay’s offers clever cocktails and a healthy wine selection as well as a few local micro beers on tap. The espresso martini was our favorite; it offers a coffee laced slap in the face. Other specialty martinis you will find here are the chocolate martini, pomegranate passion and the James Bond.

Food:  the menu is brimming with international flare with a tapas menu that includes items like peppadews, tomato bruschetta, and green pea hummus and shrimp ceviche tacos. The dinner menu begins with a heavy seafood appetizer selection followed by several steak dishes which include fillet mignon and rib eye classics but also rack of lamb and even a red deer loin dish.

Amenities:  Patio, HD TV’s, catering, stage area, banquet rooms, live music, fire-place.

Parking:  Parking is available in old town where ever you can find it.

The Buzz:  Live Music on Wednesday’s starting at 7:30pm and Thursday through Saturday at 6:30pm, happy hour Monday-Saturday from 4-6:30pm and until close on Wednesdays.

Taverna Greek Grill - Fort Collins

Taverna Greek Grill

4235 S College Ave.

Fort Collins, Colorado

(970) 266-1798

http://tavernagreekgrill.com/

Sunday – Thursday 11 am to 10 pm

Friday – Saturday 11 am to 11pm

We are suckers for Greek food and it has to be really good Greek food. Taverna has never disappointed us. But putting delicious falafels and tzaziki aside, we really like the ambiance of the place. Where else can you enjoy a daily happy hour and get a huge plate of authentic Greek food? OPA!

Atmosphere:  This stand-alone building has a large patio decorated with little white lights on the east side of the building - that is nice for dining during warmer months. The setting inside has a classy yet casual feel to it and is definitely a “date night” kind of place. The main dining area is lined with tables and booths complete with cloth napkins. The walls are painted red with simple Mediterranean décor and festive Greek music can be heard throughout. The dim lit bar area is near the front entrance complete with a nice stone- top bar and bistro style tables. The kitchen area is open and faces out into the expansive dining area.

Service:  Service has always been good when we have gone but since the place gets packed during dinner, and we do so love to drink, we sit at the bar. The service is fast, friendly and much more personal in the bar area. The only time service becomes slow and scarce is when the clapping and Greek dancing begins, but it’s fun to watch.

Drinks: Taverna has a fully stocked bar, serving drinks to order, and it also features a better than average wine list by the glass and by the bottle. Wine options include several Greek Merlots, Cabernets, Syrah and Chardonnays varying from $6-$10 per glass or $22-$36 per bottle.  With only a couple of local brews on tap we suggest you go for one of the Greek imports like Zeus or Athena, just to complete the experience.  They do have a fully stocked bar, but if you’re thinking about shots, Ouzo is the way to go.

Food:  Very traditional Greek cuisine and most entrée’s we have experienced are enough to feed two people.  On this visit we had the Mousaka and Loukaniko with our beers. The flavors were bold and each ingredient helps add to the dish, while still retaining its individualism. The menu also features Mediterranean meals like Pita’s, Falafels, Gyro’s and Pizza’s. There are some great appetizers, spreads and desserts that are also very authentic, but the menu also includes some burgers, steaks and pasta’s. Some of the entrées can set you back $20 but most menu items are under $12.

Amenities:  HD TV’s in bar, catering, gluten free menu, children’s menu, delivery, large patio, free Wi-Fi, dancing servers, take out.

Parking:  There is plenty of parking in their lot and surrounding area.

The Buzz:  Daily happy hour from 3 to 6 pm with $3 drinks & $4 appetizers and late night happy hour from 8 to 11pm, all day happy hour on Sundays, live music Saturday nights at 8 pm.

Henry's Pub - Loveland

Henry’s Pub
234 East 4th Street
Downtown Loveland, CO 80537
(970) 613-1896
http://www.henrys-pub.com
Sunday – Thursday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Friday & Saturday 11 a.m. – 12 a.m.

Downtown Loveland is booming with new stores, breweries and restaurants, but for us it has become our new destination for drinking. Henry’s pub advertises, on their website, that they have the largest selection of alcohol in the area and that’s all we needed to see to give them a chance.

Atmosphere:  Located in historical down-town Loveland, Henry’s pub is a small but inviting brick building. Inside, the dark, cherry-stained wood walls and warm colors gives it a very comfortable, yet masculine appearance. There is a variety of dark wooden tables throughout as well as booths along the outer walls.  There is a large bar area in the back of the building, with plenty of seating and a few flat screen TV’s. The walls are decorated with the works of local artists and softly illuminated by track lighting, while the rest of the place is dim.

Service:  Upon walking in we were greeted by two hostesses who quickly sat us at a table. Our server was prompt and polite with a good knowledge of the beers on tap. We eventually made our way to the bar, where service was friendly and prompt as well.

Drinks:   Henry’s touts having one of the best selections of top shelf liquors around- and they are correct. While they may have not had all of our favorites, we certainly couldn’t deny that they have a great selection. Now if 18 year old scotch isn’t your thing, then maybe one of the several local craft beers (that they keep on a constant rotation) will wet your whistle.

Food:  The menu consisted of good old American food with many seafood selections. We ordered the Sourdough Burger ($11.99) and the French Dip ($8.99) and both were fresh and tasty. The rest of the menu is what you would expect – Appetizers, Salads, Desserts, Burgers, Soups, Sandwiches and entrees like Steak & Shrimp and Buffalo Meatloaf. Upon first glace, prices seemed immoderate, but after finishing our meals, they were worth it.

Amenities:  HD TV’s, free Wi-Fi, catering, local art on display, kids menu, heat lamp.

Parking:  Street parking is available in downtown Loveland.

The Buzz:  Sunday night fish fry 4 to 9pm, Monday through Friday lunch specials from 11 to 4 pm, happy hour Monday through Friday from 5 pm to 7pm.

Elliot’s Martini Bar - Fort Collins

Elliot’s Martini Bar
234 Linden Street
Fort Collins, CO 80524
(970) 472-9802
http://www.elliotsmartinibar.com/
Monday – Saturday  4:30PM – 2:00AM
Sunday  8:00PM – 2:00AM

It may be hard to believe, but there are times when we feel like being well behaved and sophisticated adults. Regrettably, upscale bars are an endangered species in the Old Town area. Whether you’re out on a date or with some friends Elliot’s is definitely a classy place to start off your night.

Atmosphere:  We had a seat in a secluded booth across from the bar and were quickly taken with this mellow atmosphere. This is a very dim bar with a lounge-y, but hip feel to it. There is a feel of nostalgia with the retro couches, booths & tables and the old foreign films being projected on the back wall. Jazz music played low enough to carry on a conversation, making this an easy place to settle into for the night. The crowd was mellow and comprised of small groups and couples sitting quietly in booths, as well as out front on the patio.

 

Service:  Table service at the booth we were sitting in, was friendly and quick.  Even with a little crowd, the bartender didn't miss a beat – sliding out some complex martinis in just a few shakes.

Drinks:  Elliot’s pride is in its mixology and cock-tailing. With an abundance of martinis being featured on there vast drink menu, we had a hard time deciding. We went with two sweet concoctions called the Dreamcicle and Naked in the Woods Martini’s. Both martinis were delicious and lead us to believe that the rest of the menu is equally pleasing.  Saying they have a fully stocked bar is an understatement. They have a vast array of cordials, spirits, and liquors. Elliot’s is also a beer consoeurs dream. They offer a wide variety of local micros as well as one of the best collections of imported beer offerings we have seen. There are some domestic beers available, but it would be bordering on a sin not to order something a little more exotic.

 Food:  Let’s keep it real, we went for the Martini’s. Honestly the only part of the menu’s we read was covered with libations and the only food we ate, came in our drinks. There is a small menu consisting of Tapas’ dishes like an olive dish, cheese and crackers and a spinach dip,  all under $10.

Amenities:  Projector showing classic movies, patio, free Wi-Fi.

Parking:  You will have to find parking where you can in old town.

The Buzz:  Happy Hour from 4:30-7:00 Monday through Friday, Happy hour double martini for the price of a single.

Ace Gillett’s Lounge - Fort Collins

Ace Gillett’s Lounge
239 South College Avenue
Fort Collins, CO 80524
970-449-4797
http://www.acegilletts.com
Mon – Thu   4:00 pm-12:00 am
Fri – Sat       4:00 pm – 2:00 am
Sunday        4:00 pm-12:00 am

In a town overflowing with themed bars and college hangouts, Ace Gillett’s brings a very welcome touch of class and swank to Old Town Fort Collins. This easy-to-miss spot is the perfect escape from the tourists and college crowds swarming the streets above.

Atmosphere: The subterranean lounge is tucked away under the historical Armstrong Hotel.  The lay out of the lounge is impressive and cozy. There are intimate booths, small tables, and a long and stylish bar. The swanky design is the perfect setting to sip some top-notch cocktails and enjoy the jazz band that plays four nights a week. The music level is perfect for conversation and the sound quality in this small space is amazing. This dim space is strewn with glass dome fixtures and tiny disco ball like lights in the ceiling, making it a perfect date-night spot. The laid back crowd was a mixed bag, but the one common theme between everyone was intimate conversation and libations.

 Service:  Service at the bar was friendly although a little slow, but considering 4 out of 5 drinks must be muddled, it is understandable. With that being said, the bartender was very busy making drinks for the five cocktail waitresses hustling to and from patrons in a packed house.  The waitresses’ seemed to be the only thing out of place in this well thought out environment.  Perhaps it was just one of those days for all of them, but the lack of any sort of congruent outfit combined with disheveled appearances just made them all seem like an after thought.

Drinks:   The bar staff mixes up an assortment of martinis from classic to cucumber as well as other alcoholic concoctions. The cocktail menu is strewn with ingredients like elderflower and ginger and all drinks are a relative bargain during their daily happy hour.  If you’re not in the mood for a fancy cocktail their well rounded selection of ultra premium liquors combined with an equally well rounded selection of local and imported micro brews should be able to quench your thirst.

The "Deleuze Delight"

Food:  Ace Gillett’s offers a menu of fine Mediterranean style tapas, appetizers and pizza style flat breads as well as a few desserts, all for about $10 and under.

Amenities:  Live music, stage area, hotel access, elevator, piano.

Parking:  Parking available any place you can find it in old town.

The Buzz: Live jazz, swing or blues music Wednesday through Saturday night, banquet facilities, gift certificates, free Wi-Fi, Happy hour daily from 4 pm to 6 pm, catering services, take out menu .