Drink of the Week

Let's be honest: No one goes to the Diamond Cabaret & Steakhouse for its specialty cocktails and rare steaks -- they go for the tits and ass. With its dark-red walls, leather chairs and neon chandeliers, the currently controversial Diamond was the perfect spot to pop my strip-club cherry. This place is all about decadence, and nothing is richer than a Chocolate Martini ($8), made with Bailey's Irish Cream, Dark Creme de Cacao, White Creme de Cacao, Stoli Vanilla and a splash of Frangelico, served up in a glass whose rim is coated with dry hot-chocolate mix. And what better way to distract yourself during the endless wait for drinks than by watching the topless dancers writhe, slither and crack their whips to a symphony of whistles and catcalls. The Diamond girls don't really dance around like I expected, but it's tough to be graceful in eight-inch platform shoes when there's no pole to hang on to. Besides, the constant hair flips and butt shots seemed to do the trick for the appreciative fans -- each lovely lady left the stage with her tiny thong stuffed full of bills. Unless you're organizing an official corporate or government outing, the best time to hit this citadel of sin is during happy hour, weekdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., when you can avoid the regular $10 cover charge and get a chance at the free buffet. Unfortunately, none of us got tipsy enough to cough up the amount necessary to shower with the strippers on stage -- but there's always next time.