The Hours: Monday through Friday from 4:30 until 6:30 p.m.
The Deals: $5 draft beer and specialty cocktails; $6 select wines by the glass; food specials range from $3 to $7.
The Digs: The aura of Colt & Gray dances a fine line between sleek and sophisticated and completely cliché. The chic black and white motif boasts a beautiful bar stacked high with unusual and finely-crafted liquors, large windows open on the north end of the restaurant and the fireplace behind the bar provides a quaint sitting area. Colt & Gray's patio is large, spacious and filled with revelers getting their drink on. The only thing that sucks about the ambiance? The crowd. It's a Prozac-laden, fraternity-reunion-meets-eHarmony hell. Good luck.
The Verdict: Years of ordering cocktails have left us slightly jaded -- they're rarely as good as they look on paper and the buzz takes longer to achieve. Not at Colt & Gray, where we could sing praises about every single delectable drink on their menu. The favorite for sweltering days? The Clover Club: gin, lemon juice, pomegranate grenadine, egg white, and a drizzle of orange bitters, shaken and served up. Yes, please! The pork trotter ($3) pairs perfectly with an ice cold draft, and we could have eaten a large barrel of the bleu cheese gougéres ($3). The charcuterie and cheese plate ($7 for a choice of two options) did not disappoint, but the bacon cashew caramel corn ($3) definitely could have been more porky. Still, the bartenders are quick on their feet and pour drinks flawlessly, which is always a bonus in our book.
Overall Grade: B+
