Pair

601 Main Street
http://eatdrinkshare.com

Stop 2 of Martini mix-off 2009

My friends and I met for brunch, martinis, and bottomless mimosas on a fine Sunday morning. There is some nice seating outside but all the seats out of the sun were already taken so we opted for inside dining. The restaurant seemed short on staff initially when it took some time before seeing any staff but once they came out of hiding we received excellent service.

We were quite impressed with the brunch menu. While it was not a huge selection, it had just the right amount of options to please all. The prices were great as well, ranging from $5-$9 with excellent sized portions. Each of us raved about our dishes with not one negative remark to be had. Brunch, along with $6 bottomless mimosas is enough to make anyone happy….of course we didn’t stop there….we were there for martinis!

We ordered up one of each of the options:
Blue-By-You- (Classic Martini)
Magellan Gin served with a Kumquat garnish

Limonare (Cocktail category)
Seagrams Gin, Campari, Lemoncello, lemon sour, flamed lemon peel garnish

French Connection (Original martini)
Martell VS Cognac, Charteuse and Barenjager, Liquers, lime sour, honeycomb garnish

We thought we would like the French Connection the least but it turned out to be, hands down, the best! The combination was very odd but it worked so incredibly well together and had the perfect balance of the flavors. With just a little taste of the honeycomb and a sip of the cocktail, heaven emerges. So fantastic!

The idea behind the Blue-By-You is to take a sip, then a small bite of the kumquat, then another sip. The gin is actually made from Iris (and several other spices and botanicals) and the kumquat brings out its essence. The blue tint of the gin naturally occurs from the botanicals. The blue and orange contrast adds to its beautiful presentation. While it is a very good martini, it didn’t create a buzz at the table. I liked it but it hasn’t been my favorite.

The Limonare was different. Campari definitely is the predominant flavor in this beverage and unique for sure. This drink looked like it would be fruity but it was rather tart, almost bitter. Not to say this is a negative, just that it appeals to a select few…..I am not one of them.

This turned out to be a great stop on the list! Brunch at Pair will definitely happen again!

Pair

601 Main Street
Eatdrinkshare.com


Time: 3-6 M-F
Special: $5 infused martinis and $3 select appetizers
Rating: 4 martinis
Smoking: no

Pair is a swanky restaurant at the corner of 6th and Main Streets. The bar area provides great seating with swivel, jetson-like chairs and faux leather sofas. The other side of the establishment is more restaurant than bar but the line of transition is a bit blurred, allowing for easy spill over from either side.

The martinis on special include Blackberry, Tangerine, Strawberry, Rosemary Lemon Drop, and a Mango concoction. I tried the Rosemary Lemon Drop and was pleasantly surprised. It had just the right amount of everything in it.

The appetizer specials include the mini wimpi burger, artichoke spread, hummus, edemame, age tofu, and pommes frites. I ordered the hummus. It came with a generous portion, along with pita wedges and olive tapenade. The hummus was fine but not spectacular. The tapenade was nothing more than pimento stuffed green olives chopped. While not very impressive it was adequate for $3.

The service was good and the ambiance was great. The happy hour selection isn’t vast but is perfect if you are after something a bit different. During warmer months, outdoor seating is available for great people watching. I also noticed that Pair serves brunch on weekends with $6 bottomless mimosas. I’ll have to return on a weekend soon!