One of Cleveland’s best little known gems is a transport back in time called The Velvet Tango Room. It is located in the Tremont neighborhood at 2095 Columbus Rd. and has been open for 16 years.
To most of the people living east of Cleveland, this is an unheard of cocktail lounge, but to those on the west side it is a fun, fancy date night or business meeting must have. If someone is looking to show-off their knowledge of fine cocktails and brag about their great taste in planning, then the Velvet Tango Room is the place to be.
It might not look like much from the outside, but when a person walks inside they are instantly reminded of a 1920’s speakeasy. The décor and atmosphere carries you away to the time of piano bars and egg fizzes, of which they have both.
The ambiance is created by the large, wooden bar in the front room, the dimmed lights, and the grand piano in the back. The only downfall to the mood is a television hung from the ceiling, which pulls you out of the fantasy created by the rest of the room.
At the Velvet Tango Room all of their cocktails are made from scratch and incredibly fresh, so they do take a little longer, but are worth the wait. The make their own ginger syrup and ginger beer for their most popular drink the Moscow Mule. They even make their own bitters, which is absolutely delightful.
Travel Channel host Anthony Bourdain called the Negroni excellent, and celebrity chef Michael Simon called the India Lime Fizz the best thing he ever drank. According to bartender Lara Knox, the most ordered drinks are the Moscow Mule, French 75, and the India Lime Fizz. The Velvet Tango Room also offers a variety of platters and desserts to accompany wine and cocktails.
When you come to The Velvet Tango Room, you can expect fantastic drinks, tasteful platters, sinful sweets, and a live show. At 5:30 p.m. every weeknight there is a lively Jazz Trio, and in the late evening starting at 9 p.m. there is always a pianist playing in the backroom. On Fridays and Saturdays pianist Dave Blazer plays at 8 p.m., followed by the Jazz Trio at 10 p.m.
The bar is on a first come, first serve basis, but the elegant backroom is reservation only. There is also a two drink minimum to sit in the backroom, and the drinks aren’t cheap. A guest should plan on spending at least $72 for two drinks per two people. The cocktail lounge does have an Industry night, which is every Monday, and the cocktails are only $10 each.
According to Anthony Bourdain and Michael Simon, they are worth the cost. Also, The Velvet Tango room is not a jeans and T-shirt kind of place, guests should be dressed to impress. For more information about The Velvet Tango Room, please visit their website: www.velvettangoroom.com.
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