Restaurants : Care for a drink?
By Eleni Collins
Published: June 4, 2009
If not the main reason to dine out, specialty cocktails can seal the deal, if you're in the mood. Bartenders, managers, and restaurant owners put a lot of thought into drink menus, and the following is a sample of creative beverages found on-Island.
Chesca's in Edgartown offers several unique creations, one being the Rosemary Salted Dog. This pink drink is a variation of the standard gin and juice, made with Bombay gin, fresh red grapefruit juice, rosemary, finished with a salted rim, and served in a martini glass. Other tasty choices are the Strawberry Basil Mojito, and The Umbrella Drink (rum, gin with pineapple, orange, and fresh lime juices).
At Nancy's in Oak Bluffs, let one of the bartenders mix you up a spiked root beer float; or a John Daly, which is an Arnold Palmer with a kick: Firefly's Sweet Tea Vodka and lemonade.
David Ryan's makes a great Goombay Smash. A rum punch served in a mason jar, the drink is heavy on liquor.
The Newes is serving breakfast this year. Along with morning fare is a breakfast cocktail menu that includes a Cradle of Liberty: Bombay Sapphire gin, fresh lemon juice, Cointreau, and orange marmalade. Or try the Bayonet: Your choice of their micro-brewed draft beer mixed with vodka and tomato juice.
In Oak Bluffs, Park Corner Bistro debuts a new bar this year but continues to serve their signature drinks, one being the Basil Gimlet - a staff favorite.
Sharky's in both Edgartown and Oak Bluffs continues to serve great margaritas and mojitos. If you cannot decide on a flavor, spin the margarita wheel in Edgartown.
In addition to margaritas, Zapotec's Birdman Perfect Maui Mai Tai is a good choice. According to the menu, a friend of the restaurant and Maui frequenter Frank Bird shared the recipe: Myers dark rum, and orange, pineapple, and guava juices.
Perfect for an afternoon cocktail or a pick-me-up after dinner are The Lookout's coffee drinks. There are four concoctions, one favorite being the American Iced Coffee: Van Gogh Espresso vodka, Irish cream, and iced coffee.
