Get Happy, Part Two

Belltown nightlife tends to fall into two categories: happy hour and beyond. We're committed to happy hour, mostly because we work in the neighborhood. After 7 or 8 we'd rather be anywhere than doing the First Avenue crawl. Herewith, our latest findings...

It was a random set of circumstances that led Seattlest to happy hour at The Apartment Friday night. Crowds elsewhere and general laziness, we suppose, led us to the trendy new bistro.

We scored a table, which was friendly and impressive, since we weren't planning to go past happy hour and thus did not represent the standard dinner tip possibility. Equally friendly were our neighbors, who loaned us a pair of menus and recommended drinks. A good start.

We ordered a round of drinks--each $4.50--one Jump the Shark (vodka and blue curacao with some citrus stuff, topped with a gummi shark), two Citrus Rocks (aka Lemon Drops), and a Dirty Monkey (you make the call). We also ordered a plate of calamari and an order of fries (rather, pommes frites). Bummed and surprised to learn that the restaurant had run out of fries--who runs out of potatoes?--we substituted the surprisingly tasty roast mushroom plate.

Imagine our shock and horror when, fifteen minutes later, the friendly fellows at the next table got their two orders of fries. Investigative work followed and we were quickly on our way to what must be called a really nice, well-done fry. The "roasted pepper aioli" accompanying the fries was less than pleasant...one compadre referred to it as "dish soap." But the fries held up on their own.

One more round of drinks and we were pretty much Belltown'd out. The Apartment is no Cascadia--there's no dollar burger here--but we suppose that's why Cascadia was packed and the Apartment let us have a table. We do love a blue drink, so we'll be back, although we question the wisdom of naming a drink "Jump the Shark" at a bar that clearly wants to be the next hot thing.

The Apartment Bistro, 2226 1st Avenue. Happy hour runs from 5 to 7.