Where Cocktail Hour Never Ended

There's been a lot of talk in recent years about the rebirth of cocktail culture. But a perusal of some menus in town lets you know that, for some places and for some people, the previous cocktail era never really died.

Take the menu at Sam's Pizzeria on Court Street in Brooklyn. It looks relatively unchanged since the 1960s. And right there at the top is a selection of twenty or more cocktails for purchase. All the one-time classics are here. Not just the Martini and Manhattan, but the Side Car, Rob Roy, Pink Lady, Black Russian, Stinger, Rusty Nail and Singapore Sling. Even a Sloe Gin Fizz.

Now, if you order one of these, there's no telling what kind of drink you'll get. It will probably be mixed up by the guy who just put your pizza in the oven, after all. But the prices are right. $6.50 across the board. The same drink cost double at any place in Manhattan. The only deviation: a regular Martini is $6.25; an "extra dry" Martini is $6.50.

My advice? Splurge for the extra quarter to ensure you're getting at least a 2 to 1 ratio on the gin and vermouth. Live a little.