I hung out with Zach last night (he’s visiting from NYC) and I took him up on his offer to “go somewhere far away” in his rental car. We drove all the way out to Riverside (next to Berwyn I think?) and Chef Shangri-La. A vintage Cantonese tiki restaurant/bar, open since 1976, it’s way out in the middle of nowhere. Looks fantastic inside. We got the dinner for 2: a massive amount of food, plenty of leftovers. It tasted like the 70’s. And that’s a compliment. A dozen drinks on the menu, all priced at $5.50. I got the Dr. Fong, a fizzy orange/lemon concoction in a double old-fashioned glass. Probably vokda with some rum. Not bad. Zach liked the place I’m sure. It was like a time machine.

Then we drove back to his hotel on Surf, ditched the rental car and cabbed it to Wicker Park so that we could finally make a pilgrimage to The Violet Hour. It’s right there on Damen, in plain sight, except the outside is a nondescript plain wooden front, no sign. Mysterious. You already know you’re in for something special. Once inside, we were briefed on the house rules (no smoking, no cell phones allowed) and then escorted to a private booth. The two medium-sized rooms are filled with little clusters of high-backed armchairs spaced far apart, and booths. Two bars. Room capacity is strictly monitored so that even when the place is “full” it remains quiet and uncrowded. There is some very subdued wall lighting and a few chandeliers; everything else is candlelight. It’s like a very cozy Kubrick movie somehow. And gorgeous. Drapery here and there, otherwise plain walls.

The effect is that you can have a quiet conversation, savor the drinks and atmosphere, and remain completely mellow. In short, phenomenal. Exactly like Trader Vic’s: no windows, the outside world kept at bay, in your own secluded world. Why can’t there be more bars like this?

The cocktail menu consists of about two dozen drinks, all priced at $11. And worth every penny. I was flabbergasted to discover that they serve a Mai Tai, so of course I ordered it. A very, very tall glass packed with finely crushed ice and garnished with lemon twist origami. Sour lime predominated. Other flavors very delicate.  Mild, semi-potent, very refreshing. The almond and orange were very subtle. Then I tried an Iron Cross: pisco, lemon (I think?), grapefruit bitters and egg white. Served in a stubby campagne glass, with the overflow in a tiny glass flask. Very frothy, eggy, tangy, sharpness from the bitters Considerably more potent. Rich.

Zach had a Dark & Stormy (rum, black strap rum, ginger syrup) and then some kind of frothy whiskey drink. Loved both.

We were there almost two hours I think, and when we left there was a considerable line to get in (but as I said, it had no effect on the atmosphere in the bar itself). Zach and I had a real chance to talk at length about many things. I think it’s the best quality time I’ve had with a friend in quite awhile. I can’t wait to go back!