Five Degrees (1475 Lawrence St.) has been a downtown destination lounge for years, known for its steady stream of dressed-up, 20- and 30-something cocktailers looking to mix and meet over vodka martinis.
But despite the success of its late-night lounge, owner Francois Safieddine has long hoped to draw an earlier crowd by offering a full restaurant menu. He teamed up with chef Michel Wahaltere to revamp the menu earlier this summer. Now Amuse by Michel, the new restaurant side of 5 Degrees, is slowly gaining fans with a tantalizing menu of small plates and killer deals during its extended happy hour.
“Five Degrees is known as such a big club scene, it’s just going to take a while for people to realize that there is quality food here,” Wahaltere said. “Since this part of downtown is a big happy-hour area, we did an extended happy-hour menu with 10 items that are happy-hour prices for the entire night.”
The mix-and-match Amuse menu offers nibbles such as totally delish cheese-stuffed dates wrapped in bacon, mixed marinated olives and gnocchi in pesto cream sauce, priced at $4 per item, $7 for two or $10 for three. The rest of the menu offers true happy-hour specials, like $4 wine cocktails and martinis and $3 beers from 4 to 8 p.m., and a full menu of larger plates including mushroom ravioli and almond-crusted calamari and lamb loin.
“I’m known for doing small plates,” said Wahaltere. “The little bites tease you, so that’s why it’s called Amuse. The other part of the menu is more substantial, but it’s all made to share. I think that after three bites you’re not tasting anymore, the excitement is gone and you’re just eating.”
A new look accompanies the new menu. Designer Jeffrey Elliot once again spruced up the space with subtle changes intended to make the dining room softer and more inviting.
“Jeffrey made it more sophisticated,” said Wahaltere. Formerly black walls are now a chocolate brown, with beige accents in the newly upholstered banquettes and a dash of robin’s-egg blue adding color to the white chandeliers.
Despite the new focus on the restaurant, fans of Five Degrees can still expect the usual late-night scene, complete with regular special events and nightly themes. Saturday night it’s Chemistry, the latest in 5 Degrees’ courtyard fashion show series (rescheduled from the rained-out original date of Aug. 4). Look for a swimwear fashion show by Everything But Water starting at 10:30 p.m., with three bottle-service cabanas and two outdoor bars ready to keep onlookers properly hydrated, and DJ Maciek mixing hip-hop and Top 40.
Food and wine in Boulder
Boulder’s inaugural Food & Wine Festival takes over Central Park (Broadway and Canyon Boulevard) this Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Wine buffs can sip on selections from 20 Colorado wineries, including Boulder’s own Augustina’s Winery, BookCliff Vineyards, Boulder Creek Winery and Redstone Meadery. Tasting menus from area restaurants – including local faves The Kitchen, Mateo, Laudisio, Flagstaff House and Prima Ristorante – will help soak up the vino, with live swing and Brazilian samba music providing a lively soundtrack.
Add in offbeat entertainment such as waiter racing and more traditional wine education presentations, and you have the making of a great new annual event for area wine snobs. Tickets and info at boulderwinefest or call 303-444-4508.
Big beats
Looking to dance to some big, bad, bangin’ beats this weekend? Welsh DJ duo Hybrid (Mike Truman and Chris Healings) will be in Colorado for two nights of their bass-heavy breakbeats and vocal remixes. Catch them tonight in Vail at the Samana Lounge (228 Bridge St.), and Saturday night in Denver at Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom (2637 Welton St.). Guest DJs Ivy and Peter Blick open the Cervantes show at 9 p.m. Tickets for Saturday are $15 advance/$20 at the door, available at .
Kat Valentine writes about night life Fridays in 7Days. Reach her at kat@kingproduction.com or 303-954-1568.
