RN74

I'm not sure why I thought RN74 would be pretentious, but I quickly learned that it is anything but--at least for happy hour.

From the leather chairs and banquettes to the multitude of lanterns hanging by ropes as room dividers, this place manages to be simultaneously modern and cozy. The wrap around bar can seat about 15 people, and the lounge can seat another 25 without anyone feeling cramped.  The restaurant portion is in the far back of the large space, and it is equally stunning with a long line of red and golden bottles hollowed out as lights hanging from the ceiling.

Our server, Kristen, was attentive and charming despite the happy hour crowd. I had a glass of Cotes du Rhone, which was fine for the $5 price tag. My friend had the "Shot and a Beer," which was a can of Rainier with a shot of Fernet Branca (an astringent drink that tasted like Jagermeister and Listerine.) The best part about this combo was that the Rainier was served in a huggie that guests gets to keep!


The happy hour menu is diverse and extensive enough to make even a picky eater excited about a small bite.  And the bites ARE rather small, so sharing three or four plates will get your appetite all geared up for a more substantial entree. We had just about everything on the menu, but the two dishes worth highlighting were the grilled skirt steak skewers and the short rib ragout charred toast. There were five mini skewers, and the meat was marinated in a mild soy-cilantro glaze that had just a hint of Asian flavoring. The charred toast was about six inches long and cut into five bite-sized morsels. The depth of flavor was surprising even for such a small portion.


If parking didn't cost $16, I would make RN74 a regular happy hour spot. The ambiance, service and food all add up to an A in my book. (Happy hour is Mon - Sat from 3 to 6 pm; late night from 10:30 to close.)