Injy El-Kashef tries not to stay sober The last few times I had been to La Bodega were strictly for drinking purposes. It has already been established in most Bodega-goers' minds that the food there is succulent, albeit expensive. Therefore, one does not automatically think of La Bodega as a place where one goes to eat something quick and filling. And yet, one cannot avoid stepping into Baehler's Mansion every so often. The inviting and visually pleasing decor simply compel one to spend a few hours in style. The Lounge was different, however. One only went to the Lounge to spend a few merry hours munching on mezzes and sipping drinks on the uncomfortable sofas in the loud, smoky and crowded space -- pre-renovation, that is. There was something about the 'old' Lounge that made me terribly uneasy; strange as it may sound, it seemed a trifle vulgar. Despite the sophisticated and pretentious decor, the place crawled with strange behaviour and rather inelegant social apparitions. They might have been dressed to the nines, as they often were, yet imported clothes never made the monk. So I shunned the old Lounge; I am a lady of class. The Lounge has been through a recent face-lift, however, and the results are quite impressive. The interior has been entirely transformed: the colours, the furniture, the decor, the general persona -- everything. It is now a mellow, understated, subtly elegant, classy venue which not only retains the old coziness but has actually upgraded it to combine comfort and ease with a feeling of social safety. The internal space has been redistributed (or at least it seems that way) to provide more privacy, the large interior having been divided into small hubs. My first impression was of a Far Eastern, specifically Japanese, undertone: it may be the creme- mocca-pale yellow colour scheme; it may be the drapes; it may be the waiters' uniform; though what I think is behind that impression is the minimalist decor -- in striking contrast with the pre-renovation Lounge -- and the feeling that, in quite a Japanese way, only the bare necessities have been included. Whatever it was, I approved wholeheartedly. Ignoring beer and wine, we aimed for cocktails and shots. I tried not to go through the food menu, as it looked annoyingly appetising and I could have started convincing myself that the dinner I ate right before stepping into La Bodega had been digested and that I was ready for more. That would have been nothing more than self- deception -- even worse, gluttony. And we all know that angels don't sin. One word of warning: the only way to get buzzed is to go for the shots -- judging from the amount of alcohol included, you will need at least LE500 worth of cocktails per head before anything happens to your brain. With the Pina Colada, not even a trace of alcohol could be identified (or of coconut creme, for that matter). We were six; each had two cocktails and I can tell you straight away what to go for: the Mojito, with its lime and mint, was wonderfully fresh; the Brandy Alexander was creamy and tasty; and the Margarita was pleasant. Avoid the Irish Coffee. Alice in Wonderland was an interesting shot: sweet, powerful and with character; unlike the B-52, which only included three of the requisite five types of liqueur. My personal conclusion is that the next Lounge session will be oiled with shots; anything else feels like a bit of a rip- off, no matter how tasty it is. We had 10 cocktails and six shots worth LE400. Although we criticised the service, we still had a ball. The Lounge has my blessings. La Bodega Lounge, Baehler's Mansion, 26th July St, Zamalek. Tel 736 2183
