Restaurant

The Baranof Lounge is, in its way, a reflection of its neighborhood. The area around 85th and Greenwood appears to be cobbled together from odd leftover bits of other places even as the condos and big box buildings begin to crowd around like bullies at a playground fence.

The bar is in a word, nautical. In more than a word, it's old-school-dive-bar-tiki, only without so much tiki. There is quite a lot of netting hanging from the low ceiling and the wall is lined with a built-in wrap-around bench seat upholstered in Naugahyde and lightning strike slashes of duct tape. The walls are plastered with the kind of memorabilia beer and liquor reps take decades to disperse. The lighting is dubious, but appropriate. The clientele at the bar, sparse and eclectic.

Just order a round and let the ambience flow over you. The service is prompt, attentive, polite and dang friendly. The drinks are healthy without being "healthful." Trends can't get in here.

By Mark Shaffer
NWsource