The Metaxa Sidecar is rumored to have been Hemingway’s favorite cocktail, but so are 10 to 30 other drinks, depending on what part of the world you find yourself in. The Melting Pot serves the Metaxa Sidecar in a martini glass rimmed with subtly sweet cinnamon dust. The yellowish murk of Metaxa Greek brandy, orange flavored Cointreau and a splash of sweet and sour with muddled lemon create what could be an incredible base for a devastating margarita if you wanted to take it that far, but it also does just fine as is. The Melting Pot’s front lounge area entices groups of women. Four separate groups of mid-30-year-olds came and went, each delivering scathing glances in our direction followed by hushed one-liners and roars of laughter. Maybe we shouldn’t have ridden so many Sidecars.
[The Melting Pot, Tuesday-Saturday happy hour 4:30-6 p.m., 9 p.m. to close, all day Sunday and Monday, 2121 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.535.3939]