Lounge on Fore and get a Slice

Walking in I couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia for Granny's, where I spent many a lunch hour gobbling down burritos and veggie chili. The over-sized picnic tables were replaced with black lacquer tables. The counter replaced with a pizza-viewing window. The other-wise bland walls painted a rich red. The quesadillas replaced with Greek White Pizza. The acoustic upstairs replaced with a lounge, DJ and an ice bar.

The changes aren't bad - just different - and I was won over immediately. Maybe it was the nostalgia that welcomed me. Or was it the urban vibe? Either way, I dig it.

Heading upstairs, I walked into a low-lit lounge with Al Green crooning. To the immediate left is what I like to call the makeout strip. The lights above the curtains change from green to blue to purple to red with a long bench below and a few round coffee tables. It reminded me of when I used to imbibe in illegal libations at rave clubs in Orlando and make out with my roommates.

But The Slice Bar isn't like that. You're more apt to see 20-30 somethings wearing hoodies (let's just pray this place doesn't get infiltrated by the d-bags who hang out in the Old Port) and chatting about the game playing on one of the two big-screen TVs. Dino, the bartender, said they plan to put in 3 more TVs and are still renovating the upstairs.

The most notable trait is the ice strip at the bar, which seats around 10 people. The strip follows the length of the bar and is 11 degrees. Meant to keep your drinks cold, the ice strip could serve many needs, however, Dino said no one has gotten their tongue stuck to it.

Besides the bar and makeout strip, there are two dinner tables where you can enjoy pizza, wings (49 cents each) and appetizers like fries, onion rings or mozzarella sticks ($2.99-6.99). Pizza is sold by the slice ($3.50-$4.50) or the pie - 12-19" costing $10.97-23.95. Specialty pies include White, Greek White, Buffalo Chicken, Chicken Cordon Bleu and several others.

The kitchen stays open until 2 am. That's right, 2 am! So you don't have to go to Bill's, where I've been stabbed like seven times, for an after-party slice.

The Slice Bar's bar serves beers you probably won't find anywhere else. Besides the PBR, Hoeggarden, Budweisers and other national beers, you can throw back a Kona Longboard Lager, Kona Fire Rock Pale Ale, Brooklyn Lager, Windmere Drifter, Magic Hat #9, Redhook Slim Chance (for a low-cal option) and locals like Shipyard, Gritty's and Allagash White. Beers are $3-4.50 and are sold by the bottle. They plan to offer drafts in just a few weeks.

Well drinks are $5. Margaritas will cost you $11-12 and a glass of Johnny Walker is $7.50. Drink specials vary by bartender and day, however Sun-Thurs you can get a free slice of pizza when you buy two drinks from 5-8 pm.

As I was heading out, I knew I'd be back - not for the pizza (only because I'm on a super low-calorie diet, crap - I meant to try that low-cal beer) though it was delicious - but for the lounge where I plan to make out with my roommate, I mean boyfriend, in primal celebration of when the Steelers win the Super Bowl again. God, I love it when you hate me.