Plenty of mischief afoot: The Original Frog & Turtle

My introduction to the eye-poppin' Frog & Turtle Gastro Pub in Westbrook is a little tainted. Standing out on a rainy curb taking a quick pic of the place for the scrapbook, some jerks start laying on the horn just because. Really guys? Side. Walk. They slowly lurch their blue Pontiac forward and I imagine them, two teenagers, chuckling in their weasel way.

Everything beyond this moment is worth the fuss though. The Frog and Turtle crackles inside, a smoldering swamp with witches brews. Though the statue outside depicts frog and turtle playing a gentleman's chess, inside there's plenty of mischief afoot.

It starts innocently enough, with a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Safest of plays. There's some movie posters, the requisite Ted Williams portrait , but most strikingly there's a large thick-leafed plant of life square in the middle of the bar. It's a great centerpiece. Mostly though, the place is just lit well, great colors, perfect for its live music heart.

The Tony Boffa Trio and Joe Farren share Thursday nights, and Friday mixes it up, sometimes with the crankin' Jerks of Grass. Tell you what, the G Pub is up on every detail. Every level of management including affable owner/chef James Tranchemontagne. came out to greet me, including chefs, waitresses, all loving life, being there. Their welcoming nature is not lost.

I might have known. Soon as it gets all "pleasant" the real whizbang comes in an ice-cold, bubbling, no, make that bubbling and smoking chartreuse martini called "The Swamp," the Frog & Turtle signature. Apparently it's made with Absolut, Midori, pineapple and orange juice, and the boiling effect is some dry ice, but none of that registers at all as the thing goes down, lemme tell ya. Vats of sin they should be called. Jokes, jokes. "The Swamp" is refreshing and smooth, kind of like the F&T's whole m.o.

When I ask about the contents of the menu, the bartender literally blushes. "Oh my gash, the food here" she says. "Wicked perks" we called 'em back in the restaurant days. Try Fried Calamari (with charred greens and creamy lime dressing, $10) and then wash it down with a Tsunami Flatbread (BBQ and Ninja Sauce with bacon grilled chicken, roasted garlic spinach, and blue and cheddar cheese, $13).

There's no area of the biz of being a live music gastro pub that these people aren't ahead on. It's the closest, coolest escape from the city.