Bulldog Bar & Grill   

It's rare that a trip to a watering hole is also a history lesson. But the cocktail menu at this elegant Crossroads bar is a veritable textbook of sophisticated drinks that might have been sipped by Babe Ruth, F. Scott Fitzgerald or Al Capone. Each chapter of the tiny bound booklet is dedicated to the libations of a chapter in the early 20th century. Thus we have the ''Before 1920'' section (featuring absinthe, Singapore Slings and Foghorns); the ''Time of the Speakeasy'' section (which includes the Monkey Gland and the Sidecar); and the ''After Prohibition'' section (ruled by the Bellini, the Godfather, and the Dark and Stormy). It's a blurry-eyed primer on our nation's boozing trends. The contemporary offerings include more than 50 single-malt scotches, some 35 beers, a well-varied wine list and a range of CEO-worthy cigars. The Bulldog's happy hour, with cheap burgers, apps and drinks, keeps this little corner of downtown hopping long after the closing bell has sounded. The decor also tries to recapture the early 20th century, but with mixed resuts. Art Deco lighting sconces and colorful Tiffany-style hanging lamps are nice throwbacks. But the industrial carpeting, generic furniture and many TVs muddle the effect. Still, the long bar and high tables offer ample seating during even the busiest hours, and the full menu has an impressive range of offerings, from dressed-up sandwiches to massive steaks and chops.