Bar Review - Not just for teetotalers

Despite the pervasion of East-meets-West cuisine throughout the city, there appears to be a curious lack of East-meets-West beverages to go along with them.

Sure, we may guzzle martinis flecked with the influence thanks to Hangar One's kaffir lime and other orientalized flavors, but what about the basics? Rife with notes of citrus and cream, sake is practically begging to become the backbone for an impressive array of cocktails.

At Little Five Points' Teaspace, most beverages are served in their traditional state, whether carefully steeped, brewed with honey and milk or served milky and cold. However, three house cocktails satisfy those in search of new tastes alongside those not yet ready to delve into the world of rice wine.

A mainstay since the restaurant's inception, the Plum Blossom is a mixture of ruby red plum wine, sake, ginger ale and lime. Garnished with a wedge of lime and slice of cucumber, the concoction could be confused for a Pimm's Cup were it not for the distinct flavor of sake. Juicy in spite of its rice undertones, the drink is a sexy little package simply served in a delicate water glass.

Though the name may trigger thoughts of living on the edge, Teaspace's Kamikaze is actually all about refreshment. A sparkling alternative to plain sake, this perky drink sports a shot of sake, a dose of ginger ale and just the right balance of sweet grenadine and sour lime juice, imparting a taste reminiscent of a creamy meringue pie. Bubbles from the soda keep the flavor light and crisp while the sake works its alcoholic magic.

Even in the drinking world, bombs are rarely associated with good things. Sake bombs tend to be the kind of drink that end an evening of carousal, with friends drinking one another under the table, over the table and every which way in between. But such things are not always possible at the pint-size Teaspace, and its own version of a sake bomb is appropriately subdued. A half-glass of creamy Anchor Steam porter is served alongside a shot glass of sake. Similar to an Irish Car Bomb, the sake, shot glass and all, is dropped into the porter. Guzzling is optional, as the two flavors work together a bit better than Guinness and Jameson's.Teaspace, 1133 Euclid Ave. 404-577-9793.