House of Congress

Tell me about Congress.
It’s a fresh and clean Downtown neighborhood tavern. Actually, there are more people that live Downtown than I realized; they’ve become our regulars. Even though it’s Downtown, Congress has got that local, personal vibe and great history. That’s why I chose to work here.

What do you think Congress brings to the Downtown scene?
Congress is an extension of your living room. You can watch the game here, play music in the jukebox or bring your iPod and we’ll play your tunes. There’s no specific corporate agenda here. It’s small. People are invited to stay.

What’s the historical background here?

We’re developing the historical background. There was a tavern here back in the day, around the Prohibition era, called Congress, which was last open 75 years ago. Per hearsay, Orange Street used to be called Lipid’s Gangway. The building owner started the research process and now I’ve joined in. Eventually, we’ll consolidate our research and have it available for our guests.

What do you have here for thirst-quenchers?
Our drink list right now is mostly in our heads. We keep the tavern theme with the craft beer – 16 drafts, 17 bottles. It’s a pretty good selection for a small place like this. People who are beer junkies will come in and find something they like. We have a lot of domestic microbrews and local beer like Newport Storm and Sam Adams.

What is your signature drink?
My favorite cocktail to make is an espresso martini. You have your staple drinks – margaritas, cosmo, etc. I know what makes a good drink better than a bad drink. It’s all about the way you make it – chilling the glass, layering the liquor. There is a right way to make an espresso martini or else it tastes like crap. Every espresso martini should have a pinky finger of froth. Less is more – you can say that about every martini. It’s about the small enhancements you utilize – hot espresso instead of cold espresso, a dash of coffee liqueur and a hint of chocolate.

What’s the best cocktail for the holidays?
Something hot! Hot tea drinks. I’m going to buy a box of seasonally spiced tea bags and experiment. It’s warm and caffeinated.

What if you want to impress your friends at your holiday party?
Tell each friend to bring a bottle of St. Germain liqueur, Kettle One Orange Vodka, champagne, and cranberry juice. You’ve got an awesome cocktail named the Mistletoe. It’s a modification of the Poinsettia – cranberry juice and champagne. Congress Tavern is located at 62 Orange Street.