Vena's Fizz House Repeals Prohibition; See New Menus Here

It's been half a year since Vena's Fizz House decided to increase its offerings (a poll suggested nearly unanimous support for the plan). But despite some renovations and the addition of food and hard alcohol to the menu, Vena's Fizz House will still feel entirely familiar to fans of owners Steve and Johanna Corman's craft sodas and mocktails.

The bar held its Grand Reopening Saturday, and its well-curated retail section is more extensive than ever. Spirits will flow only when the red light is lit, Thursday to Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Steve said he's looking for more bartenders, especially those who can keep his growing menus in mind: he already has about 80 cocktail recipes lined up and will rotate that menu weekly.

The list of available non-alcoholic concoctions still vastly outnumbers the weekly cocktail menu, though. Any of the soft drinks can be doctored up with your choice of booze, keeping with the satisfying mad scientist vibe of the bar. On the other hand, Steve served plenty of true mocktails during the reopening festivities, proving that some people are happy to skip the spirits, even on a Saturday night.

The food menu is limited, and unlikely to be a real draw for the bar, yet the selections aren't phoned in. For those who need to set a base, the inclusion of various bitters, Fire Cider, and other house flourishes jazz up dishes like the bean supper or a prosciutto panini. For those who balk at a $12 price point for chicken pot pie, there are snacks available like house-made pickles for $4 or roasted nuts for $5. Check out the opening night menus below.