By Nick Margiasso

TAMPA BAY TIMES (August 10, 2005)

Vitals: Stacked between the legions of business casual bars and eateries that make up International Plaza's Bay Street - an outdoor and upscale answer to the food court - Bar Louie packs its posh pub full of all kinds of folks. This joint attracts less of the shopping-spree grandmother and more of the too sexy for their briefcase office crowd. Parking's free in the expansive lot in front of Bay Street, but then you'll have to fight with 20,000 families trying to get their name on the Cheesecake Factory list. Just park at Neiman Marcus and hoof it - you'll look cool walking up from a distance. Haven't you ever seen a movie before?

Office Space: Coming after lunch and before dinner will net you a relaxed meal in a sultry smooth atmosphere. But test the waters during meal times and you'll lose yourself in a sea of khaki and collars. Either International Plaza shuttles folks from the surrounding office buildings in by the gaggles, or Louie's lads lay out happy hour treat trails that lead to their doors. Whatever the case, this is a place where a quick watch check will let you know exactly the crowd (or lack thereof) you'll be up against.

Dude, ranch: Be it animal, mineral or french fried vegetable, it's only a matter of time before they end up in Bar Louie's ranch realm. And by realm I mean little condiment cup, of course. This rich, milky twang version of the side sauce will have you snapping the leg off your chair just for another little fix. Mix it with the soft pretzel appetizer and, well, you've just hit the spot, baby.

Dress to impress: Here's a little tip before hitting the Louie. If it's not Sunday, make sure whatever you're wearing has at least two buttons, can be cuffed and is best served dry cleaned. I know you've got a real relaxed wardrobe theme and game like Wilt Chamberlain, but if you come down sporting that tear-away Adidas kit, you'd have an easier time scoring with Nikolai Khabibulin.

Happy days: They might not have invented happy hour, but Bar Louie sure does it to a "T." Tuesdays give folks a chance to sample some of the best bar burgers around - thick, juicy and slathered - for a measely buck. It may not be the wisest move to eat, say, four of these puppies with a stomach full of martini, but that doesn't mean you won't want to. The late-night happy hour - the best idea since, well, regular happy hour - means discounted martinis (try the banana split, dressed in chocolate sauce) and other stuff. And by stuff, I mean beer. With a stellar selection including tapped rarities Rogue Yellow Snow and John Courage - each night one draft is featured for $1.50 - these folks give new meaning to the happy hour.

Easy listening: One of the perks of an off-peak visit is the music. My latest visit included a string of early '90s R&B, which my companion interestingly pointed out as music history's truly finest hour, ranging from En Vogue to Boyz II Men - which isn't much of a range at all. But in this cigar-colored, darkened dapper weeknight atmosphere, you can indulge the soulful crooner inside you.

Go or no? Whether you're winding down after office hours or just trying to kick it to my seventh-grade CD collection (Motown Philly is still my jam, yo!), Bar Louie is a key component on any Tampa pub hop. Even if just because soft pretzels+ranch = party in the belly.

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