This week’s bar: Taverna Opa at CityPlace
The scene: Think my Big Fat Greek Night on the Town. Taverna Opa combines food and fun in a way that few restaurants can pull off. The food? Naturally, it’s Greek, from classic dips (hummus, tzatziki, etc.) to grilled lamb and seafood. The fun? Belly dancers, a DJ and the ready-to-party customers themselves are all part of the nightly show. But perhaps the best-kept secret about Taverna Opa is that you can enjoy the whole scene without sitting at a table: The restaurant’s bars — one indoors, one just outside — offer a fine vantage point.
Signature cocktail: Who says a Greek restaurant can’t serve a great mojito? Opa makes some of the best you’ll find locally (the secret is all in using fresh mint leaves and properly muddling them). Our favorite from the mojito menu: Aphrodite’s Passion Fruit Mojito ($10), which adds the tangy flavor of passion fruit to the familiar rum-and-mint mix.
Other noteworthy libations: Try anything with the name “Zorba” in it. The Zorbatini ($10) is a sweet, martini-style cocktail with a nice banana-y taste to it. The Zorba Shot ($5) is a potent mix of various spirits, including ouzo, the licorice-flavored Greek favorite. The restaurant also has a first-rate selection of Greek wines by the glass.
Bar bites: This may be the real reason to sit at Opa’s bar because nobody does appetizers/quick bites better than the Greeks. If you want to sample a little of everything, go for the cold appetizer platter — or Cold Pikilia ($16); it includes several dips and house-made stuffed grape leaves. Other good bets ($8-12) include the Opa Wings (yes, wings with a Greek twist); char-grilled octopus (don’t knock it till you’ve tried it) and the grilled baby lamb ribs (it will have you thinking barbecue in a whole new way).
Music and more: Look for the aforementioned DJ and belly dancers.
Deals: The Happy Hour (3 to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday) includes half-off drink and food specials.
Info: 700 S. Rosemary Ave., Suite 232 (at CityPlace), West Palm Beach; (561) 820-0002; opapalmbeach.com
~ charles_passy@pbpost.com

THE COCKTAIL
Aphrodite’s Passion Fruit Mojito
2 oz. Parrot Bay Passion Fruit Rum
6 fresh mint leaves
1 lime
One-half oz. simple syrup
Splash of seltzer
Splash of Sprite
Muddle the lime and the mint leaves. Combine this with the rum and the simple syrup in a cocktail shaker and shake it about 20 times. Pour the mixture into a highball glass and top with a splash of seltzer and a splash of Sprite.