Happy Hour: Rob Roy is an Old Fashioned kind of place

Belltown, still a Lemon Drop-and-flavored-vodka kind of scene, is changing. Slowly.

Spur Gastropub did artisanal cocktails here first, and well. That was two summers ago. Nice to see Spur has company now.

Rob Roy, for instance, crafts some remarkable classic cocktails. Some dry and bitter, but also some citrus concoctions with depth — not the single-note, overly sugary cocktails some Belltown bartenders have gotten used to.

One of the nation's most influential cocktail figures, Audrey Saunders, of the famed Pegu Club in New York City, recently visited Rob Roy.

Its menu features pre-Prohibition-era cocktails, such as the splendid Boston Sour, circa 1870.

But try the Old Fashioned. Lots of bartenders have showcased this classic since it was mentioned in the cable-TV hit "Mad Men." Lots of bartenders also didn't bother reading the old manual on how to make it.

Rob Roy remains one of the few bars that makes an Old Fashioned correctly — neither too sweet nor watered-down.

Young couple Anu Apte and Zane Harris are the new owners of Rob Roy but old hands at this game. Both worked behind the bar at Vessel, and Harris also worked at Spur. Last year, they purchased Rob Roy from bar maven Linda Derschang and slowly have been molding it to their liking. (The bar will be renamed soon, the couple said.)

The bar-food menu is one of Belltown's cheapest happy hours ($1-$4) and is still evolving. Two good options: meatloaf sliders and a grilled-cheese sandwich. Two to skip: the tomato soup that came with the grilled cheese, and the meatballs.

Rob Roy, 2332 Second Ave., offers happy hour 5-8 p.m. daily, when well drinks are $4, and $1 off all cocktails and spirits and half-off on bar food (206-956-8423 or robroyseattle.com).

Tan Vinh: 206-515-5656 or tvinh@seattletimes.com>