Black Pearl Cosmo

Black Pearl is the newest gem on Old South Pearl, a street full of jewels. The restaurant is beautiful, highly stylized, sleek and modern, with Zen-like enhancements — the wall of backlit bottles in the bar, for example, and the patio with a community table complete with an ultra-cool fire pit. In my quest for enlightenment, I tried some new cocktails, including the strawberry Sidecar ($7), made with strawberry-infused Germain-Robin brandy, triple sec and sweet and sour. According to my dinner date, it tasted exactly like the strawberry libido oil that comes free with a blow-up doll; I had to agree that there was something about the taste that reminded me of Fascinations, and not in a good way. This was not really my cup of massage oil. But the Black Pearl Cosmo ($9), made with Pearl vodka, Cointreau, fresh lime, white cranberry and Chambord, was definitely the yin to that yang. This lovely layered cocktail looked like a martini with a black pearl at the base and had a delicate, flowery taste. For the perfect climax to a perfect evening, we went with the Keoke Coffee martini ($9), made with Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate Vodka, Bailey’s, sugar and cream. No question, Pearl Street has added another pearl to its string of worthy tenants.