San Francisco - January 15, 2007

Cool and the Gang

The Ambassador Opens

The Rat Pack turned martini-swilling into a form of art.

Sadly, your clan still swings with a keg of PBR.

School them in cool at The Ambassador, a new Tenderloin haunt that recreates the swank luxury of 1950s Vegas.

Button-tufted black leather booths, clinking crystal chandeliers, and white Carrera marble tabletops inspire respectable quaffing behavior in even your most die-hard beer bong pals.

The cats at the neighboring table may not be Frank and Dean, but strangers in the night can become fast friends with a ring (a-ding) on one of the retro in-booth phones. Or dial the mixologist for booze in a flash. Modern takes on the classics (Scarlett O’Hara, Citrus Fizz) include sustainable ingredients (house-made fruit syrups, locally distilled liquors).

But, hey, if beer is still your bag, don’t sweat it.

They can’t take that away from you.

The Ambassador, 673 Geary Street, between Jones and Leavenworth Streets (415-563-8192).