Quiet Storm Bar & Grill:
Corner of Merrick Avenue and 233rd Street, Laurelton, 527-5373

Cuisine: Appetizers and grilled specialties

Open: The bar and kitchen open at 8 p.m. Monday through Sunday. The kitchen is open until 3:30 a.m., however, takeout orders stop at 3:00 p.m.

It would appear that the name "Quiet Storm Bar and Grill" is a little misleading. As Harry "Hercules" Patrick, its bouncer, says "I would describe it as more of a lounge bar than a sports bar."

I would agree with Hercules’ assessment.

I arrived at about 10 p.m. on a Saturday night, and was surprised to find that my companion and I were the only two patrons in the place. The grill has two big screen televisions on either end of the bar. According to regulars, the place is more an after-hours spot than a restaurant, and doesn’t get "packed" until after midnight.

But till then, I decided to enjoy the quiet evening and sample the house menu. "The Quiet Storm" is a fitting name for the tastefully, decorated establishment that apparently transforms from neighborhood pub to after-hours hot spot. While we were there, the management discretely rolled away the pool table to make room for a dance floor in anticipation of the evening’s festivities and you could feel the coming end to the calm before the storm.

If you’re hungry, meals are generally less than $5 per person. A cheeseburger will run about $4 (without cheese $3, fries are extra). Probably the most expensive sandwich on the menu is the Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich, which weighs in at $5.

As for seafood, an order of fish and fries is $5.50 (a fish sandwich costs just $5). An order of buffalo chicken wings – eight pieces – costs $6.50.