Lounge perfect for
young crowd

When Pipeline, Reign and Blue Tropix aren't happening, odds are you'll find them at a bar like the Venus Lounge.

Nestled away on Kona Street next to Venus Nightclub, this spot is a haven for the younger set who don't feel like getting dressed up to go out, or are looking for a nightcap after other places close at 2 a.m.

Venus Lounge Hours: 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. daily Location: 1344 Kona St. (next to Venus Nightclub) Phone: 945-2686

HOUSED IN the space formerly known as Pachinko Karaoke, the Venus Lounge has a simple layout that gives the bar a lot of flexibility with the room.

Walk through the unmarked front door and you'll see everything the bar has to offer -- a dozen high tables in front of eight barstools at the bar along the mauka wall, with two dart machines in a corner and a number of televisions and Megatouch machines spread throughout.

Add enough chairs for the tables and it's easy to forget about the booths that used to be set up here; there's lots of room to sit with friends and watch TV. Move the tables and chairs out of the way, and you've got a spacious dance floor to go with the DJ booth in the room. Turn off the dart machines, and that corner of the bar can be used as a performance area for live entertainment.

And it looks like Island Fire Productions' Ryan Chang, who recently took over operation of the bar, is trying to take advantage of all the different possibilities. Using his promoter background, Chang has introduced a number of new events on different nights of the week.

On Saturdays, he hosts a weekly comedy night. Sundays are "Sex and the City" night, with episodes of the popular HBO series screening on the bar's televisions and special prices for martinis and Cosmopolitans all night long. Mondays feature dart tournaments, while Tuesdays belong to DJ Technique, who mixes live on the bar's turntables. The focus turns to live music on Wednesday and Thursday nights.

FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Club manager Kevin Mau sets up for the late night clientele at the Venus Lounge, next to Venus Nightclub near Ala Moana Center.

ABOUT A dozen customers were in the Venus Lounge earlier this week when I stopped by for a few drinks. Most were guys, although there were also a handful of ladies to help balance out all the testosterone.

Over at the dart machines, a couple of people warmed up for the dart tournament that would begin about an hour after I arrived. Others stood along the Diamond Head wall, watching people play Megatouch while bobbing their heads along to a mix of Lil' Jon, Snoop Dogg, Usher and Xzibit that pounded on the sound system.

While the appearance of the bar is generally clean and well-kept, the absence of any decorations and a slightly worn-down look give this place more of a dive bar vibe than a lounge-type one.

But does the younger set actually care about what the bar looks like? As long as the drinks are cold, the food is good and they're having a good time, does it really matter?

FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM The Barfly takes us to Venus Lounge where bartender Shannon Taguchi serves mixed drinks.

How much for a Bud Light?
The Barfly paid $4 for bottles of Bud Light at the Venus Lounge -- not the cheapest beer in town, but there are often drink specials available for those looking for lower prices.

Get things to do?
Along with a pair of dart machines, four Megatouch machines are spread throughout the room. Four television sets hang in different corners; another pair are located at either end of the bar itself. Entertainment options vary, depending on the night you visit.

What about the grinds?
You can choose between regular bar food and sushi here, but expect to pay a bit more for the sushi. The hamburger ($5) and garlic fries ($5) were average, at best. Go for the Garlic Fried Rice ($7.50) or Kalbi Plate ($8.50) instead. All the typical types of sushi are on the menu -- items like the Dynamite Roll ($10), Crazy Cajun Roll ($12) and Dragon Roll ($10) are the most expensive, but the Spicy Tuna Roll ($5), Crunchy Crab Roll ($5) and Spam Roll ($5) are also worth a try.

And the help?
After a slight wait for our second round of drinks, we had no problem getting service from the lone employee on duty behind the bar. The crowd picks up significantly later in the evening; if you decide to pay a visit after midnight or 1 a.m., you're better off heading directly to the bar to order instead of waiting for a server.