All of Richmond is buzzing about Infuzion's Ice Lounge, not only a first for the city, but for the U.S. as well. If donning an insulated parka and gloves and drinking cocktails "in the rocks" sounds like your style, this is the place.

Your $15 buys you 30 chilly minutes in the cavern where the tables, bar and highball glasses are all made of frozen H2O. You'll also get a "been there, done that" souvenir photo from your session.

But, there's much more happening at this hip venue than just chilling out in a frozen tavern. Also inside this renovated 1940s-era warehouse in the historic Scott's Addition neighborhood are a cosmopolitan dance club and a new tapas-style lounge.

What is yet to be discovered about Infuzion may be the best-kept secret in town … the Bistro and Lounge. With a "Milan-modern-meets-Asian" décor featuring muted earth tones, comfy banquettes and club chairs and fresh orchids galore, the Bistro offers an eclectic, global tasting menu of small bites.

There are actually three separate spaces within the Bistro: a full bar with lounge seating, the main lounge with live entertainment and a cozy private lounge with an electric fireplace that would be great for a birthday party or business tête-á-tête. The food is designed for sharing with a table of friends, as well as to compliment the lounge's signature infused-vodka martinis and sparkling Bellinis.

Chef Jason Boyd has gone out of his way to please every palate imaginable. The eponymous spring rolls are a fun take on buffalo wings, while the diminutive Beef Wellingtons and elegant prosciutto-wrapped asparagus with goat cheese satisfy the need for upscale hors d'oeuvres. The puff pastry on the Wellies was perfect, and the addition of the asparagus made it a demi-dinner.

The menu is divided into sections titled "Hearty Eats" – think sliders and upscale tailgate fare; "Choose Your Own Adventure," with pick-three trios from bruschetta to salad wraps; "Fresh Fare" for vegetable-lovers; "From the Sea," with offerings like tuna tartar, diver scallops and cider-bacon clams; "Local Favorites," with in-the-know picks like the Outer Banks' Owens Restaurant hush puppies and a Dim Sum Sampler; and "For Your Sweet Tooth," with selections of French pastries, cheesecake popsicles and Richmond's DeLuca gelato.

Prices range from $6.25 to $11.95 and portions are generally for four, with a pared down late-night menu available until the wee hours.

On the Hearty menu, the Angus beef links wrapped in apple cider bacon and cooked in brown sugar sounded delicious, but didn't quite live up to their prose. Tasting more like Hebrew National Hot Dogs wrapped in Oscar Mayer, there was not a hint of the apple cider and brown sugar promised, although sports bar aficionados would probably love these with a cold brew, and the presentation was lovely.

If you're watching your calorie count, you'll like the easy-to-eat Finger Salads – a trio of romaine lettuce wraps in classic Caesar, Greek, and Italian styles – but if you're not concerned about carbs and counts, try the chef's choice of Petits Fours. Owner Paul Blacker even has a dish that pays homage to his childhood favorites – Ritz Crackers with peanut butter and jelly.

The upscale sliders, called Triple Threat Burgers, are a sure hit, as are the trio of Bruschettas that will pair well with a surprisingly adventurous wine list that includes unusual vintages like a Delea Chiar di Luna white merlot from Tincino, Switzerland, several solid Chilean reds and excellent Italian proseccos.

High rollers will love choosing between Roederer's Cristal and Dom Perignon on the bubbly list, but the bottle pricing offers great choices in every budget range, from a $22 bottle of Mionetto Sergio to the $299 Cristal, with most selections falling in the $30 to $40 range. Martinis average $10, Bellinis are $9, and beers are $4 and $5 respectively for domestics and imports.

The Bistro also features live entertainment on most nights, pulling from both Richmond's talent scene, as well as regional touring acts, and, in a pinch, the Kawai Grand piano can host an evening all by itself if the crooners get stuck in traffic. On the night we were there, Bryce McCormick was romancing guests with standards like "The Way You Look Tonight." 

Service is cordial without being obsequious, and dress for this young professional's hangout is casual chic. While the novelty of the Ice Lounge may eventually succumb to the same fate as the Wicked Witch of the West, Infuzion is a triple threat in Richmond's entertainment and dining scene, and the Bistro's concept makes it a great destination for pre or post concert dining, happy hours and late night clubbing.

Freelance writer Ginger Warder specializes in food and travel, and is a regular contributor to national magazines Luxury Living, hrWatches, and Fido Friendly, as well as GoNomad.com and SouthernTravelNews.com.