Ben’s a relaxing spot for leisurely snack, meal

Why: Located in a newly renovated shopping center, Ben’s Bottle Shop occupies a generous space and offers 24 rotating taps and hundreds of bottled beer, sake, mead, and non-alcoholic beverages, which may be paired with meal-worthy menu items. Although the shop has only been open for six months, it is already becoming a go-to place for serious tasters.

What I tried: I ate the Cuban sliders, which comes with chips and a pickle spear, and the Caprese salad. My dining companion had the buffalo, bacon and cheddar burger. For dessert we tried the bacon chocolate chip cookies.

Sliders come in pairs and start with fresh, slider-sized brioche buns and are finished with a bamboo pick to hold them together. The Cuban is loaded with pulled pork and Black Forest ham, Swiss cheese, sweet relish, and mango chipotle aioli. I found the sliders appetizing but the ingredients were a bit out of balance and as a result, the sliders lacked Cuban character. The generous amount of juicy pork dominated the flavor, the ham came in second, and the relish, cheese, and aioli were barely detectable. The house-made pickle spear is more sweet and soft than tangy and crisp.

My dining companion enjoyed the buffalo burger sliders which are made with a buffalo patty topped with smoked bacon, cheddar stout sauce, lettuce, tomato, and Dijon mustard. The meat patty extended from the edge of the bun and the toppers complimented the meat as expected.

The Caprese salad is artfully presented and deliciously satisfying. Large basil leaves, each topped with a thick slab of mozzarella and a slice of Roma tomato, are lined up across a rectangular plate and drizzled with an extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic reduction.

The dessert cookies are served hot, five to the plate, with bite-sized bacon pieces atop balsamic reduction alongside. The chocolate chip cookies also contain bacon bits, which change the texture more than the flavor of the cookies. Instead of soft and gooey, the cookies were mostly chewy.

Menu highlights beyond what I tried: House-made hummus comes with Roma tomatoes, Kalamata olives, and cucumber. Loaded baked potatoes may be topped with your choice of corned beef, house-made kraut, Swiss cheese, bacon, cheddar stout, and beer butter. The house salad, made with spring greens and spinach, fresh fruit, prosciutto, and olives with warm flatbread, sounded delicious. Meat and cheese boards may be comprised of prosciutto, Capicola, salami, pate, and/or pepperoni; smoked Gouda, barely buzzed, white, cheddar, and/or Brie. Among the slider options are a deli style and pulled pork with barbecue sauce and spicy slaw. The Chef G’s Stout Mac N’ Cheese is made with Cavatappi pasta, cheddar stout sauce, cheddar cheese, bacon and a crispy, golden brown topping with green onions. Desserts include a root beer float made with hard root beer or porter.

Atmosphere: The bar is the centerpiece of the main space. A geometric pattern of matte silver on the bar is topped with a thick slab of wood with a cobalt blue glow. Although the floor is simple, stained concrete, no expense was spared in the beautiful wood-beam ceiling or the 10 double-door coolers that cover the entire stretch of one side wall. Seating at the bar and peripheral areas can accommodate a fairly large crowd. Several large screen TVs provide entertainment. Large roll-up doors open up to more seating next door and outside. Lighting consists of standard can lights and creative pendant style lights made of growlers which cast an amber light.

Other observations: Service was friendly and staff was knowledgeable about the products. The shop is impressively clean and has a relaxed, leisurely vibe. The numerous beverages available encourage many return visits. I took some time perusing the drink coolers and discovered an extensive collection of both nonalcoholic and alcoholic beverages, not commonly found under one roof. I was surprised to find the Lost Coast Brewery’s (located in Eureka, Calif.) Tangerine Wheat beer. Food and drink items are ordered at the bar and there is limited table service.

Cost: Snack type items range from $4 to $8.50. Soup of the day is $6 and salads are $9 and $10. You may build a meat and cheese board for $9, $12, or $17. A la carte sides are $2 to $3.50. Sliders range from $8 to $10. Mac n’ cheese costs $9. Desserts are $6 and $7. Happy hour menu items are $6.50. Bottled beverages are priced at in-house and to-go prices.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Happy Hours is 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Where: 8052 E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver.

Telephone: 360-314-6209.

Online: www.bensbottleshop.com. Ben’s may also be found on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Health score: Ben’s Bottle Shop has yet to receive a routine health inspection. Zero is a perfect score, and Clark County Public Health closes restaurants with a score of 100 or higher. For information, call 360-397-8428.