Following in the footsteps of a city that hates to define itself by just one thing (gaming, culinary destination, world-class show capital, etc.), Blue Martini at Town Square is hard to define as just one kind of venue. Is it a restaurant? Yes. Is it a bar? Yes. Is it a nightclub? Well, yes, it could be that, too.

Located in a spot that lends itself to a million different kinds of traffic – foot traffic from the mall, those looking for a hip spot to hang out just a little ways off the Strip, folks familiar with Blue Martini's other locations – Blue Martini can only categorically be described as one thing: popular.

Set up in a deceptively large space, Blue Martini is stocked with four bars (three inside) and a patio that wraps its way around the front and side of the building. Red and blue lighting accents, as well as deep dark, cherry-colored wood table tops come together with a modern layout to give the whole place a vibe that feels simultaneously upscale and relaxed.

As one might guess from the name, martinis are Blue Martini's bread and butter (although they do, in fact have bread and butter and an extensive food menu) and they boast an impressive 34 speciality ones, so you can work your way through them all. They run about $12, but happy hour cuts that cost in half.

A stage for live bands (which perform nightly) sits behind Blue Martini's biggest bar and directly across from that is a DJ booth, so you're always in a position to hear some good music. In between the bar/stage and the DJ booth is a dance floor (which is on the small side, but definitely serviceable), so if that good music grabs you by the ear, you might just end up showing off just how well you've perfected the Worm.

On Friday and Saturday nights, there's a cover to get in, but it's a single digit dollar amount (generally $5), so that leaves plenty of coin left over for quenching your thirst or, if the mood strikes, lighting up a cigar (on the patio only) from Blue Martini's humidor.

There's bottle service available and a little (well, big actually) suited doorman that sometimes stands outside when things are really hopping to keep track of the line that occasionally forms. Which means it's a club, right? But then, if you're hungry there's that whole menu to eat from. Plus, all those bars...and we're right back where we started. So maybe it's a nighturantbar or a barestauraclub, whatever it is, it's definitely worth checking out.

– Review by Jamie Helmick