If you've been in this bar in its previous incarnations, especially the 25th Street Cafe, the dark wood, dim lighting and modern art feels familiar.

A black bar stretches to the front window, where you can look out at students walking through Drake's campus. My boyfriend and I took seats at the bar right in front of a huge flat screen TV showing a Cubs game.

High top tables and cushy booths fill the rest of the bar, which opens into a restaurant serving Cajun food.

THE CROWD

The bar offers two happy hour times, 5-7 p.m. and 10 p.m.-midnight daily, when domestic bottles and well drinks are $2. Perhaps those prices are meant to draw in more students.

THE TWO DRINKS

Our bartender, Clayton, pointed out the Hurricane at the top of the drink menu. The hefty cocktail ($9)(Webmaster note- The hurricane is in fact $7.50), served in a shapely glass, is made with Everclear, two kinds of rum, and a mix of pineapple, orange, passion fruit and grapefruit juices. The drink is so strong, you can't order more than two. I could barely get through one, although it was delicious.

I wanted to order the Lizzy Borden "Bloodiest" Mary, but they were out of their homemade mix. So my boyfriend ordered a dirty martini instead. He said it was just dirty enough to be the most enjoyable martini he'd ever tried.

More mixed drinks, bottled beers and wines are also available.

THE VERDICT

DuBay's is part classy bistro, part laid-back hangout. The drinks are divine - Cara Hall