First, a few disclaimers:

I’ve never been completely sober at Bar Celona.

I’ve never been there on a night other than Friday. I’ve never walked away from the bartender with anything but a certain drink special.

That said, I still have lots of reasons to ditch the exalted Evanston bar crawl in favor of an El ride to Wrigleyville’s Bar Celona and Grill. I know you’re asking, “What exactly is a Celona? Is it like a Corona?” I had the same question until I saw its’ terra cotta walls, Spanish chandeliers and menu of Mexican and Spanish food (Get it? Barcelona is a city in Spain — they even had the Olympics there once).

The bar’s atmosphere of deep reds and bright golds has a 70s-style feel, but the jukebox isn’t likely to stray further back than about 1998. College students mingle with young professionals, and the well-stocked bar boasts 14 beers (all $4) and what the bar’s Web site deems the best sangria in the city.

I wouldn’t know. Actually, I probably wouldn’t have gone to Bar Celona at all but for one reason, also the cause for the disclaimers at the top of this review.

Friday night. Martinis. Five bucks.

And these aren’t your grandpa’s martinis. There are nine flavors (I like my martinis — among other things — Very Dirty), and every sip of these bad boys is like taking a shot. If James Bond was throwing them back, he’d be more concerned with getting some Octopussy than with saving the world. So take my advice: After a couple Bar Celona martinis, take it nice and slow walking to the lower level.

Bar Celona is located at 3474 N. Clark St. Open: 4:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through Friday, 4:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday. No cover charge.

— Jim Martinho