10 Best: Bloody Marys to start the New Year

Long a fixture of brunch and hair-of-the-dog hangover cures, the Bloody Mary is branching out. Bartenders are outdoing each other for Instagram glory, topping the drinks with garnishes that could easily serve as your meal. Shelley Buchanan, founder of the DrunkenTomato.com website, says the drink is endlessly adaptable. "You can make them in so many different ways with so many different kind of ingredients," she says. “It’s a continuous search to find the next great one." She shares with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY some favorites to start the new year off right.

The Nook on Piedmont Park
Atlanta
With garnishes like tater tots, steak and a hard-boiled egg, this bar's trademarked Bloody Best certainly stands out. And it's even served with a beef straw. But what impresses Buchanan is the whopping 8 ounces of Dixie Black Pepper vodka. "You probably need a friend to share this with," she says. 404-745-9222; thenookatlanta.com

Sobelman’s Pub and Grill
Milwaukee
While it was just for show, this bar made Bloody Mary history when it once topped a bucket-sized drink with an entire fried chicken. But even its everyday versions are pretty spectacular, garnished with a cheeseburger, bacon skewers and even a Corona beer, Buchanan says. “They have all this food on top. You don’t have to order breakfast.” 414-931-1919; sobelmanspubandgrill.com

The Hungry Cat
Los Angeles
Take your pick of this Hollywood hot spot's Bloody offerings, including the Maryland Mary, made with a freshly shucked oyster. Buchanan is impressed by the preparation. “All their stuff is super, super fresh. You can almost see the pulpiness of the tomato. And it’s perfectly balanced, light and refreshing and easy to sip.” 323-462-2155; thehungrycat.com

Sunda
Chicago
The 32-ounce Sumo Mary comes topped with a buffet of garnishes, including bacon, Chinese broccoli and herb-roasted potatoes. “This one has an Asian flair to go with the Asian fusion on the menu,” Buchanan says. “Everything’s on skewers, carefully balanced on your glass, so nothing gets soggy.” There’s also a Bloody Mary cart so you can design your own drink. 312-644-0500; sundachicago.com

Anvil Pub
Dallas
Although we can’t mention the drink’s name in print, this hip Irish pub serves a 32-ounce Bloody topped with so many garnishes that there’s no need to bother with a food order, nor would you have room for it. The drink’s topped with a bacon cheeseburger slider and an array of other sides. “They’re giving you brunch on top of your glass,” Buchanan says. 214-741-1271; facebook.com/anvilpubdeepellum

Genies Café
Portland, Ore.
The difference here is the house-infused vodka, which comes in flavors like jalapeno, habanero, horseradish, bacon, lemon, ginger and basil. “If you get a garlic-infused vodka, you really taste the garlic. The next time you go and get a rosemary one, and it tastes like a complete different drink,” she says. 503-445-9777; geniesdivision.com

Sam’s Tavern
Seattle
The Bloody Mary Masterpiece comes topped with a cheesy slider, and lives up to its name, says Buchanan, a Seattle resident who knows this burger joint and bar well. “It has the best of both worlds, with the fun garnishes, and a really good Bloody Mary. They use Bakon vodka, which adds a smokiness.” 206-397-3344; samstavernseattle.com

St. Mary’s Pub
San Francisco
In a foodie city like San Francisco, you wouldn't expect a pedestrian Bloody Mary. This Bernal Heights spot serves a spicy Masala Mary with Indian flavors and a Florentine Mary with sun-dried tomato and basil pesto. "It's definitely a Bloody Mary town," says Buchanan, who has twice judged a contest at the bar. "They're really trying to figure out new innovative ways to serve you." 415-529-1325; facebook.com/stmaryspubsf

Prune
New York
Buchanan says it’s worth the inevitable brunch time wait for this East Village spot’s 11 different Bloody Marys, including a unique Danish Mary with aquavit, fresh fennel and marinated white anchovy.  “This is quality stuff with fresh-squeezed juice. They’re just trying to perfect the drink itself.” 212-677-6221; prunerestaurant.com

Todd English P.U.B.
Las Vegas
Design your own libation with a build-your-own menu, but if you want to go Vegas big, Buchanan suggests ordering the All About Mary, which comes stacked with a slider, chicken wing, shrimp, corn dog, stuffed olives, celery, carrot and pickled asparagus. “They do a crazy Bloody Mary,” she says. “You’ve got to do it at least once.” 702-489-8080; toddenglishpub.com