Ryan DiFranco's Blueprint Bar Will Open July 7 in Uptown

Blueprint, the latest concept from the DiFranco's team passed its health inspection Wednesday and will open July 7 at 450 East 17th Avenue in Uptown.

Starting at 4 p.m. weekdays, the new bar in the former Caveau Wine spot will serve small plates, wine, beer, and cocktails. Brunch will be served on weekends, and it will be closed Mondays.

The menu includes small twists on classic veggies, seafood, and antipasti, as well as a few meatier options like hangar steak, a beef and Italian sausage burger, and meatball sliders.

Fans of DiFranco's will recognize a few of these shout-outs to the casual Italian restaurant's menu. Otherwise, the two concepts are completely different, owner Ryan DiFranco says.

The new space also has been given a facelift from its former "old-school wine bar" feel to reflect the "blueprint" concept.

"From a design perspective, it's kind of all the pieces that create a building, DiFranco said. "Whether it's steel, or wood, or brick, or concrete, you have a lot of different aspects of that scattered throughout."

DiFranco recommends trying the Huck + Herb from the cocktail menu, with 44° North Mountain Huckleberry Vodka, lemon, and rosemary. He also swears by the POMBR, which is pomegranate juice mixed with Pabst Blue Ribbon, soon to be the "newest craze." Yes, really.

Finally, don't forget to check out the grapes: "It's really a boutique wine list with really great juice and great prices for what you're getting," DiFranco said.