Behind Bars

Larry's

2011-11-29T13:37:00.000-08:00

If you ever decide to visit Venice Beach in sunny California I would skip the touristy food venues and head straight for Larry’s. This fine wine, beer, and food joint turned out to be a true gem. Although we had some initial reservations after learning they only served beer and wine, we picked a corner table on the patio. Prime for people watching, the patio offered a near 360 degree view of the boardwalk, palm trees, and street carts.

The ambiance was perfect: no sleepy lunch music which is common in many restaurants. The wooden tables were set with crisp white rollups and pint glasses on coasters giving the place a slightly fancy vibe. I assumed Larry’s wouldn’t carry Magners, but I was pleased to find a few ciders to choose from on their extensive beer list (In looking for the exact number I was a little disappointed that they don’t seem to have an operating online website with a full menu). I decided to try an Aspall, a strong English cider, and found it rather refreshing. Bridget tried their Sangria of the Day to start and was also pleased with her choice. Since they carry no liquor their sangrias were real, made with fresh fruit and good wine, not a little cheap wine, triple sec, and peach schnapps.

Being on the beach, we started with their mussels dish. The ginger was a perfect complement to the mussels as it gave them a flavorful, semi-spicy taste, but refrained from being overpowering. You could taste the char on the crostinis which added a remarkable air of freshness to the appetizer. Bridget went with a burger for an entrée and I couldn’t resist the fried Monte Cristo special. I give myself a pat on the back for my choice as I have never experienced such deliciousness from a sandwich. It was fried perfectly and the sweet jam put my mind and body in quite the predicament: I knew I was eating a modified ham and cheese sandwich but my taste buds were screaming, “You’re eating possibly the best fried dough ever.” I was truly impressed. As an experienced restaurateur I couldn’t get over the uniqueness of Larry’s Monte Cristo. The sandwiches were served on modified cutting boards with ramekins of ketchup and a spicy sauce similar to a chipotle aioli (forget the exact name, sorry).

After an Allagash White and a Paulaner, just two of their over 20 draft beer selections, our palates were pleased and our stomachs content. We couldn’t get over how good everything was, especially after our initial hesitation, and considering Larry’s proximity to the boardwalk. There was nothing touristy about the place and I thought their beer and wine selection, and their choice to only serve the too, was pretty cool as they pulled it off perfectly.

Located at 24 Windward Ave. in Venice, California, I would recommend Larry’s to anybody on vacation or unfamiliar with the local restaurants. I didn’t expect great things walking in, but if you do food and beer right you will always have a special place in this heart (or stomach).

I Can See Why the Cat is Fat

2011-11-19T20:29:00.001-08:00

Where to start? With a rare Wednesday night off I stopped by work for a late lunch with my brother. Needing to find a good restaurant for dinner I asked my friend Sinead, who was bartending, if she’d been anywhere good recently. She was honest, “No, not really,” but recommended the Fat Cat in Quincy. She said to try and get there early and definitely try the buffalo nachos. We arrived too late for a seat at the bar, but the oversized bourbon and cognac bottles immediately grabbed my attention. After getting a table and digging into the nachos, or dogging as the missus puts it, I was hooked.

When we arrived at the Fat Cat, located at 24 Chestnut St. in Quincy, the bar, about 25 seats, was packed. With hunger being a serious motivator, we chose the short wait for a table over the who-knows-how-long wait for the bar. While waiting for a table I was thrilled to find out they carried Magners, which most non-Irish bars don’t carry. I am sure that most customers find the taste their looking for with over 35 beers to choose from. Their beer prices were more than reasonable ($3.50 domestic, $4 foreign), which carried over to the liquor, too. Their eight vodka/liqueur mixed martinis are only $8 a piece, and I received a more generous portion of Maker’s Mark on the rocks than I would pour myself.

With hunger only increasing we ordered buffalo nachos as quickly as possible from Joel, our server. As we scanned the entrees, two items immediately stuck out: the rest of the menu never had a chance. We have a thing for scallops so I didn’t need to read the description on the Scallops Au Gratin (seared scallops in a creamy cheese sauce, sweet potato mashed, sautéed green beans). Also, you don’t find a full rack of baby back ribs on too many Greater Boston area menus, so we couldn’t pass it up.

The nachos arrived, entrée orders were placed, and the dogging began. I am a man of many different buffalo creations, but this was the real deal. Served on an extra hot plate, I failed to experience a cold nacho. The sour cream, salsa, bacon bits, and crumbled bleu cheese were evenly distributed throughout and the tender pulled chicken was truly scrumptious. Usually half way into a plate of nachos you get tired of them, or they get cold and soggy. This, to our pleasant surprise and downfall, was not the case with Fat Cat nachos, no sir. We had to drag ourselves away, covering the plate with dirty napkins to cease the feast.

I didn’t want to get my entrée-portion excitement up too much because, after all, nachos are nachos. But when the nacho mess was removed and replaced with the scallop and rib dishes I knew one thing: I would not be a member of the clean plate club tonight. For $17 and $18, respectively, the scallop and rib plates were serious entrees. Nachos or not, it was a lot of food for one person. We had a $21 scallop dish from dbar last week and it couldn’t compete with the Fat Cat’s. Their scallops in a creamy cheese sauce and heaping side of sweet potato mashed really hit the spot. The ribs were fall-off-the-bone perfect but we couldn’t even make it halfway through the rack. Nor was a dent put into the coleslaw or BBQ-smothered fries; they, along with the scallops and mashed, are all hanging in the fridge until further notice.

About five to ten minutes into our entrees the proverbial wall was getting closer and closer. Bridget voiced her displeasure with her choice to wear a belt, but also said she’d have no qualms with coming back next week. I couldn’t have agreed more. My favorite beer carried by a restaurant with great food, too? This was a first for me. We decided to stay for another drink after dinner, perhaps out of necessity: neither of us could move. With the belt stretching I ordered a $12 Patron margarita for desert, and they were right on point, as Sinead suggested. When I mentioned only a dash of Rose’s Lime Juice Joel gave me a funny look. If a place doesn’t even carry Rose’s Lime then chances are the margaritas are pretty good as I almost choked on the real lime pulp they used.

Two things I learned that night: The Fat Cat may be a new favorite, but I don’t workout nearly enough to go more than once a week. Two, based on the quality and price, I am rather surprised the fat cats still fit on their perches.

The Fat Cat carries appetizers and nachos from $7-$10 as well as a wide selection of wings. The menu is predominately comfort food and all entrees are under $20, with an a la carte section as well. Their beer, wine, and cocktail lists are expansive and inexpensive too. For more information check their website, www.fatcatrestaurant.com, or give them a call at 617-471-4363.

wolfies

2011-11-18T11:58:00.001-08:00

Over the last five to ten years the look of South Boston, or Southie, has changed immensely. Out with the old and blue collar and in with the young and vibrant. Nowhere is this more apparent than in many of the new open-window and ever-bustling bars dotting Southie’s main streets.

Most of these bars seem to have fallen from the same cookie cutter: large open space, small dining rooms, and a big bar crowd. The food is good but clearly not the focus. The most popular spots are generally the newest, like Stats Bar and Grille on Dorchester Street. If you’re looking for the busiest bar in South Boston on any given night, it doesn’t take much research. Simply drive down East Broadway and you’ll find double-parked cars out front of the Boston Beer Garden or the Playwright (same owners, only a block apart), patrons hanging out of Stats, or the usual shenanigans outside of Shenanigans once you get on West Broadway. Not much separates these bars in terms of what they have to offer: quick service, good food, and lots of room to drink.

Hindered with only a cordials and liqueurs permit and about half the square footage of other new spots in the area, Wolfie’s Kitchen and Bar, located on L Street, needed to find a creative way to compete. And that it did. With a focus on dining, Wolfie’s aims to be the place you go for dinner before stumbling down Broadway. And as long as you can remember last night the next morning, hopefully you’ll come away with something to write home about too.

From traditional comfort food like burgers and macaroni and cheese to Blue Point oysters, Yellowtail tuna steak, and a half rack of sweet and spicy guava-glazed baby back ribs, Woflie’s has something for everyone from your picky “make sure there’s no green stuff on it” little brother to your self-proclaimed food connoisseur aunt. Wolfie’s blends the casualness of your average bar and grill with an upscale dining ambiance. Gone are red cups and paper napkins as the tables are set with placemats, roll-ups, and glass goblets that your server fills at the table once you have been seated. Their newest server, Bridget McDonagh, explained that they use numbers for each seat at the table to provide clarity when your food arrives. No scruffy food runner comes to the table with a blank stare saying, “Cheeseburger medium rare? Steak tips?” Using the number system allows the runner to bring the food right to you, no questions asked—a practice almost unheard of in casual dining.

Service and appearance alone don’t get you on the bus, however, as quality and price generally outweigh those first two aspects. I say the quality is definitely there after visiting once for lunch and most recently for brunch, but if that isn’t convincing enough then this might help: Manager/bartender Colleen Kennedy informed me that their head chef is straight from award-winning Abe & Louie’s. There must be a catch, right? No way Abe & Louie’s quality comes without Abe & Louie’s prices, right? Wrong. The half rack of ribs I mentioned earlier goes for $12, and I wasn’t even able to finish it. For brunch we ordered five dishes, two Bloody Marys, and two non-alcoholic beverages totaling only $60.

The best part about Wolfie’s is that it has something for everyone. We were the only family eating at the time, but there were several young couples, two mothers and their infants, an elderly woman by herself reading, and three older gentlemen walked in for lunch as we were leaving. You won’t find that diversity at any of the other previously mentioned hot spots. Families and friends alike can come in for a good inexpensive meal without the fear of a too-tipsy “young professional” spilling his Pumpkin Ale, or worse, all over your feet. Only a few months old, Wolfie’s has found the perfect recipe to compete with the bigger and louder nearby hangouts. Just make sure you look up directions before you go because the new landmarks of a Southie hot spot, double-parked cars and drunk twenty-somethings, won’t be outside waiting.

dbar

2011-11-18T11:55:00.001-08:00

dbar

When people talk about dbar it is generally something positive about the nightlife or the dinner food, just don’t quote me if that’s not in the right order. I have gone many times for brunch (their biscuits and gravy are legit and cheap, I’ve only had better from my Southern cousins) and a few times for drinks (a friend used to work there), but never for dinner.

On Election Day Tuesday I had to run into work for a bit but got out around 8:30 p.m. with a growing hunger. I picked up my girlfriend, Bridget, and let the inevitable, “Where do you wanna go?” “Well, I don’t care, where ever, your choice,” conversation begin. We both live minutes from dbar, located on Dorchester Avenue, so I suggested it as neither of us had been there for dinner.

I opened the door and before even lifting the curtains it hit me: Show Tunes Tuesdays, totally forgot. The place was bumping but we managed to get a table immediately. It didn’t take long to get my hands on my favorite bourbon, either. dbar is the only place I have ever seen the infused bourbon Diabolique, with light fruit flavors, which is so smooth it drinks deliciously over rocks. Our dinner came out very quickly and it lived up to the hype, very good. Of course one of the entrees was a scallop dish and it was done perfectly. We were in and out within half an hour which is quite a feat for a crowded restaurant putting out high-quality food. The Show Tunes were a bit loud, even considering that it is a more “drinks” not “sit down dinner” crowd at that point. Now that I have finally had dinner, and visited at least a dozen times, I can safely say I have yet to come away disappointed or have any complaints. And that’s a lot coming from someone as picky as me when it comes to restaurants.

dbar is a little more on the expensive side for dinner, but you can definitely eat and drink well without breaking the bank. However, for me, it is all about their brunch. The options are great and their Bloody Mary’s are bloody good. As anywhere, you can build your own, but I would recommend branching out and selecting either the bleu cheese or wasabi-based Bloody Mary’s. Waking up all congested after a bender in the New England cold is no fun, but a wasabi-Mary will have you cleared up and seeing straight instantly.

If it is dinner you crave, though, check out their full menu at dbarboston.com and choose from comfort food to fine fare. If it is a night of drinks you need, then check the nightlife section for more information about Show Tune Tuesdays and iThursdays.

OpenTable

2011-11-18T11:18:00.001-08:00

OpenTable

For anyone who likes to go out to eat, and is looking for new places to do so, OpenTable is for you. Go to OpenTable.com and select your city of preference and let the fun begin. You can enter the number of people in your party and the time and search for open tables in any restaurant across the city, or search particular restaurants. The purpose of the site is to make dinner reservations free and easy: right over the internet, no phone tag with the hostess. Is it the grandparent’s anniversary? Let open table know when filling out the reservation and your server will bring out a happy anniversary desert at the end of the meal. No pretending to go to the bathroom to find your waiter and ask for a cake with candles. Maybe it is your own anniversary or a loved one’s birthday? Let OpenTable know and they can arrange for roses at the table or flowers delivered during dinner. Signing up and logging in also alerts you to new restaurants and sweet deals. And since iPhones and Droids are all the rage don’t forget to download their free application. One day we were running late for dinner and the kitchen of the restaurant we intended to go to closed at 9:00 p.m. No biggie. Opened up OpenTable and within minutes we had a reservation for two at Gaslight in the South End. Neither of us had been there before but we really enjoyed it, great food and adjacent free parking. I would recommend the site or the app for any restaurant junkies, or someone just looking to try new places and great deals.

I am your server, not your servant

2011-11-18T10:58:00.001-08:00

I am your server not your servant

http://www.servernotservant.com/

This is a very interesting site that I found about a year ago. As someone who has worked in the service industry for five years, as well as various forms of customer service, it can be relieving to hear the (similar) gripes of others or the rare compliments (check it out you’ll see what I mean). It is not just a website for people in the restaurant industry either. Many of the stories are from people working in hotels, ticket sales and other similar occupations. So, if you’ve ever found yourself dealing with an unusually rude customer, you’re not alone. And if you ever feel like your good deeds go unnoticed there are some refreshing pieces for that too. Perhaps even contribute with a story of your own!

The first time is always the worst time

2011-10-02T13:20:00.000-07:00

Just started setting up my blog, never even fooled around with one before so this is all new to me. In future posts I will look to focus on every and anything related to bars, restaurants, and the industry itself: new places, delicious drink recipes, gripes, and some of those moments where, after getting your ass kicked all weekend, you realize it wasn't all for not. Will be going to work shortly but before signing out and posting my paper I figured I'd throw this link out there: http://drinkboston.com/2009/11/05/cordial-confusion/. In our last class on Tuesday Josh mentioned he'd review 10 Tables in Jamaica Plain. The topic of cordials, and a cordial license vs. a full license, came up. This 2009 article details much of the "Cordial Confusion" so if you were interested before, or just killing time until the Pats game starts, check it out.

Later tonight/Monday morning I will blog about OpenTable which helps with instant reservations and is available as Droid App, among other things. We unveiled our new menu this past Friday night and it ended up being probably one of my worst nights in five years so once I finish putting it into perspective I'll have a blog for that too.